Submitted by Markie Masucci on the 2018 summer session program in Salamanca, Spain sponsored by the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures…
Upon arriving at the airport in Madrid at 6:30 AM, I did not have any idea what to expect. To me, stepping foot off of the airplane and into the airport was more than a relief for my stiff legs. Instead, it was more of an accomplishment because this was my first time stepping foot on international soil. Not only was I out of the United States for the first time, but I was also in Spain. As a Spanish education major, going to Spain to study the language has always been a tremendous dream of mine. Now that my dream had turned into a reality, it was a very exciting moment knowing that all my years of studying the Spanish language were about to pay off. Having learned Spanish in the United States, I only had a firm grasp of the mechanics of the language itself. However, I had only briefly been familiarized with the other parts that come into play with learning another language such as culture, full immersion and seeing how the language plays into every aspect of life.
I had my first cultural experience right after hopping off the plane. After meeting our program director, Cristina Guardiola-Griffiths, at the airport, the other students who traveled with me and I had to navigate our way to the hotel. Our options were a taxi, bus or metro. Personally, after a long flight, I wanted to take a cab and get right to the hotel. Nonetheless, a classmate claimed she was feeling ambitious and was determined to figure out the metro system. As we looked at the kiosk, trying to decode the several maps and Spanish directions, we tried to figure out how to simply purchase tickets. Once we finally figured it out, we found the airport’s metro platform and boarded our train. I consider this my first cultural experience in Spain because not only were we travelling like Spaniards, but we also caught a glimpse at their mannerism: what they wore, how they acted on the metro, what their small talk sounded like, etc.
Our time in Madrid was a healthy mix of historic importance and Spanish everyday life. As for history, we visited the Royal Palace (Palacio Real de Madrid) and the famous Prado Museum (Museo del Prado). Although these two attractions are a great way to formally absorb information about the history of Spain, one can simply get an authentic European feel by wandering the city. The city of Madrid containes aspects both modern and classic. Because it is a worldwide hub, there were many modern buildings and large shopping centers with big name chain stores. However, notable parts of an ancient city still had their place, such as the Plaza Mayor. Most old European cities have a plaza located in the center of the city that serves the same purpose today as it did centuries ago. The Plaza provides an easy way to navigate the city and a convenient central meeting place. In Madrid, the restaurants and stores of the plaza are complemented by old architecture and charm. It is a booming part of the city with many locals and tourists alike.
