Following a dream: Experiencing Spain as a Gilman

My study abroad experience.

[amemartens21]

Awaken by the American Flag.

It was all a dream....but a dream come true!

It has been a month since my body returned to the U.S.  and my heart stayed in Madrid. 

To be honest, returning to America was not as difficult as I thought it would be. Besides experiencing jet-lag for the first couple of days, everything else seemed normal, like if I had never left. However, all the wonderful memories of my beloved city of Madrid still resonate in my mind, my heart, my soul...Up to this day, I still look at pictures from my study abroad experience everyday hoping that tomorrow, when I wake up, will open my eyes to the beautiful sunlight of Madrid.

Unlike all my friends, I still haven’t returned home. Fortunately, I was able to obtain an internship in the east coast, far from home, which started the same day I left Madrid. Re-entry in this sense has been challenging since I am around people who can’t relate to my experience. My life for the last 5 months has been about traveling, Spain, crazy new experiences and people, which are hard to include in conversations. In addition, like we were told, “the world continued without us” meaning that I am unfamiliar with a lot of American news, novel music and movies, etc. With this in mind, I know that my re-entry process is far from ending since next month I will finally return home and expect to face new challenges as I get back to my normal life and routine at home and school.

Although awaken by the American Flag, I sleep and dream under the Spanish flag.

[amemartens21]

Hello again, USA

While I am sad to leave my study abroad country, I am also excited to return home. 

Home: Leaving with a host family has been a great experience for me. I can say that of all the families for this program, I was placed in one of the best ones. My host mom is very enthusiastic, affectionate, and a great cook. However, there is no better place to be than at home.

Food: I really love Spanish food!! However, it is also true that I love American and my Mexican food. After 5 months of not eating them, I have really come to love them even more. Fortunately, when I go back, I will be able to have the 3 of my favorites because I have learned to make my favorite Spanish dishes.

Transportation: There nothing better than driving everywhere. Yes, I loved the experience of being able to walk and go everywhere without depending on others or a car. However, having to walk everyday to a metro stop, waiting between 5-18 minutes for a train, and having to transfer (and wait more). 

[amemartens21]

Goodbye Madrid...

As my departure day arrives, all I can think about is what I’m leaving behind, what I will re-encounter, and things that I wish I could've done. 

Things I wish I did:

Interact with more people my age

Explore more neighborhoods

Exercise more

Spend less money

Things I am thankful for doing:

Trying out typical foods

Enjoying time at home, school, and outside

Taking advantage of all my free time

[amemartens21]

Studying or Traveling Abroad?

Although study abroad programs are intended to study, there is really no reason why traveling shouldn’t be part of it. 

Before coming to Spain, I wondered how stressful and difficult it would be for me to excel in school while also having fun. On the one hand, I did not want to affect my academics by missing class, not finishing homework, or not studying enough. One of the things I head most from friends (and even professors) was that all I needed to do was to pass my classes and have fun. However, compared to other programs my grades here will actually transfer to my transcripts. So, slacking off has not been an option for me.

So how did I resolve this dilemma? Fortunately, the way my program works is that I only have classes 4 days a week so I have Wednesdays off. Secondly, since I did not intend to have a job here, I managed to have more free hours. The best thing of all, however, has been that courses for study abroad students have not been as rigorous or work-loaded as in the US. All of this has allowed me to be free most of the day to enjoy my experience.

No homework?! That’s great! 

Well not really. I wish I did not have any school work to do while here. The reality is that even though it has been less than in the US, we still have exams, papers, readings, and presentations. How did I manage all of this? Very simple, DO THINGS AHEAD OF TIME.

My best technique so far has been to use part of my free time (i.e. days off such as my Wednesdays) to finish papers and all my homework. By doing this, I was able to have weekends off to travel, hang out with friends, and explore around without worrying about hw. 

This is my last week in Madrid meaning finals week. Am I stressed? Surprisingly, I am NOT because I have already studied. So this week is all about saying goodbye to my lovely Madrid.

[amemartens21]

Adios Madrid.

