Predeparture Blog #1

Hey everyone! I’m Samantha, a third-year student at the University of California, Berkeley. I am originally from Bethesda, Maryland, but I mainly grew up in Boulder, Colorado with my parents, two older siblings, and our adorable Bernedoodle named Mango. I love the outdoors, all types of animals, staying active, trying delicious foods, and live music. I am so excited to study abroad in Madrid next semester and document all my adventures!

I have studied Spanish since kindergarten, so I chose my program mainly because of language. I was fortunate to attend a fully Spanish immersion elementary school, and with some middle and high school classes, I became fluent entering college. When I was younger, my family also loved to travel to South America. One summer, we lived in Nicaragua for two months with a local family. We went to a small Spanish school, cooked meals for the community, and were fully immersed in the Nicaraguan lifestyle. This was a wonderful experience and I hope to make similar memories during my time in Madrid.

Even though I am studying bioengineering at my university in the States, I chose the language and area studies program to get the full Madrid experience. I want to learn all about the rich history and culture, visit art museums, see stunning architecture, and experience the local lifestyle. I am also a huge foodie, so I am very much looking forward to trying all kinds of tapas and yummy treats! 

I will admit, my language skills over the past year have not been used to the fullest extent, so I really hope to broaden my vocabulary and connect with locals while exploring the beautiful city of Madrid. Being immersed in the language and talking with Spaniards every day will allow me to practice more than I ever have, and I am eager to have my Spanish come back to me like second nature. I value this skill so much, and I hope to use my bilingualism in my future career and for the rest of my life.

The reason I chose IES Abroad as my study abroad program is actually because of my mom. Not because she told me to, but because she studied abroad through IES Abroad in Paris when she was in college, and her experience has inspired me to follow in her footsteps. She still talks about how her experience truly changed her life; she made genuine lifelong friendships, mastered her French skills, and got to live in the romantic city of Paris for half a year. She has kept in touch with her abroad friends for the past 25 years (they even went to a Taylor Swift concert together a couple of months ago!), which is something I hope to find during my experience. IES Abroad has provided me with endless resources and helpful people who have guided me through the application process and pre-departure checklist. I am very grateful and excited to meet them in person once I arrive!

Regarding Visas and passports, make sure to get on this as soon as possible. Navigating the consulate websites can be super tricky, so don’t hesitate to reach out if you are confused - most people are. I was fortunate enough to have the mail-in option to get my Visa, and I would highly recommend doing this if you can. I sent in my passport and received my Visa about one month later. On the other hand, my friend sent hers in over the summer and still has not heard back from her consulate. Of course, you will not have many options on consulate locations since it is based on where you live or where you go to school, so my best advice is to start early and ask many questions. There are so many resources available and people that are ready to help.

As my arrival date approaches, I definitely feel reality starting to sink in. It’s crazy how in a few short weeks I will be living a whole new life (temporarily). At times, it all feels very overwhelming and intimidating, but I keep reminding myself that I won’t be alone. The spectacular experiences that await me heavily outweigh the complications, and I know I will return from studying abroad as a new and improved person. Stay tuned for my authentic day-to-day life, adventurous weekend trips, and everything else in between!