Anna Rys, Study Abroad semester at Saint Louis Madrid

When I left Brussels to study abroad in Madrid, I wasn't sure what to expect. I'm not the most social person, and I literally didn't know anybody there, not even a distant relative or a friend of a friend of a friend, so I wasn't sure if I would make any friends there. I was worried unnecessarily, because I got to know a lot of great people really fast (the orientation trip I went on was very helpful). I even ended up having a boyfriend there, and we all still keep in touch.

At the beginning, I also didn't know if I could balance my school work and my social life. I wanted to have both good grades and be able to go out at least a couple of nights a week so that I could bond with my new friends. After all, I only had four months to benefit from this experience and I wanted to use that time to the fullest. In the end, I often managed to go out way more than twice a week, and I finished my semester abroad with a perfect GPA.  

What's more, I took several interesting courses that I otherwise wouldn't have a chance to take, because they are not offered at Vesalius and I'm really glad I did it. Also, I got to experience several different cultures: the Spanish culture, and the one of the SLU Madrid campus. Plus, I got to see a multitude of beautiful places, enjoyed many sunny days, and learned how to dance the salsa!

Overall, I'm happy I was able to go through the study abroad experience, because it not only broadened my horizons in general but it also made me want to get to know many more people and places, and made me a little bit more cosmopolitan.  

 
All pictures courtesy of Anna Rys