Wow, I can’t believe I only have a month left abroad. As the days go by, I just can’t help but think about all the amazing things I have experienced in Europe. First of all, my dream to travel has become true. Not only to Spain, my study abroad country, but around Europe (i.e. France, Italy, Germany, Portugal). Secondly, I have accomplished my goal of improving my language skills and becoming more independent and self-sufficient. Truth is...all of this has made me not want to ever leave Spain! But I must.

Things I will miss the most:

Lifestyle: One of my favorite aspects of this culture has been the ability to walk around town for the pleasure of it. Here, it is more common to see people walking or taking public transportation than driving. This has really allowed me to appreciate the simple things of life and nature than ever before such as a sunny day, a nice cup of coffee at a local shop, some churros con chocolate, or watching old couples gather at every corner to enjoy the sun.

Food: I will definately miss my host mom’s meals! Spanish food is so delicious, especially the tortilla Espanola. One thing is for sure, I will not miss waiting until 9pm to eat dinner...but other than that I will miss hearing my “senoras” voice calling us for dinner and actually taking time to eat and talk about our day.

School: Not having as much homework as in the US and only having to study for 2 exams!

Routine: Traveling almost every weekend!

These are just some of the things that I will miss. In the meantime, however, I have made a list of things I need to re-visit or re-eat before I leave. Madrid will forever be in my heart.

[amemartens21]

Budgeting while traveling.

Traveling around Europe has been one of the most amazing experiences ever! At the same time, it has been one of the most expensive. However, over the past two months abroad, I have learned a couple of tips for traveling while also saving money.

#1: Plan trips ahead of time. While this can be overwhelming, planning and organizing where you would want to go and visit a month or more in advance can save you a lot of money. This is because it is usually then when you can find cheap flights or hostels.

#2: Make sure you compare prices before booking. The best website I have found is Goeuro.es which gives you the cheapest prices for flights, trains, and buses anywhere.

#3: If you really want to enjoy your trips looking up free walking tours will be your best friend!

#4: Sleeping at airports or bus stations. If you are flying overnight and will be arriving at another place early in the morning (or departing) it is always cheaper to sleep at the airport and save on hostels.

#5: Pack lunch or buy groceries. Yes, you may want to try the traditional food of your visited place. However, eating out once or twice can give you that experience.

#6: Research transportation passes. If you know you will be using public transportation a lot, it may save you a couple of bucks if you simply get a day or group pass. Or walking (if possible) can never hurt anyone.

[amemartens21]

Traveling while abroad.

One of the wonderful aspects of studying abroad is the opportunity to travel, especially while in Europe. 

Two weeks ago, I finally started my spring break and was able to travel out of Spain for the first time. With another friend, we had planned to visit Paris, Venice, Florence, and Rome: our dreamed cities. After planning the trips for a long time, we were able to book everything in advance for very good deals. We were ready!

Truth is: the experience was amazing! We finally saw the Effil Tower, rode around Grand Canal on a Gandola ride, ate authentic Italian food in Florence, and met the pope in Rome. Unfortunately, the experience also had its down sides. As first-time travelers, we did not anticipate everything that we encountered such as getting the correct directions to our hostels, getting around the cities, or figuring how to get to the airports/train stations when public transportation wasn't running. Nevertheless, the experiences of getting lost, not knowing what to do, and frustrating made us learn valuable lessons that we can use for our next trips. 

Tips: Traveling to different places in a short period of time can be a wonderful adventure but it can also be distressful. The best ways to make the most out it is to plan everything ahead of time! I would recommend considering locations and distances from a chosen hostel to and from the airport or train station. Also, consider public transportation hours when booking your trips to avoid spending more on taxis. Lastly, do not stress to much about it! Everything will work out in the end, just enjoy every moment as frustrating and scary as it may be; you will end up laughing at it later on.

Next trips: Morocco, Germany, Portugal, and Barcelona.

[amemartens21]

Engaging in the Spanish Culture

One of the most intimidating aspects of studying abroad can be to engage in the culture of the host country. For me, although I am a native Spanish speaker it is still difficult to engage in conversations with the espanoles because of differences in Spanish pronunciation and lexis. Nevertheless, it is always better to try than to never do it.

