Cafe E'tage

There’s so much I could say about my experience studying abroad in Spain with IES Abroad Granada, but I’m going to go over a few of my main takeaways now that I’ve had a week of traveling to start processing this amazing experience. 

The most unique class I took this semester was called ES/SO360: Designing the Sustainable City. This class was part of the Global Pillars Project at IES Abroad which aims to incorporate the UN’s sustainable development goals into the curriculum while abroad. The Global Pillars class is completely project-based learning. Over the course of the semester, there will be short lectures and field trips that culminate in a final project. This class is also distinctive because it partners with other IES Abroad centers weekly.

One of my favorite things to do when I travel to a new area is run to take in the sights, people, and nature, whether that be if I’m taking a vacation, or living somewhere for a while such as college. Because I would be living in Buenos Aires for these four months, I knew I wanted to incorporate this hobby into my daily routine. I took the first few weeks to find the best parks and plazas to run and because city running can a lot different, there was a bit of a learning curb too.

Thirty-six hours before I left my heart behind as my plane took off from Madrid with a semester’s worth of luggage in the hold, I was in a royal palace.

Specifically, I was at El Pardo – it’s worth specifying, because Spain has dozens and dozens of royal palaces. I’d picked El Pardo because it was the home of the notorious fascist dictator Francisco Franco, and also because it was a free twenty-minute bus ride from the center of Madrid, where I spent my semester.

1. The ‘Travel’ Part 

It’s mind-boggling to think that just a few months ago, we were exploring every nook and cranny, in search of our favorite parks, cafes, and places to relax.  And, within a few months, it became easier to find a groove within the chaos. Wake up, have breakfast, take a bus to class, have lunch, do homework, and meet with friends. I have found my favorite places to get some filling, nourishing food (shoutout to Club de Ensalata). However, a short moment I had a few days ago helped me appreciate the small sparks in routine again. 

Although big, expensive weekend trips are marketed as one of the key experiences of a semester abroad, they are not the only way to occupy your long weekends. A fun and memorable weekend can be had with under $100 at any of the three day trip locations mentioned below.