As my first month living in Madrid comes to an end, I decided to share some advice that I have come up with while living abroad! Being across the world from family, friends, and your comfort zone can feel overwhelming, but it couldn't hurt to hear from other students in the same position.
1. It's okay to be uncomfortable
Every night at 9:30 I meet my roommate, host mom, and host dad at the dinner table. Despite the fact that everyone around the table is curious to learn more about the others and outgoing when it comes to conversations in their native language, we still hit dead silences at least a few times throughout the meal when my roommate and I struggle to find the right Spanish words to hold a conversation. I have to remind myself every day that living in a foreign country comes with many obstacles and feeling uncomfortable just means that you are doing something right.
2. Pinterest is your new best friend
Though I have always personally enjoying perusing the website for lifehacks and interesting quotes, I have found that Pinterest is one of the most helpful tools while abroad. Having every 3-day weekend booked in a new city means that there's only so much time to get out and experience the country's culture. Type in "24 Hours in [City Name]" to the search bar and you will instantly be greeted with multiple guides from locals and tourists, highlighting the best sightseeing and experiences offered in the city.
3. Download all the apps essential to getting good deals for flights immediately
Listen carefully: this one's important! I have a folder on my phone with Hopper (tracks the flights you indicate and finds a date that has historically been the cheapest to purchase the tickets on) Google Trips/Flights (finds the best weekends to travel to the city of your choice), and Skyscanner (allows you to choose a weekend and find the least expensive city to travel to). I suggest downloading these early and checking them frequently for the best deals!
4. Make time for family and friends at home
As the saying goes, time flies when you're having fun, but you should make sure to carve out some time each week to contact your loved ones at home. Even at Villanova keeping in contact with people outside the Nova Bubble seems challenging, but your family and friends will be happy to receive some pictures and updates on your new and exciting life! My close friends often tell me they are living vicariously through my pictures and, plus, I love hearing the latest news on campus!
5. Explore but spend a decent amount of time in your home city
Many people told me this before the semester started, but now I really understand how important this is. One of my main goals is to speak Spanish fluently, and I have realized that there is no way I can accomplish this unless I spend a decent amount of time actually living in Madrid. It's fun to get away most weekends, but make sure you can come back with a secure understanding and appreciation of your home country. Choose where you want to live accordingly!
6. Go out of your way to give the US a good rep
On one of the first days of my trip, the program director asked the students to make assumptions about the Spanish perspective of the US. Nearly everyone thought that the Spanish thought of Americas as egocentric and ignorant of the rest of the world. It turns out that most Spanish people base their thoughts of US citizens mainly on their interactions with visitors. This means that it's our prerogative to make these interactions good ones, by going out of our way to use the native language (even if it's as simple as Google Translating how to say "hello" and "thank you") and listening to learn more than speaking.
7. Develop friendships with other students in your program and classes
These are the people you will be spending every single day with for the next four months. If you are like me, you'll want a few friends to travel with as well as study with! Plus, it is likely that you'll end up missing a couple classes due to a delayed flight or unforeseen circumstances, so it helps to have someone to reach out to to keep you up to date. If you have an open mind and take enough time to really get to know them, I am positive you will find some really cool people.
8. Create a bucket list
It is your time abroad and there is no better way to drive your experience to be exactly what you want it to be than to write down what you want to get out of the four quick months. Restaurants to eat in, places you want to travel to, unusual activities that you want to try, and your goals for the semester are all great options.
9. Come up with a way to remember your time abroad
Whether it's keeping a weekly blog, purchasing a shot glass in every city, or writing in a journal every night, everyone in my program has a way to keep track of their experiences. After all, it's important to have keepsakes that you can cherish years from now.
