Madison Clary's Solo Study Abroad Trip to Spain
Madison Clary (Agricultural Economics; Westfield, IN) spent the spring semester studying abroad in Spain. She arrived in Spain on January 17th, finished finals on May 20th and spent the next few weeks traveling until her flight headed home on June 7th. Madison had a fabulous five months and lived with two different host families so she could be completely immersed in the Spanish culture.
She found the academics to be more difficult than in the U.S. for numerous reasons. Madison explained that her commute to campus was 75 minutes, courses were taught in Spanish, classrooms were very lecture-based with no student interaction, grades were based solely on a midterm and final, more memorization and less critical thinking were required and she spent all day in the same building for classes. Spanish professors didn’t allow eating (or even really drinking) in class, and they started classes about 10 minutes late every session.
Madison shared, “My classes started at 8:30 am and went for an hour and a half of pure lecture. When it ended at 10 am, my next class started immediately with no passing period. I struggled to find time to take a brain break. I did this for 4.5 hours straight, then had an hour for lunch, and then my final 2-hour class. It was exhausting to do it all in Spanish because the required focus is so much higher than learning in English, but it has given me a lot of confidence that I can push through and have the stamina for experiences in the future.”
When comparing the cultural difference, she said, “A typical dinner time in Spain is around 9-10 pm. My first host family would actually eat a little later, around 10- 11 pm. Meals lasted longer, people spent more time outside in plazas or cafés, and daily life felt less rushed than what I was used to in the U.S. It was common for me to still be at the dinner table at midnight talking. I think that people tend to eat a little slower and really use meal times to connect and converse with each other. It’s frowned upon to even bring your phone to the table. Some of my friends even had to stay in nice clothes for dinner.”
The second major difference was the smoking culture. Madison noticed, “In the U.S., smoking feels much less visible and is often more separated from everyday public life. In Spain, I noticed it more often outside restaurants, on sidewalks and near social gathering spaces, which made me realize how different public health norms and social habits can be between countries.”
Madison spent a great deal of time exploring Spain and visited Mallorca Island, Canary Islands, Valencia, Toledo, Segovia, Barcelona, Cadiz, Ronda, Malaga and Cordoba. She also traveled outside of Spain to Andorra, Denmark, Luxembourg, Portugal, Morocco and France. Her favorite destination was Seville during the Feria de Abril (April Fair), one of Spain’s most iconic celebrations. “Walking through the fair felt like stepping into a postcard. Everywhere I looked, there were vibrant colors, laughter and traditions that have been celebrated for generations. It was one of those moments where I thought, this is exactly what I imagined when I dreamed of Spain.”
Spending a majority of her time traveling alone, Madison found, “One of the biggest surprises was how much easier it was to meet people. When you’re by yourself, you’re naturally more open to conversations, and other travelers are more likely to invite you to join them because you’re not already part of a group. I met people from all over the world simply because I was willing to say hello. There is such a unique community among solo travelers, and I hope everyone has the chance to experience it at least once.”
One of her most meaningful experiences abroad was walking the Portuguese Route of the Camino de Santiago. The Camino is a historic pilgrimage made up of several routes leading to Santiago de Compostela. Along the way, pilgrims stay in hostels called albergues, where they sleep in dormitory-style rooms with anywhere from four to more than twenty beds. Each pilgrim carries a Camino passport that is stamped throughout the journey, and to receive the official Compostela certificate, one must walk at least the final 100 kilometers. Madison did the full Portuguese Coastal route and walked alongside pilgrims ranging from 17 to 88 years old from countries across the world.
She reflected, “I averaged nearly twenty miles a day, and it was one of the most physically exhausting things I have ever done. Somewhere along those miles, though, I realized the Camino isn’t just about reaching the destination—it’s about learning to trust your own pace and take care of yourself. Much like life, you meet people along the way. Some people walk beside you for days, while others are only there for a few miles or even a single conversation. Not everyone stays together because everyone has different goals, different destinations for the day and different paces. I couldn’t help but think about how similar that is to life and relationships. Some people are meant to walk beside us for a season, while others simply leave us with a conversation or lesson before continuing on their own path. The Camino taught me resilience, patience and gratitude, but more than anything, it reminded me how extraordinary people are.”
Madison concluded with this advice, “Trust your gut. If studying abroad is something you truly want to do, don’t let the fear of the unknown keep you from saying yes. There will likely be moments when you’re homesick, overwhelmed or questioning whether you made the right decision—I certainly did. In many ways, studying abroad was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but it was also one of the most rewarding. The challenges pushed me to grow in ways I never expected and gave me a confidence I couldn’t have gained by staying comfortable. Give yourself grace on the hard days, be open to new experiences and remember that growth often comes from stepping outside your comfort zone. The version of yourself that comes home will be stronger, more independent and forever shaped by the people you met and the experiences you had.”