#mathewgonzalez

[umichenginabroad]

Week 15: The Waiting Game

This week was a whole lot of nothing… and somehow that made it harder than any busy week.

I had zero responsibilities this week. None. No classes, no assignments, nothing. Just one Corporate Finance final… which is tomorrow. And of course, I waited until today to actually lock in and study. No surprises there.

(me "studying" but its just be writing the blog instead of studying haha)

One thing they don’t tell you about university is how hard it is to enjoy free time when you know you should be doing something important. It’s like your brain won’t let you relax, but it also won’t let you focus. I found it way easier to do anything except study. Clean the apartment, go for a walk, scroll, reorganize something that did not need to be reorganized. Anything but opening my notes.

Also, since I didn’t travel this weekend, I decided I was basically a millionaire. That logic made sense in my head. So I bought myself two nice pairs of shoes for the summer. One more for office settings and one for everything else. I told myself it was a necessary investment. Still standing by that.

And don’t worry, I didn’t just spend money on myself. I got gifts for my mom, my grandma, my two aunts, and my cousin. I found these pharmacy gift sets with skincare and body care products that are almost twice as expensive back in the U.S., so I feel like I actually made a smart financial decision there. At least that’s what I’m telling myself.

I also treated myself to two movies this week. My friends and I went to see Project Hail Mary with Ryan Gosling. It wasn’t my favorite Ryan Gosling movie, but it was still funny. Then we watched the new Michael Jackson movie, which I thought was really good. That somehow led to Michael Jackson being played nonstop in our apartment for the rest of the week. No complaints.

churros I got right outside the movie theater^^

On Sunday, I went to a Rüfüs Du Sol concert at the Movistar Arena, which was such a cool experience. Being in a packed arena with locals, all just there for the music, was one of those moments where you kind of pause and realize how lucky you are to be there.

Now here I am, the night before my last final, finally deciding it’s time to focus.

With this being my second to last blog before going home, I just want to say thank you to everyone who has supported me throughout this experience. Whether it was reading these, checking in, or just being part of my life back home, I appreciate it more than you know.

One more week.

Talk to you next week.

-Mathew Gonzalez

Comillas Madrid

[umichenginabroad]

Week 14: It’s Ending… Like Actually Ending... Endgame...

This week didn’t feel real.

I wrapped up my last week of classes, which is wild to think about. For months, my whole life has been built around getting to class, figuring out where I’m supposed to be, and trying to act like I know what’s going on. And now it’s just done. No more walking into class half awake, pretending I didn't just come from Africa at 5am. No more telling myself I’ll figure it out later. There is no later now.

I had my finals for Spanish Culture through Films, Spanish Culture, and Energy Economics this week, and now I’m down to one last exam next Wednesday for Corporate Finance. It’s a weird spot to be in. I feel done, but I’m not actually done. It’s like finishing a big meal and there is one last bite sitting there. You’re full, but you know you have to finish it.

What really got me this week is how little time I have left in Madrid. I can count my days on my hands now. That doesn’t even sit right. I just got comfortable here. I just figured out which metro exits don’t trick you. I just stopped looking like I was lost all the time. And now I’m about to leave. That feels backwards.

During the week, I went to my second Real Madrid game, and it was just as electric as the first. Those fans are intense in the best way. It feels like the whole stadium is yelling at once and somehow everyone is in sync. I don’t even know what they are saying half the time, but I’m yelling too.

Then the weekend hit and I went to Morocco.

That was a completely different experience. You step off the plane and instantly know you are not in Europe anymore. Everything feels different. The energy, the pace, the sounds, the way people move. It kind of wakes you up. Not in a bad way, just in a way that makes you realize how comfortable you had gotten.

There were definitely moments where I had no idea what was going on. Just kind of standing there trusting the process and hoping it worked out. But that’s part of it. It pushes you out of your comfort zone in a way that actually sticks with you.

It’s also the kind of place where you can’t just go through the motions. You have to be present. And I think that’s why it ends up being one of the most memorable trips.

Overall, this week felt like the beginning of the end. Classes are done, finals are here, and time is moving way faster than I want it to. I’m starting to realize this whole experience is wrapping up whether I’m ready for it or not.

