Remembering Spain

It has been a week since I left Spain and I have yet to stop reminiscing. It truly was an amazing experience, one that I will never forget. I could not have asked for a better host family; I will miss them all. I made friends that I will have for years from other countries and from the group of students from Arkansas that I traveled with. We all meshed well and spent a lot of time together, eager to explore the city with one another, and became a family away from our families. I learned more than I even expected. Not only did my Spanish improve immensely, but I also learned so much about the culture in Spain and in Europe. I met great people not only from Spain but from London, Australia, Brazil, Romania, and more. I learned from each one of them, what they're cultures are like or about their favorite place they had traveled. I truly feel like I have expanded my world, and I have definitely fallen in love with traveling and studying abroad. I am already thinking of where I want to study next.

Banco de España in Madrid

Along with Madrid, I got to spend some time in the cities of Barcelona in the east of Spain and Sevilla in the south. Each city offered a million new things to do and see. In Barcelona we spent the day at the beach, relaxing and making friends with the locals and visitors around us, some of which we spent our whole weekend with. The next day, we climbed to what seemed to be the top of Barcelona to Park Güell where we stared in awe of the beautiful city and never-ending ocean all around us. On our last day we celebrated San Juan, the celebration of the summer in Barcelona, with our new friends, eating burgers and popping fireworks. I never wanted to leave.

The view from Park Güell in Barcelona

I ventured to Sevilla after the program was over with some fellow American friends I had met at Antonio Nebrija, the university we studied at in Madrid, and stayed in my first hostel. I loved it! We met great people there as well, saw flamenco shows, and enjoyed the terrace and rooftop pool that are so common in Sevilla. I loved all the colors that were in Sevilla, every building was a different color; it was what I had imagined Spanish streets to look like. 

The Plaza de España in Sevilla

In each city, Madrid, Barcelona, and Sevilla, I visited buildings and monuments that were older than America itself. The amount of history in Spain is fascinating! I was constantly blown away by the beautiful architecture and art that was everywhere. I loved the easy going attitudes of Spaniards and their obvious zest for life. Madrid was the perfect choice for my first experience studying broad. I felt like I could fit in there for years; maybe one day I will! I didn't want to leave and I can't wait to get back. Studying abroad is an experience I think every should try!

Adios! 

Larin McMartin