Alumni Interview with Kayla VonBurg

What inspired you to go abroad?

As a language major, I know the best way to become really proficient is complete immersion, so I knew that study abroad would be the right move for me. I also wanted to experience something different than just my college campus. I had never lived in a big city before, not even my college town. Madrid seemed to be a faster-paced lifestyle that I really wanted to experience.

Why did you choose CEA?

I chose CEA because I knew that other participants in CEA were taken care of from start to finish. I had never been out of the country before at that time in my life, so I was very reassured by the fact that there would be support for me if I needed it at any point during my program.

What was your favorite part about Madrid, Spain?

It is hard to narrow down a singular thing about Spain that I loved because there were so many aspects of Spain and Madrid that I adored. I loved the food in Spain; I still have dreams about my host mother's tortilla de patatas or her paella.

I also loved the culture of Spain just because it was so different from my own. Another large part about Madrid is that everywhere in the city is extremely accessible by public transportation, whether that be the Metro, the Renfe, or the busses. Public transportation was fast and efficient, and it was something I had never experienced before, and loved.

Another great aspect of Madrid is that it is home to a very large airport, which made it a cheap jumping-off point for almost any destination in Europe. Because of this, I was able to visit France, Switzerland, the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands, Austria, Ireland, and the United Kingdom during my term.

What made your experience abroad unique?

My abroad experience was unique because I made some lifelong friendships with some classmates from around the world, and I really saw myself grow as a person. There is something different about a friendship made while abroad; it seems that the friendship is much stronger and stands the test of time, all because we had these life-altering experiences and moments together. It would not have been the same experience had I not had these friends.

How did local staff support you throughout your program?

My experience abroad was unique because of the combination of support CEA provided for the students. We were constantly supported by the on-site staff, Silvia and Alvaro. Anything we ever could have needed in Spain, they would have helped direct us. They always provided us with fun opportunities for excursions, like chocolate con churros or a calamari sandwich excursion.

They sent us emails constantly telling us about fun events going on in Madrid. Every weekend, we were sent an anonymous survey to fill-out about our weekend travels so that if there was a problem, they would know where we were and how to contact us.

They even went as far as to memorize all of our names and pictures before we arrived abroad so that they would know exactly who we were every time we spoke to them. The CEA Madrid local staff went ABOVE AND BEYOND to make sure we were taken care of from start to finish.

What's one thing you wish you would have done differently?

I really wish I would not have taken the "normalcy" of each day for granted. Everyday in Spain was about the same as far as a routine is concerned, but I wish I took more mental pictures of my friends, my coffee I had every morning, my favorite barista, my favorite city views, etc.

I wish I would have stopped more often and taken a mental picture because unfortunately, study abroad does not last forever. I would never be in the exact same circumstances with the exact same people in the exact same place ever again.

Describe a typical day in the life of your program.

During the week, I would wake up at around 8:00 a.m., get ready for school, and go eat breakfast my host parents had laid out for me. It was usually cereal, a pastry, coffee, and freshly-squeezed orange juice. From there, I would either walk to the bus station or take the 15 minute walk to the Metro to get to school. Once arrived at the Metro, I would listen to music and read over any assignments I had for school that day during the 30 minute ride from Legazpi to Argüelles.

Once at school, I would attend my classes for the day. If it was a Monday or a Wednesday, I only had one class, so immediately after, my good friend from school and I went to our favorite coffee shop for a cup of cafe con leche, a pastry, and good conversation. If there was time after, we usually tried to hunt down the best city views of Madrid.

At around 3:00 p.m., I would head home for lunch with my host family. After lunch, I would usually take some time to either rest, do a little homework, hang out with my host parents, FaceTime my mom or my boyfriend, or just watch Netflix.

Later on at around 5:00 p.m. or 6:00 p.m., I liked to head back out into the city to explore a little more. Sometimes I walked around la Gran Vía; other times I just hunted for the best cup of cafe con leche in Madrid. At 9:00 p.m., it was time to go back home because my host mother would be serving dinner at around 10:00 p.m.. I'd usually go to bed at around 12:30 a.m., wake up the next morning, and do it all again.

What did you enjoy doing in your free time?

My favorite activity in my free time was trying all of the coffee shops I could find in Madrid. Coffee became a very regular part of my life when I was in Spain, and I loved it so much that I sometimes dedicated a day to try to find the best cafe con leche in Madrid that I could. Each coffee shop had its own personality, which I loved because I always loved to have a new place to go to do homework or to take a friend.

What was your accommodation like? What did you like best about it?

My accommodation was the one of the best parts of my abroad experience by far. I lived with a host family, which included a host mother, host father, and a host dog. I also had an American host sister with whom I shared a room.

We lived in a cozy apartment in south Madrid, only 35-40 minutes away from the city center. My host parents were some of the kindest, most welcoming people I knew. We always had such great conversation, great meals, and just an overall great time together. Time and time again my host parents went above and beyond what I ever would have expected of them, and they truly took care of us as if we were their biological children.

It was like I gained a second set of parents. I think one of the most I have ever cried in my life was when my family and I said our final goodbyes for the term. Even this past spring, I returned to Madrid after my time abroad, and they welcomed me back into their home for dinner. I still talk to my host mother almost everyday, and it is one of the things I treasure about my study abroad experience.

What is one thing every participant should know before participating in your program?

Spain may seem very similar to the United States in terms of culture at first glance; however, it is actually very different. Meals are later in the day, the toilets flush differently, and staring is completely okay. That being said, life abroad might be a little frustrating at first. However, by staying the course life really becomes very sweet and very eye-opening abroad.

Now that you're home, how has your program abroad impacted your life?

There is not a single day that goes by that I don't think about my time abroad because it impacted my life in such a grand fashion. For a long time before I went abroad, I was a girl who was afraid of her own shadow, afraid to speak up, afraid to be independent.

From day one of living in Madrid, I was pushed to do things that were beyond my comfort zone. Between being in a new city, the language barrier, and culture shock, I was forced to grow up in a matter of about a week. I remember calling my mom about a week after I had lived in Madrid, and she told me she had never heard me sound so grown-up.

After a few trips alone while I was abroad, I truly learned and exceeded my potential and any expectations I had for myself. When I returned home, I found that I was bolder, I was braver, and I was no longer afraid of solitude or being on my own. I really believe I look at the world with a softer glance and with a kinder heart.

I now realize that I can do so much more than I once believed, that I am so much more valuable as a human than I once believed, and, with that in mind, I cannot wait to take that perspective with me for my remaining time in college, for my career, and for the rest of my life. Because it has provoked these strong feelings, it has inspired me to pursue a career in the field of international education.

Would you recommend CEA to others? Why?

Absolutely. CEA holds your hand through the entire process, from pre-departure, to getting your final transcript. I would not be the same person I am today had I not gone through this program in 2017.