Trying to make these last days count.

Talk to you next week for the last time :(

-Mathew Gonzalez

Comillas Madrid

[umichenginabroad]

Week 13: Back to Reality and Suprise!

This week was all about getting back into the swing of school after being gone for so long. Nothing too crazy happened. It felt like a pretty normal week, which honestly was needed after everything from the past couple of weeks. Classes, a bit of gym, metro, repeat. Just getting back into a routine again.

One thing that has been a little frustrating though is figuring out final exam dates at Comillas. We are only about two to three weeks out from finals, and some professors still do not know when our exams are going to be. It is not their fault, it is more of a school-wide process that has to go through a lot of people before anything is finalized. But as a study abroad student, it makes things complicated. I already have flights booked to go home and I am supposed to be done by a certain date, so not knowing when my finals are adds a little stress. It is one of those things where you just kind of have to roll with it and hope it works out.

One cool thing I did for school this week was go to the Reina Sofía Museum with my Spanish Culture class. We did a two-hour tour with my professor, which made a big difference compared to just walking through a museum on your own. It is way more interesting when someone is explaining what you are looking at instead of you just nodding and pretending you understand modern art.

Outside of school, the highlight of the week was easily my parents coming to visit me. I am really grateful they made the trip, but it also made me realize how fast this semester is going because I wish I had more time with them. It is tough balancing school and having visitors, but we made the most of it. We stayed in Spain and took a trip to Valencia for the weekend. It was a great experience. We got to really indulge in the culture, try paella, and walk what felt like the entire city. And I mean the entire city literally. I do not think we sat down for more than five minutes at a time unless we were eating.

Seeing my parents experience Spain for the first time was really cool. You forget how new and exciting everything feels until you see it through someone else’s perspective again. They were genuinely so happy just exploring, trying new food, and being there with me.

Then on Tuesday night, I went out to dinner together with my parents and my roommates. It was a really nice way to wrap up their visit. After dinner, I said goodbye to my parents as they headed off to Rome to keep traveling. They were definitely trying to take full advantage of being in Europe, which I can relate to.

Overall, this week was simple but meaningful. Getting back into routine, dealing with some school uncertainty, and spending time with family.

BYEEEEE til next week.

-Mathew Gonzalez

Comillas Pontifical University - Madrid

[umichenginabroad]

Week 12: Spring Break Is Not Always a Break

Like I said last week, this was my “spring break” for Semana Santa. And I learned something very important this week. I planned way too long of a trip. By day six, I was cooked. Not just tired, but actually drained. And the worst part was realizing I was only halfway through the trip my roommates and I planned. That was a tough moment. Lesson learned. Burnout is real, even on vacation. Just because you are in Europe does not mean your body suddenly has unlimited energy.

Anyways, I will pick up where I left off. Rome. Wednesday, April 1st.

I woke up before the crack of dawn to go to the Vatican for the Wednesday General Audience. Since it was Holy Week, everyone had the exact same idea. St. Peter’s Square was completely packed. No personal space, just vibes. But it was all worth it. Pope Leo XIV, a Chicago native like me, came out to greet the crowd. He was going around blessing babies and acknowledging people. And in a moment of confidence, I yelled “Let’s go White Sox.” And somehow… he actually turned around and acknowledged me. I am not saying I had a moment with the Pope, but I am also not not saying that. As someone who went to Catholic school my whole life before Michigan, that was a surreal experience.

Later that day, I went to see the Colosseum. It lived up to the hype. It is one of those places you think might be overrated until you are actually standing there. I am pretty sure the Big House was modeled after it, but that might just be me trying to connect everything back to Michigan. I also took a video overlooking the Colosseum with audio from Gladiator, which felt like a required activity.

After Rome, I flew down to Sicily to finally slow things down and catch a break. Or at least attempt to. I stayed near Palermo and spent most of my time at Mondello Beach, which was about twenty minutes away. It was beautiful. And one of the coolest parts was that almost no one spoke English, so everything became a learning experience. Ordering food turned into a full conversation. Asking for directions became a challenge. It forced me to actually try, which I appreciated.