In order to better adjust to and enjoy my study abroad experience, I have actively engaged in the Spanish culture through different social activities.

Language: There is no better way of improving my Spanish speaking skills than to practice them! So I have joined a program offered by my university called intercambios where I am paired up with a Spanish student to engage in informal conversations in English and Spanish. While my intercambio practices his English, I practice my Spanish. So far this has been an amazing experience and opportunity to make friends, learn more about the culture, and to improve my language skills.

Social relationships: There is no better way of learning more about the espanoles than to live with them! As part of the Madrid program at my home university, I have been placed in a home stay living with a senora. This experience has taught me so much about Spanish customs, family traditions, and my favorite part, the Spanish cuisine. I have also been able to find a job as an English tutor for two little boys. Through them, I have seen another important aspect of the culture by being exposed to child rearing and education.

Traditions: The best way to learn about Spanish traditions is to attend their festivals! Fortunately, I was able to go to one of the most popular Spanish festivals of the year: Las Fallas in Valencia. Throughout the year, different Valencian communities create huge (and very expensive) artistic monuments in commemoration of St. Joseph that are burnt as huge bonfires. This was the most wonderful experience!

Yeah, it may be intimidating to engage in the host culture (i.e. speaking the language, meeting people, trying out their food, or attending festivals) but it is also the most rewarding and wonderful experience for a study abroad student. So wherever you may be going, remember that taking cultural challenges are the most fun and life-changing experiences you can ever get!

[amemartens21]

Best places to visit in Spain.

Spain is a little world on its own! There are so many wonderful and different places to visit for a low cost. 

Madrid, which is where I reside, has many interesting monuments and museums that are worth visiting. The top places I would recommend would be the Temple of Debot (Egyptian temple), Plaza del Sol (downtown/shopping), Plaza Cibeles (center of the main museums), and Parque del Retiro.

Sevilla: So far my favorite city! The streets and architecture are simply a dream! Everything looks very colonial and beautiful I would recommend visiting its cathedral (which is where Christopher Colombus’ tomb is located) and definitely Plaza de Espana (paradise!). Another very interesting place is the gypsy neighborhood where you can enjoy the most beautiful streets and Mudejar art. 

Cercendilla & El Escorial: If you are a fan of hiking then you should definitely go to these two places. 

Granada: If you would like to see a little bit of the museum culture and architecture, this is the place to visit. The main attraction here is the Alhambra, which is a palace/fortress full of beautiful gardens and the most amazing view of Granada. 

Some tips I would recommend would be to search for free walking tours. Not only will you make sure to visit the main monuments but you will learn so much about the history behind and importance.

[amemartens21]

Change of country: Change of living habits.

When applying to study abroad, I often heard people say that this experience would be life changing. At first I thought that it made sense to me; I would be living away from home, visiting new places, meeting new people, and studying in another language. This didn't seem like a negative thing but rather a wonderful new adventure. Reality is that adjusting to a new culture and customs has not been as easy as I thought.

Food: What can I say about this, I LOVE the food here! Not only is it healthier (compared to the US) but also delicious! My favorite plates so far have been the tortilla espanola and paella! The hard part about eating habits here are the meal times! I don't have a problem with breakfast here since this can be done at any time. However, unlike the US where lunch is usually at 12 or 1 pm and dinner at 6:00 pm the latest, lunch in Spain is around 2-3 pm and dinner at 9 pm or even 10 pm! In addition, dinner here is the main meal of the day since we are served so much food! 

Customs: I am sure everybody has heard about the Siesta in Spain. Although the common thought is that people nap during this time (3-5 pm), it is only a break from work. This is inconvenient since nothing is open during this time. Another difficult change has been bedtime. Since dinner is served late at night people tend to go to bed even later (eg. 12am). This has been particularly hard for me since I have been used to going to bed early to get up early. 

Transportation: I think I spend more time in public transportation than at home or school. To begin with, navigating in public transportation here is easier than in the US. There are trains (which is what I use the most), day buses, and even night buses (owls) that can take you anywhere. Unfortunately, my homestay is located about an hour away from the city's center and university, which means that wherever I go I must spend 2 hours on the train or bus. 

