University of Wisconsin–Madison

Spain: Ben Willis

Program: UW Chemical & Biological Engineering Summer Lab in Spain, Summer

Ben’s Major: Chemical Engineering

A selfie of Ben on a high hill overlooking the city of Oviedo.
This was the view from the top of Monte Naranco, right next to the Sacred Heart of Jesus Monument. I would highly recommend doing this hike if you’re there!

How were your program academics similar or different from taking classes at UW-Madison?

This class was most similar to CBE 324. We typically performed two labs a week which means two lab reports a week. While this is not a light workload, if you are efficient with your time management you will still have plenty of time to explore the city and hang out with friends. The instructors have solid English skills and there were rarely any language barriers in lab.

What is your advice for someone considering your program?

If you can make it work, do it. I was on the fence about whether or not I would apply for this program and I can’t put into words how glad I am that I did. The experience of living in another country for an extended period of time was life changing. I made many memories and friendships that I will treasure forever because of this program. I was able to apply a lot of things that I learned in my classes at UW-Madison to the labs in Oviedo which helped me to grow academically as well.

I was on the fence about whether or not I would apply for this program and I can’t put into words how glad I am that I did.

Ben on a grassy mountaintop, on a sunny day, with mountains and fog in the background.
We took a day trip to Parque Nacional de los Picos de Europa. We had to climb a mountain in order to see above the high levels of fog.

What is your most memorable experience from your program?

My most memorable experience from this program was watching the local soccer team, Real Oviedo, win the promotion game to Spain’s top league, La Liga, for the first time since 2000. We watched the game, and it was an experience I will never forget. Everyone was welcoming and when the final whistle blew, thousands of people crowded the streets to celebrate.

What is a custom, food or tradition from your host country that you are taking forward?

The best food that I had during this program was the lentil stew which was served weekly for lunch at the university. I encourage anyone participating in this study abroad program to go out of your comfort zone and try new foods, especially the lentil stew.