I rented a bike, explored, went on a hike with an unreal lunch view, and finally gave myself time to relax. Sicily felt like a reset. I even used some time to build my class schedule and get organized.

Then came Naples.

And more importantly… 2 a.m. basketball.

I watched my Michigan Wolverines win the national championship in Naples, once again at 2 a.m. At this point, I do not even question my sleep schedule anymore. It was absolutely worth it. No hesitation. I was sitting there half awake, probably confusing the people around me, but fully locked in. I saw what South U looked like back home and was smiling, knowing that everyone back home was having so much fun. I just know it was chaos in the best way. Another natty, another night of students flooding the streets. I wish I could have been there, but watching it from Italy is a pretty solid backup plan.

After that, I spent two nights in Naples, which I have to be honest, was probably my least favorite city I have visited. But I made the most of it by taking a trip to a small beach town called Formia, which was definitely worth it. Quiet, relaxed, and somewhere I would recommend if you are in the area.

Then just like that, I was back in Madrid. And reality hit immediately. I had an 8 a.m. Environmental Engineering final. That might have been the hardest part of the entire trip.

Overall, this week was amazing, but also a reality check. More travel is not always better travel. Sometimes slowing down is what actually makes the experience better.

See you guys next week!!

-Mathew Gonzalez

Comillas Madrid

[umichenginabroad]

Week 11: Slowing Down Before the Storm

Just like I mentioned last week, things were starting to slow down… and this week was even slower.

That is mainly because it is almost Semana Santa, which is a huge deal here in Spain. It is a week-long Catholic celebration leading up to Easter, with processions, traditions, and honestly a full reset for a lot of people. Schools and businesses close, people travel, and families spend time together. For most Spanish students, this is basically their version of spring break.

Because of that, there was not much going on with school this week. Classes felt lighter, people were already mentally checked out, and the overall energy was very relaxed. The only thing that really stood out to me is the fact that when I come back from break, there will only be three weeks of school left. That is crazy to think about. It feels like I just got here.

At the same time, that also means finals are right around the corner. So while everyone is slowing down now, I know I am going to have to lock in soon. What I am not looking forward to is coming back from a long break and immediately having final exams. No easing back into it. Just straight into exam mode.

Outside of school, I got my third haircut in Madrid. This is something I never thought I would have to navigate before coming abroad. My first haircut experience here was not great. I am lucky that I speak Spanish and can communicate with most barbers, but even then, the result was not exactly what I was going for. It was one of those haircuts where you just say “yeah looks good” and then go home and stare at yourself in the mirror questioning everything. So this time, I did my research. And by research, I mean I went to TikTok. Being able to actually see the barbers’ work before going made a huge difference. I found someone who did exactly what I was looking for, and finally got the haircut I wanted. Success.

Also, not to point fingers, but this haircut happened at the exact time I usually write my blogs. Which is why this one and the last one are a little late… whoops.

Now for the part I know you might be more interested in, spring break.

My roommates and I decided to travel all over Italy, and it was unreal and the trip isn’t over yet.

We flew into Milan and immediately headed to Lake Como. We did a boat tour there, which was incredible, but also freezing because of how windy it was. We saw a ton of amazing villas and tried to visit the one where Star Wars was filmed, but it was closed because of the wind. Tough scene.

From there, we took a train to Venice for two days. Venice is honestly one of the most unique cities I have ever been to. The entire city is built on water, and the main form of public transportation is a ferry. It feels like something out of a movie. We also did a boat tour to Murano, which was really cool to see.

After Venice, we did a day trip to Florence and Pisa. And yes, we took the classic leaning tower of Pisa picture. You kind of have to. It is one of those things that feels ridiculous but also mandatory.

We ended the trip in Rome, where I got to catch up with one of my friends that I have known since kindergarten. He is studying abroad there, so being able to meet up in a completely different country after knowing each other since we were five years old was a really cool full circle moment.

Overall, this week was a mix of slowing down and then jumping straight into one of the busiest and most exciting trips yet. It is crazy how quickly things are moving, but I am trying to enjoy it while I can.

