Why I Picked Madrid (And the 50 Emails It Took to Decide)

Some people pick a study abroad program from a quick Google Search. 

I picked mine by talking to almost everyone at my university who went before me. 

Regret minimization is my middle name. I always hear people's nightmare stories from studying abroad, so I thought better safe than sorry. I found the contact info for nearly all the participants last year in the Barcelona and Madrid IES Abroad Spain programs and sent close to fifty emails. I spent my last semester grabbing lunch or dinner with anyone who would meet me. I had one of those briefing lunches the same day I left for the airport. The advice kept pointing in the same direction: Madrid was the right choice for me. 

It seems easy to say, but my best piece of advice is that whenever you have to make a big decision, especially one that determines a summer study abroad experience, do so with care. Take the time to reach out to the people who did it before you. Ask questions. Compare people's responses. That's how you prepare to make the most out of your experience.

Now, a bit more about why I chose Madrid. The city pulls me in because it works as a classroom of 3.4 million people. As the capital, it carries a cultural intensity and historical depth I know will push me. This trip is about more than a few weeks away for me; it's also about the person I become for my community back home. 

I grew up in South Florida, where Spanish runs through daily life. There is a difference between understanding a language and using it well enough to advocate for someone. I want to enter law and public service and protect the communities that raised me. To lead them well, I need to connect beyond basic translation. I need to move through Spanish with the same ease I use in English. I want to return to South Florida as someone who went abroad and came back ready to stand in a courtroom or a community center and speak with authority. Thinking this far in the future may be difficult for some. Still, I believe having a general idea of how a study abroad program will aid your growth as a human and help you in the future is essential in making your decision on where to study abroad.

Additionally, I had a plan for the Madrid trip, and that was a linguistic blackout: 

1. Homestay with no English safety net. I chose to live with a Spanish-speaking host, so I have to use the language every day. 

2. Spanish settings on everything. Phone, laptop, and most of my media switched over to Spanish. 

3. Local rhythm over tourist mode. I want the slang, the daily pace, and the way people actually think, and that means talking to as many people as possible. 

I know it seems like a lot to think about all these things before making a decision, but I believe it has truly allowed me to fully experience Madrid and make the most out of every single moment here. I challenge you all to think of it in the same regard when ydecideion on where to study abroad.