Study Abroad in Madrid: Instituto Franklin-UAH

When you are a Bulldog at Butler University, it’s hard to leave your vibrant campus life behind for a full semester. Still, choosing to study abroad became one of the most rewarding decisions of my college experience. Thanks to Calie Dickey and staff at Butler's Center for Global Education, the decision quickly became a no-brainer. I took my international business and Spanish studies from our campus classroom all the way to Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain. Living life as a Madrileña, every day brought something new. Spanish language immersion was central to my goals, and living with my incredible second family as a host daughter in their home became the most impactful part of my experience. My family welcomed me into every part of their lives - their gastronomy, daily rhythms, friends and family, evening street culture, and cherished traditions. I learned that Spaniards can always find something to celebrate. During my time abroad, three things stood out: • Discomfort turned into confidence • Curiosity turned into cultural exploration • Strangers turned into family As a student at the Instituto Franklin-UAH, I was challenged in nearly all Spanish-speaking courses and connected my daily experiences with coursework in Spanish poetry and traditions. I also completed a marketing internship with local business Buceo Alcalá, where I grew as a professional in my secondary language - proving to myself that growth lives on the other side of discomfort, even amid cultural and language barriers. The International Business major in me was eager to absorb everything around me. Before I departed, even my former colleagues at Eli Lilly and Company were excited to send me off. I was later invited to visit our Government Affairs team at the international office in Alcobendas, Spain, an unforgettable opportunity to see one team working across seas. My time with Teresa Millan and her team Cristina Escudero Marquez, and Claudia Penzol López will always be cherished. Now back in Indianapolis for my final semester as a Butler undergraduate student, the golden question remains: “Do you miss it?” And while yes, I miss the adventure, the unknown, and the beauty that is Spanish living, I am grateful to be home. I smile with contentment for the life-changing memories and apply my broadened perspective to my life every day.

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Studying abroad at UAH was one of the best decisions I ever made in college. I'm a semester away from graduation and can say without a doubt that the four months I spent at the university were some of the most impactful and inspiring of my life so far. My Spanish speaking ability greatly increased, I made awesome new friends, explored Toledo, Madrid, and Alcalá, as well as the Valle de los Caídos, and figured out what I want to do with my life. I cannot recommend this experience highly enough! Go get lost in castles and monasteries, find yourself in awe of the Roman ruins, and make friends with the locals in cafes and bars. Getting to know the lovely people and participating in daily life activities alongside them, even joining in all the festivities for Semana Santa, was incredible. If you have the opportunity, by all means, what are you waiting for? And if you do, please be sure to go back to the río de Henares and tell it I miss it already <3

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I’ve only been here a few weeks, but it has been so much fun! I’m learning a lot about Spanish culture, and I love living with my host family. I cannot wait to continue making memories here in Spain!!

This study abroad experience is one in which I learned to grow as a person. I was able to make new friendships and discover a new culture. Alcala de Henares is a wonderful town full of history and wonderful people. I would say I learned the most through my host family that treated me as their own child and through the various courses in the program. The faculty of the program are all very generous and always making sure that you are having an unforgettable experience. Through events organized by the school, I was able to visit museums and nearby historical cities. with friends I was also able to travel a lot. Overall, this experience is a unique one that I would recommend to anyone. And Alcala de Henares will always be like a second home to me.

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The Instituto was phenomenal with my semester abroad. All classes were taught in Spanish, and I lived with a host family. These two aspects were wonderful for my cultural immersion and growth in Spanish. I am truly appreciative of the staff who I have grown close with over the semester. They were always helpful, attentive, and supportive of me. One unique part about this program are the excursion, which I wish I had taken more advantage of. They went to Toledo, Segovia, La Valle de los Caidos, and more. With this program I not only made friends from around Spain, but also around the US. I also grown close to the professors and staff and got to know them outside of the classroom, like at futbol games and cooking classes. Without a doubt, living with a host family was one of my biggest stresses, but I have grown so close to them over the semester, and my understanding of the Spanish culture, language, and literature was truly enriched. Yes, having classes all in Spanish was a challenge, but that helped me so much with presenting, writing, and speaking in Spanish. All of these aspects helped me achieve my semester goals abroad, and it's an experience I will never forget.