Spain: Anna Egge-Kittleson
Program: CIEE Summer Language & Culture in Alcalá, Summer
Anna’s Major: Spanish, Environmental Studies, Health Promotion and Health Equity
What is your most memorable experience from your program?
My most memorable experience from the program was going to a horse barn about twenty minutes from the University of Alcalá de Henares. A friend of mine on the program (a fellow badger) lived in a host family that cared for a horse at a stable just out of town, and during our last week of classes a couple of us had the opportunity to tag along and help bathe, feed, and walk the horse Macao. My friend’s host sister actually picked me up from my dorm in her car, and we listened to a mix of her favorite Spanish music and my favorite American music the whole way there. We bonded over our shared love of music and our similar interests. At the end of the outing I even had the opportunity to ride Macao for a couple of slow laps around the track—with her help and expertise of course! It was one of the most unique and unexpected experiences I had during the program, and I am so glad I was able to be part of such a special experience.
What is the moment you are most proud of?
On one of the first nights of the program I went out to the plaza right next to the student dorms to enjoy some live music at the festival that was going on in town, and I ended up striking up a conversation with a local couple who were very friendly. They gave us a bunch of recommendations for restaurants in the area and we talked about our experiences so far at the local university. I ended up running into the same couple on a walk in town a week or so later, and they remembered me, so we chatted again. It was really encouraging to know I was actively building my conversational skills, and I felt very proud that I was willing to put myself out there and make mistakes in the name of growth.
Actually being in the country we were learning about offered a very incredible firsthand learning experience.
How were your program academics similar or different from taking classes at UW-Madison?
On the CIEE Summer Language & Culture program in Alcalá, much of the focus was put on experiencing all that Spain has to offer—from enjoying Spanish cuisine to seeing some of the country’s most famous monuments, like El Escorial or the Prado Museum. For this reason, we only had classes on Monday-Thursday, and Fridays were reserved for CIEE Study Abroad excursions. Although we still had exams and homework assignments, I felt they were meaningful parts of my learning. Overall, I felt that the program was more focused on gaining a genuine appreciation and understanding of Spain firsthand, rather than accumulating a bunch of information. In my class “Spain and its Gastronomy,” which centered on culinary traditions of Spain, my professor planned various activities for us each Thursday; one week she brought us to a local restaurant where we got to see a live demonstration of how to prepare a Spanish staple, paella. During this process, the chef taught us about the origins and history of the dish before enjoying it. Another week, we had the opportunity to go to a local market where we got to talk to the vendors about their products. These are just a few of the opportunities I experienced that were unique to Spain. I felt the courses in Alcalá de Henares were comparable in rigor to that of any course at UW-Madison; however, actually being in the country we were learning about offered a very incredible firsthand learning experience.