When we imagine what our time will be like studying abroad, we tend to think about the fun and adventurous times, but we rarely imagine what would happen if we…
Author
Claire Barkley
Claire Barkley
AIFS Program: Madrid, Spain
School: Rhodes College
Major: Political Science
Hi! My name is Claire Barkley and I am a rising senior at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee. I am a Political Science Major and English minor. I studied abroad with AIFS in the fall of 2018 in Madrid, Spain. I went abroad without knowing anyone, an experience I highly recommend, and I found that there is no better way to make life-long friends than by traveling and navigating foreign countries together. I made friends instantly through AIFS and I will never forget the awesome adventures we had together traveling around Europe and the Mediterranean. I arrived knowing only a little bit of Spanish, and I left considering Madrid to be a second home. Throughout my four months in Madrid, I grew to be confident navigating, communicating with locals, and exploring on my own. I took classes at a well-respected Spanish University in the heart of Madrid, Universidad Nebrija, where my classes consisted of students from all over the world. I learned so much about Spanish and European politics, while gaining new perspectives along the way from my professors and peers. After my experience with AIFS, I realized how much I love to travel and experience living amongst other cultures, that I am currently in the process of applying to graduate programs abroad.
“I am no longer afraid of becoming lost, because the journey back always reveals something new, and that is ultimately good for the artist.” ~ Billy Joel