Talk to you guy next week! p.s. this was supposed to be posted last week but it never uploaded :(

-Mathew Gonzalez

Comillas Madrid

[umichenginabroad]

Week 10: Slowing Down and Checking Boxes

There was not much going on at school, which makes sense because we are about two weeks out from what I would call “spring break.” They do not actually call it that here, but I will explain that more next week. You can definitely feel the shift though. Students are starting to slow down a bit, and honestly the teachers are too. It kind of feels like everyone is mentally already on break but still physically showing up to class.

Even with that, it was still a good week of school. Nothing crazy, just steady. The weather was beautiful for most of the week, which automatically makes everything better. My roommates and I made sure to take advantage of it by getting outside as much as possible. We spent time walking around El Retiro Park, which never gets old, and then grabbed some gelato after. Not going to lie, the walk to get gelato felt just as important as the walk in the park. This is my type of priority.

For this weekend’s trip, I met up with one of my high school friends and we traveled to Dublin. I have to say, Dublin might be one of my favorite trips so far. It is definitely a bit pricey, but there is something for everyone there. You just have to accept that your bank account might not love it as much as you do.

We managed to pack a lot into the trip. We went to the Cliffs of Moher, which completely lived up to the hype. The views were unreal and also slightly terrifying if you get too close to the edge. We also saw Irish dancing, spent time in classic Irish pubs, walked around Trinity College Dublin and even stopped by the random but iconic Obama gas station, which is exactly what it sounds like. We also made it out to Galway, which you might recognize from Galway Girl by Ed Sheeran my friend did play the song at least once while we were there. She felt it was necessary.

One of the highlights was the Guinness Storehouse tour. Even if you are not a huge Guinness person, the experience is really well done. And yes, I did try to convince myself I could taste all the “notes” they talk about. I could not, but I acted like I could.

The only thing I did not get to do was play golf, which was tough. The courses I saw looked absolutely pure. Like the kind of courses that make you want to quit everything and just play golf all day. I am genuinely jealous of how much they love golf there. It feels like it is just part of life.

(taken on the bus so it’s not the best picture, it’s the golf course right by the Cliffs of Moher)

Overall, this week was a great balance. A slower, relaxed week in Madrid, followed by a packed and fun trip to Dublin. Also a reminder that even when nothing “crazy” is happening, those weeks can still end up being some of the best.

Talk to you next week!!!!! -Mathew Gonzalez

Comillas Madrid

[umichenginabroad]

Week 9: Visitors, Tapas, and Slowing Down

This week was a nice change of pace.

School was pretty chill overall, especially since one of my classes got canceled. I only had to go to school twice this week, which worked out perfectly because my cousin flew into Madrid for his spring break. The timing honestly could not have been better.

We got to spend a lot of time together. During the day while I was in class, he was doing all the classic tourist things around Madrid. It was kind of funny hearing about his days because it reminded me of what my first week here felt like. Then once I was done with class, we would meet up and explore together.

There is one “tourist” thing that I will never get tired of though, and that is getting tapas. We went to El Tigre Sidra Bar, which is one of those places that almost feels too good to be true. You order a drink and they just keep bringing out plates of food for free. And not small plates either. It is a full spread. It is one of those spots where you go in expecting a quick bite and end up staying way longer than planned.

Since I only had school twice this week, we decided to take a trip to Malta for Thursday and Friday. It is a small island south of Italy, and it was absolutely stunning. The views were unreal, and the whole place had a really relaxed feel to it. The food was also great. A mix of Italian and Maltese dishes, and honestly we did not have a bad meal the entire time. It is definitely a place I would recommend to anyone.

Seeing my cousin was great, but it also brought back a bit of homesickness. It reminded me of all the little things I miss. Movie nights, long walks, just hanging out back home without needing a plan. I miss being 5 feet away from the people I spend the most time with. At the same time, I still feel really grateful to be here (and not taking UMich exams every Monday). It is a weird balance of missing home while also knowing I should enjoy being here right now.

