Jack Collins Spain 2018

I felt an array of emotions as I left the airport in Madrid. The thought of living in Spain for the next month, speaking more Spanish than English, was both exciting and terrifying. Once we had collected our backpacks from the baggage claim, we embarked on a long bus ride from Madrid to Salamanca. Half-asleep, we arrived in Salamanca and met our host families. I was pleased to find out that my family lived around the corner from Estudio Sampere, the school I would be attending for the next three weeks. Our host family was comprised of a mother and two daughters, who welcomed us with open arms.

Once we had settled into our homes, we were faced with the task of attending our classes. There were two class periods each day, lasting two hours each. One period focused on Spanish grammar and vocabulary, while the other focused on culture. The teachers I had made the two hour classes much more enjoyable, as they would incorporate games into the lessons in order to teach their lessons without letting class become monotonous. I was placed in a class comprised of all of my fellow MBA students, along with a few students from other states. After the first week, we were joined by two boys from India and one from Hungary. Being able to speak with people from so many different countries and cultures was a great experience for me, as I have not had many chances to do that before.

Front of Catedral Nueva de Salamanca

In Salamanca, my friends and I found many ways to enjoy ourselves. One of my favorite places to spend time in was the Plaza Mayor. Visiting the stores and parks in and around the Plaza was a fun way to learn more about Salamanca and its culture. Watching the World Cup in the Plaza was definitely an unforgettable experience. Crowding around small TV’s to watch Spain play against Portugal was a lot of fun.

After class every day, there was plenty of time left in the day to explore the city. One day, my friends and I found a basketball court. We immediately went to a store and bought a basketball, and ended up playing pickup games almost every day after school. At the court, we would occasionally get the chance to speak with the locals. Getting the opportunity to have full conversations with native Spanish speakers was another experience from this trip that I will never forget.

The view from La Castilla de Los Duques de Alba

Every Sunday, Estudio Sampere would take us on an excursion to learn more about Spanish history and culture. The first Sunday, we visited Alba de Tormes. We saw La Castilla de Los Duques de Alba, which was a very tall castle, and the Basilica de Santa Teresa de Jesus. After going on our tours, we were free to explore the city. My friends and I found a beautiful view on a ledge on the far end of the city. Exploring the city and finding such a great location was my favorite part of the trip to Alba de Tormes. On the second Sunday, we visited Segovia. In Segovia, we toured the Alcázar of Segovia and got to see the Roman aqueducts that pass through the city. I was amazed by the fact that the aqueducts are still in good condition after all these years, and have been untouched despite the construction that had occured around them throughout the years. The third and final excursion took us to Zamora, where we visited a museum which focused on the history and culture of Zamora. The museum displayed multiple aspects of Zamora’s history, such as traditional clothing and tools. We also visited the Castle of Zamora. The gardens surrounding the castle were beautifully. Sadly, we were not able to enter the castle, however exploring the city still made the trip a memorable experience.

Roman Aqueducts in Segovia

SEVILLA

View of the river that runs through Sevilla

Leaving Salamanca was bittersweet in a way. While I was very excited to travel Spain for the final week, Salamanca had begun to feel like home. Upon arriving in Sevilla, I left my worries behind, as I was taken aback by how beautiful the city was. One of the first things we did in Sevilla was trying tapas at a local restaurant. Unsure of what to order, I asked the server, who recommended tortillitas de camarones. Like the rest of the group, I was astonished by how delicious tapas are, and ended up ordering more than I should have that night. We visited the Plaza de España, the Palacio de Sevilla, and the tomb of Christopher Columbus, all of which were examples of the beautiful architecture in Sevilla. We also got the chance to watch a flamenco performance, which was very interesting as the flamenco is not commonly found in the United States.

Catedral de Sevilla

GRANADA

After a few days in Sevilla, we took a train to Granada. In Granada, we were able to see the contrast between the local culture and the culture of other cities in Spain. Granada is more influenced by Arabic culture, while other cities are display moorish influence. The most prominent example of Arabic influence in Granada is the Alhambra. Visiting the Alhambra was my favorite part of Granada, as it was full of beautiful art and architecture.

Madrid

Visiting Madrid was easily the highlight of the travel week for me. The busy streets and crowded sidewalks were very different from the calm streets of Granada, Sevilla, and Salamanca. In Madrid, we visited the Museum of Reina Sofía, in which we saw Picasso’s Guernica. After seeing the Reina Sofía, we visited the Prado, in which we saw Las Meninas, one of the most famous Spanish works of art. We also toured the Palacio Real, in which we saw the sites of famous meetings and an armory which holds old weapons and suits of armor. My favorite part of Madrid was walking along the Gran Via and shopping in its stores. El Corte Ingles was easily my favorite place to go, as it was full of interesting shops.

This was one of the most fun trips I have ever taken. I made plenty of memories that I will never forget. I would like to thank the Wilson family for giving me the opportunity to improve my ability of speaking Spanish while also being able to imbibe a completely new culture. Through their generosity I have seen and experienced things that will influence me for the rest of my life.