Although I've had a hard time adjusting, this has made my experience abroad even more memorable. 

[amemartens21]

Studying in Madrid: First week of school.

So I finally started school here in Madrid! First, I have to confess that before coming to Spain, I was a bit worried that studying in a different country would be so difficult because of the language and difference in ed. systems. This past week, I attended my first lectures in four subjects: Philosophy, theology, literature, and Spanish. 

First thoughts: 

Positives: To my surprise, classes here are not stressful or boring! It might be that the classes I am taking are very interesting but I also think that it is the teaching style. For instance, here most professors prefer to be called by their first name, which makes the student-teacher relationship more personalized. Also, in many of my classes, teachers don't just lecture but teach in a more conversational manner where students can engage more. The best part, however, is that they are very understanding about international students and are not strict about missing a few classes to travel.

Cons: No deadlines! Yes, to some students this may not seem like a big deal. However, to me this has been a bit stressful since teachers talk about big papers, readings, or other important assignments but give no deadline for it. So, I have been surprised at the end of a class by a professor announcing that we need to turn in a 6-page philosophy paper for our next class. 

It might be that Americans are just so used to rush for everything and Spaniards like to take their time and enjoy life. But I guess I will find an answer in the remaining four months of school here.

[amemartens21]

Second week in Madrid: Adventures.

Wow, I can't believe it's already my second/third week abroad! Time has gone extremely fast but I've gotta say that I feel at home. During the past weeks, I have learned to get around Madrid fairly easy. I have not only visited Plaza Puerta del Sol many times (the old city center) but I have also traveled outside of the city without any trouble. 

My first adventure happened last weekend when I went to Alcorcon to visit one of my friend's mom from the US. Alcorcon is a city outside of Madrid and shows the non-tourist/urban part of Spain. Although the streets and homes were very similar from the one's in Madrid, I had a different perspective there where I was able to visit some people and enter their house. All the people here where working-class and very diverse. For instance, while there I met a family that came from Ecuador, a person from Colombia, two girls from Italy, and two guys from the US.

My second experience outside of Madrid was to Cercedilla, which is a town in the mountains known for skiing and hiking. This has been my favorite place to visit thus far! It is a place of where I could really enjoy nature and for a cheap price! 

Other adventures in Madrid:

So after 2 weeks in Spain I finally got to eat churros con chocolate, which is one of the most popular food/breakfast here. Although I had eaten "churros" many times back at home since they are also part of the Mexican culture, I had never tried eating them with dark chocolate. It is the best thing to eat here! Definitely a must for tourists!

These have been my most remarkable adventures so far and although I had some negative experiences such as missing trains, not knowing where to go or what to do, that is what has made them unforgettable!

Hasta luego Scholars!

[amemartens21]

First week in Madrid! First impressions.

Wow, I can't believe that I am actually here! I am in love with this city!

First of all, I would say that Madrid is more beautiful than in pictures. Although my traveling experience was not that great after being delayed for 5 hours at the airport, I don't regret coming. So here are some interesting experiences.

Expectations: summer weather! Nice people! delicious food! cool clothing! But...

Well I think I will start off by saying that Madrilenos are not the nicest people out there...this is something that my study abroad group and I have noticed. First of all, they have no patience towards tourists, period. Secondly, they don't tend to apologize when bumping into people. This is frustrating because I am used to a culture that appreciates apologies and gratitude. Here, people seem to not care about that. However, not all my experiences with Madrilenos are negative. 

As part of my study abroad program, I am staying with a host family, well in my case only a host mom. Unlike other Madrilenos I have encountered on the streets, my host mom is very nice! She is caring, attentive, and very cool...and her house is beautiful! 

Another false expectation that I have realized is the weather. Yeah, google said Madrid's weather during these months tends to be around the 50s....but, it is still very cold! So I regret not bringing a heavier jacket.

FOOD! What can I say...I'm in love with the Tortilla Espanola, Paella, and Churros con Chocolate. This is heaven!! 