After the trip, I spent the rest of the weekend in Madrid. Saturday was a pretty chill day. I did not do much during the day, but at night I went to my first soccer game in Europe. It was a Real Madrid game, which was crazy to experience. It was actually my second time seeing them play. The first time was back in 2014 when they played the MLS All-Stars, back when Cristiano Ronaldo, Toni Kroos, Karim Benzema, and Gareth Bale were all on the team together. Being in a European stadium for a real match is a completely different experience. The energy, the chants, everything feels more intense.

On Sunday, I went out to eat at a place called Forte Pizza Bar. I have said this before, but it still blows my mind how many restaurants and bars there are in Madrid. It feels impossible to try them all, especially when you find places that are so good you just want to keep going back.

Overall, this week was a really good mix of everything. Time with family, traveling somewhere new, and enjoying Madrid.

Thanks for catching up this week!

See you guys next week

-Mathew Gonzalez

Comillas Madrid

[umichenginabroad]

Week 8: The Halfway Point

First off, I finally recovered from the food poisoning from last week. That alone felt like a huge win. Being able to eat normally again without worrying about my stomach was a relief. The timing worked out well because my roommates and I had a family-style dinner with a friend from my hometown who was visiting. It was one of those meals where everyone sits around the table for a long time, passing food around and catching up. After the week before, it felt really good to just relax and enjoy a normal meal.

I also got some of my test scores back this week. They went about how I expected them to go. Nothing shocking, which honestly is the best outcome most of the time. It is reassuring to know that the work I am putting in here is translating the way I hoped it would.

This week was also a little more emotional than most. I found myself missing home a lot. Seeing what my friends are doing back at Michigan gave me a bit of FOMO. They are all still going to club meetings, hanging out together, and doing the normal routines of campus life. At the same time, I was missing my family more than usual, and especially my dog Bruno. It is funny how the little things you take for granted at home start to feel really important when you are far away.

Part of that probably comes from the fact that this week marks the halfway point of my study abroad experience. It is honestly hard to believe. Time has moved so fast. When I first arrived everything felt new and overwhelming, and now I feel like I have a routine and a sense of normal life here. Realizing that half the semester is already gone makes me want to slow things down, even though that is impossible.

This weekend I traveled to Copenhagen, Denmark and Berlin, Germany. Both were really cool experiences in completely different ways.

Copenhagen immediately stood out for how clean and organized everything felt. The city is known for being one of the happiest in the world, and I can see why. The food was great, the culture felt relaxed, and there were bikes everywhere. It felt like the entire city was built around biking. People of all ages were riding around, commuting, running errands, or just enjoying the day. It made the city feel active but also calm.

Berlin was interesting in a very different way. The city has so much history, and you can feel it when you walk around. There are reminders of the past everywhere, from historic sites to museums and memorials. It was fascinating to see how a city with such a complicated history has evolved into such a creative and vibrant place.

What I Wish I Knew at the Halfway Point

For anyone studying abroad who is reaching the halfway mark, here are a few things I wish I had known earlier.

First, feeling homesick is normal. Even if you are having an incredible time, there will be moments where you miss home, your friends, your family, or even just your routine. That does not mean the experience is not worth it. It just means you are human.

Second, the time goes faster than you think. In the beginning it can feel like you have so much time, but suddenly you look up and half the semester is gone. If there is something you want to do, plan it. Waiting for the “perfect time” can mean it never happens.

Third, not every week needs to be packed with big trips or huge experiences. Some of the best moments happen in normal everyday life. Cooking dinner, walking through the city, or sitting with friends can be just as memorable as traveling somewhere new.

Looking Ahead: The Bucket List Check-In

Now that I am halfway through my time here, I have been thinking about what I still want to accomplish before the semester ends.

There are still places I want to visit, new foods I want to try, and parts of Madrid I have not fully explored yet. I want to keep traveling when I can, but I also want to spend more time appreciating the city I am actually living in.

I also want to keep improving my Spanish and being more comfortable speaking it in everyday situations. Even small conversations feel like progress.

Most importantly, I want to stay present. It is easy to start thinking about going back home, finishing school, and everything that comes after this. But this experience is temporary, and I want to make the most of the time that is left.

Halfway down, and a lot more still to go.

-Mathew Gonazlez

Comillas Madrid