Harrison is a current junior in the School of Foreign Service majoring in culture and politics and minoring in economics and Spanish. He is a current intern for the Georgetown University Alumni and Student Federal Credit Union and is a part of the Blue and Gray Tour Guide Society, and contributes to Georgetown Stories! In the past, he wrote for the Free Speech Project and served on the board of Hoya Blue. When not working on school or extracurriculars, Harrison can be found making playlists, exploring D.C., enjoying the outdoors or hanging out with friends.
From the time I began looking for colleges, having a great study abroad experience was always at the top of my mind. When I came to Georgetown, I was excited to learn that – like my guides had said during my tour of campus – studying abroad is a major part of the Georgetown experience. Now, in my junior year, I am having my own study abroad experience in Madrid, and I can happily report that it has been just as amazing as I have always imagined. But, in all honesty, some clarification about studying abroad before I began planning my experience would have helped. So, with this blog, I wanted to share a few things to remember when planning your time abroad.
Words Matter: Check The Language Requirements For You And The Program
Let’s talk language requirements. Many Georgetown programs (even beyond the SFS) require you to reach a certain level of proficiency in a foreign language. This can, in turn, impact which study abroad programs you are eligible for. For example, as an SFS student who has not passed the proficiency exam yet, I was limited to only Spanish-speaking programs (which I love!). In short, don’t get your hopes up for a semester abroad in Japan if you’re studying Portuguese and haven’t reached your program’s required level.
On the other hand, check the program descriptions to see if they require a certain level of language proficiency. For example, my program in Madrid requires that we have all taken at least Advanced Spanish II. There are a whole slew of programs like this, but what’s particularly special about them is that they will definitely help you improve your comprehension of your chosen language. In the two months I have spent in Madrid thus far, my Spanish has improved by leaps and bounds! From Buenos Aires, Argentina to Lyon, France to Berlin, Germany to Shanghai, China, there are so many cool programs that give you the opportunity to improve your language skills — just make sure you are eligible to apply.
But don’t fret, there are so many amazing English-speaking programs out there as well! This semester Prague, Czechia and Copenhagen, Denmark seem to be particularly popular, not to mention the famous Georgetown Villa in the mountains surrounding Florence, Italy. But there are other English-speaking programs that deserve more recognition too — check out Bristol in the United Kingdom, Dublin in Ireland, Apia in Samoa or New Delhi in India.
Ultimately, what’s most important is finding a program that you are eligible for and excites you! Studying abroad is supposed to be a fun time away from the Hilltop to learn a little more about the world around us.
Living Situations: An Ode to the Homestay
Luckily, there are a variety of accommodation options available to Georgetown students while abroad, depending on the program. While some programs require homestays (like mine here in Madrid), others offer apartments with other American students, traditional dorms, centrally-located student residences, solo rooms, etc. While many people initially gravitate towards apartment-style living (especially after two years of dorming on the Hilltop), don’t ignore the homestay experience.
Madrid students, as part of our commitment to practicing our Spanish at every given moment, are required to live with host families for our semester abroad. While I was initially hesitant about it, it has been one of the best parts of my time in Spain. My host family has been incredibly supportive, accommodating, fun and helpful as I have adjusted to living in a different culture. I think those living with host families tend to get a better sense of their host city and assimilate deeper into their new home. While study abroad is certainly about having fun and exploring, we should also be focused on understanding, appreciating and adapting to the culture of the place we call home for a semester. Living with a host family will help you do that. So, don’t be afraid to take the jump and show up at a random family’s doorstep one day… it’s awesome.
Location, Location, Location: Where to Go
Look, there’s not one place that offers the best study abroad experience (although I do think Madrid is pretty close). Everyone has different goals and expectations for their time abroad. One thing I will say about location, however, is to make sure the place you’ll call home for four months isn’t a passing thought.
I know a lot of people (especially those abroad in Europe) look forward to traveling every weekend and seeing the world. I can’t claim to be innocent of that mindset — it certainly was a reason I wanted to go to Spain. However, as I sit writing this post, I can’t help but be eternally grateful that I chose Madrid; not because it has a good airport that is connected to the rest of the continent, but because it’s a wonderful place to live.
In other words, go somewhere that you think you’ll actually enjoy; not somewhere everyone else is going, not somewhere that is centrally located and thus easy to leave; not somewhere that you won’t be excited to return to after a weekend trip away.
My Experience in Madrid
While I can give all that advice, it’s only due to the power of reflection. I ultimately committed to spending a semester in Madrid because it worked with my academic plan and I thought it would be fun to spend a semester in Europe. So, ultimately, do what you feel is right. I went with my gut and have had a fantastic time. I genuinely believe I could live in Madrid well into the future as the culture, the people, the things to do, and the opportunities are just incomparable. As cliche as it sounds, abroad has truly been a life-changing experience.