Clothing! REBAJAS!!! (SALES) This has been my favorite part. Although I expected to find more expensive clothes (it's Europe you know) I was lucky to study abroad during this semester where all the stores have amazing sales for 3 months!! "Que guay!"  

So far I am in love with Madrid and this study abroad trip!

[amemartens21]

Pre-departure: Madrid here I come!

What to pack?! That is the question. As I prepare to depart and get on a plane for the first time, packing has become my main concern. Although it may seem easy, (just pack the essentials right?) it is not. Spending 5 months in Madrid and only being allowed to take one suitcase is a difficult task.

So after talking to a few returning study abroad students about packing, I am finally finished with packing. Here are some helpful tips I received:

Pack lightly. You will end up bringing more.

Don’t forget to include toiletries for the first few days/weeks.

Limit yourself to packing outfits for two weeks.

Now it's time to worry about something else: saying goodbye to all my family and friends. After spending 3 weeks at home, all I could think about is my trip and adventures abroad. However, as the day to depart arrived, I began to feel homesick…already. I was going to miss being at home and eating my mom’s food! I would miss everything except for one thing…the freezing temperatures and snow of Chicago!

Tomorrow is finally the big day and I feel ready! To my surprise, I am not feeling nervous at all; not yet. I have my luggage and outfit ready just hoping that the freezing temperatures of Chicago will not delay or cancel my trip. Goodbye Chicago: Hello Madrid!

[amemartens21]

A Gilman recipient!

In order to apply to this scholarship, I had to meet certain requirements. First of all I had to be a US citizen. This represented an obstacle for me. I was born outside of the United States and although I had been a legal resident since I was very little, I needed to become a US citizen in order to apply. But this was not the type of obstacles that could defeat me. 

Eight months before the deadline of this scholarship, I applied to obtain my citizenship. After a long and expensive process, I finally became a US citizenship and also obtained my passport. :D I was now ready to apply.

The second important requirement was that I had to be part of an underrepresented group, which I do as a low-income, first-generation college student who is also part of a minority group.

The third and most important requirement was to write two essays: a personal statement and a follow-up service project. Because the Gilman Scholarship is a national scholarship offered by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, it is a very competitive scholarship. Nevertheless, I was confident that I could become a competitive candidate if I worked very hard on the application. After working on it for about three months and asking a few professors for feedback, I was ready to submit it....

About two months later (and a lot of stress), I finally received my recipient letter!!! I was select as a Gilman Scholar!!

[amemartens21]

My study abroad journey...

After learning about the study abroad program in Madrid, Spain and its cost, I was a little disappointed because I thought I would never be able to make this dream come true. However, my adviser talked to me about a few scholarships available, particularly the Benjamin Gilman Scholarship. She told me that this scholarship was offered specifically for people like me: students from underrepresented backgrounds who wanted to pursue an international education. I was determined to apply!

Despite the high cost of this program, I decided to wait a year to pursue this dream so that I could have time to work and save up money since my family could not be able to support me financially while abroad. Through all my sophmore year, summer, and half of my junior year, I was able to work at four or five different jobs on campus and save as much as a could. In addition, I began working on my application to the Gilman Scholarship the summer before the applications were due. Although this process was not easy since I finally was able to live off campus and pay rent and bills, I managed to save for my US passport, Spanish visa, and other expenses. But I still could not afford everything..

October finally arrived and with it the deadline to the study abroad program and the Gilman Scholarship. This was a very stressful period. I had worked very hard for the past three months in my applications and was afraid of not becoming a gilman recipient; it was my golden ticket to this amazing experience...

[amemartens21]

It all started as a dream..

During my sophmore year, I decided to give it a change and learn more about the study abroad program. When I met with my adviser, I learned that I could go about anywhere in the world, but I was only interested in one place: Spain. As a Mexican-American, I had always heard about Spain as the founding country and culture of the Hispanic heritage. Hence, I was eager to learn more about it and my roots. Everything about this program sounded amazing...until we got to the cost part. I wanted to study abroad, but how could I do it?