Spain: Chris Bottari-Tower (Local Interactions)

Program: Saint Louis University-Madrid, Spring

Since being in Madrid, some of the most meaningful parts of this experience have come from the people I’ve met outside of the classroom. One moment that stands out is getting involved with a youth group at a local Catholic church near my university. From the first time I showed up, I was struck by how welcoming everyone was. Even though I was new and still adjusting to the language, they made an effort to include me in conversations and activities right away.

What made this especially meaningful was being able to practice my faith alongside people my age who grew up in a different culture. Seeing how they live out similar beliefs, but with their own traditions and perspectives, gave me a new appreciation for both the universality and diversity of the Catholic church. At the same time, it pushed me to step out of my comfort zone linguistically. Conversations weren’t always easy at first, but over time, I noticed real progress in my Spanish simply by being present and engaged.

Outside of the church, I’ve also connected with locals through sports. Playing fútbol and pádel has been another great way to meet people. One of the highlights has been spending time with my cousin, who lives in Madrid. Even though we didn’t grow up together, playing pádel with him and meeting his family made the city feel much smaller. They welcomed me like I had always been part of their daily lives, which made a big difference being away from home.

This is a picture of my cousin and I at his house after we played a game of pádel.

These interactions have shown me that building connections doesn’t always require perfect language skills or shared backgrounds. Sometimes it just takes showing up, being open, and accepting the invitation to be part of something new.