Lexie spent a term in Madrid, Spain, studying at the University Carlos III of Madrid (UC3M)
At the F1 Monaco Grand Prix!
My first sunset in Madrid at the palace!
On a rooftop in Lisbon, Portugal. This was my first trip while studying abroad and the "Yes, life is good” art rang so true.
At Disneyland Paris with fellow student and friend Amanda Lim!
Where I had lunch on Lake Como. The most beautiful place I have ever seen.
Inside the stunning Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain.
Sunset dinner in the desert in Marrakesh, Morocco.
Delicious Portuguese tarts and hot chocolate in Libson, Portugal. One of the best desserts.
View of the Eiffel Tower from outside the Louvre Museum in Paris, France. My most favourite place ever.
Lexie, Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences, Co-op
Why did you choose your host country and institution?
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I wanted a country that was going to be warmer than Canadian winter, was relatively cheap, and easy to travel from. Madrid (Spain) checked all these boxes and UC3M was the only school there which made my decision easy.
What was an average day like in your program?
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I had been planning for my exchange since first year so I did a lot of organizing so that I could go during my final term of my undergraduate degree and only take 2 electives while there. Each week I had class Thursday and Friday and would do any work I had then. Many weeks I would then leave on a trip Saturday morning and return Wednesday evening! On a school day I would take the metro and train to school as it was about 40 minutes away. I would stay on campus to finish any readings, quizzes, or assignments and then take the metro back home.
What was one of your favourite experiences from your time abroad?
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Keeping a travel journal and making vlogs of all of my trips! It is a great way to reflect on my time abroad and the trips I went on. My favourite experience from my time abroad was getting to see the F1 Grand Prix in Monaco. Definitely a once in a lifetime opportunity.
What was it like to live and learn in another language? (If applicable)
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I knew French going abroad which ended up being helpful when picking up Spanish because they have many similarities. English is not always spoken in Madrid, even in touristy spots, so learning at least some Spanish was necessary. It was easy to pick up because you have the same interactions over and over “do you want a bag”, “do you want it for here or to go”, “how would you like to pay” etc.
Were there any challenges? If so, how did you overcome or cope with them?
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It was challenging to not know the language of my host country, but I quickly picked up the important bits. The only challenge I really had was adjusting to the cultural differences. The manners are very different, the service in restaurants is different, there is no Walmart to get everything you need at once. But you learn to adjust with time and start to appreciate the differences.
Did any of your experiences challenge the assumptions you held about your host country or culture?
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I really knew very little going to Spain and was surprised to realize it is not warm all the time! In my head Spain is just always a warm country, but they do get snow! I was really impressed with their subway system and how affordable it was. I also didn’t think siesta would be as common as it is. So many stores are closed during the afternoon!
Has this exchange helped you personally, academically or professionally?
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I think it has helped me to grow as a person and gather more confidence and worldviews which will translate positively in school and in workplaces. I think living abroad comes with many changes and being able to adapt teaches you a lot about yourself which makes you more in tune with how you function as a student or employee.
What were your experiences like when you returned home? Did your understandings about your own life or reflections on your experience change after you came back to ݮƵ?
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It was an adjustment for sure. I went back to living at home with my family and after being on the other side of the world with complete freedom for 5 months, it was quite the change. The lifestyle in Spain is much slower, people like to linger after meals and lay for hours in parks and people always seem to be together. I find in Canada we are a lot more individualistic and people work and go home and wake up and do it again. So I am trying to take some of Spain’s culture with me and live life a little slower and take my time doing things and not let work dictate my whole day!