Hi Everyone! My name is Kare Coley and I am from Pikesville, Maryland close to downtown Baltimore. My major is International Studies and my hope is to double major in Political Science. You might be wondering, studying abroad in your first semester of college, you must be crazy. I’ve received all sorts of reactions, but to any future student or applicants considering the Madrid Cornerstone Program, here’s what I’d said: you’re bold, you’re courageous, and you should absolutely take the leap. As cheesy as it may sound, embrace the unknown, embrace the new, embrace the adventure, and embrace the changed person you will become because of it, you won’t regret it.

My trip and semester in Spain is the 6th country I have traveled to in my lifetime and the 3rd continent I’ve had the privilege to visit. Every place I have traveled to has held a special place in my heart. You’lll find that there is something magical, enamoring, or captivating in each place you go, whether it's the food, the language, the people, the culture, a specific place, or the memories made. Though it’s been less than a month (3 weeks to be exact), Spain already has a piece of my heart.

I arrived in Spain on September 1st after a delayed and 8 hour flight from IAD. I am incredibly grateful to Ava Garcia, the Assistant Director of AU Madrid, for her patience in waiting at the airport for me.

This truly reflects the care and dedication the program staff has for the students. They immediately make you feel welcome and at home. This was also my first time flying internationally by myself. What I’d recommend is to arrive early, that way you have ample time to check your bags, get through security, and get food. There is no need to be rushed, save yourself the despair and anxiety, just get there early :)

After arriving at RESA (my new home for the next 3 months) my cohort and I spent the next two days unpacking, settling in, receiving academic schedules, getting comfortable with public transport, and touring our residence facilities, which includes: a pool, gym, dining hall, and rooftop area. Where we will live is conveniently located by groceries stores, pharmacies, two metro stations, and is approximately a 12 minute walk from the International Institute, where the
majority of our classes are held.

You will definitely get your steps in here and you’ll find yourself using the metro and bus daily. Unlike the states where having a car is almost essential to getting around and if you didn’t have one, like me, you relied on pricey Uber, Madrid's public transport is convenient, safe, and reliable. With one swipe and a monthly 8 dollar euro pass, you can travel almost anywhere by metro, bus, or train.

After orientation we headed to our first cultural excursion as a cohort, in Toledo! Toledo is Toledo, an ancient city that sits on a hill, about an hour South of Madrid. Toledo has so much character, from its whiny narrow cobblestone streets, to its skyline covered in mountains and medieval walls. Toledo is often referred to as “La Ciudad de Tres Culturas”, the “The City of Three Cultures” due to the diverse religious history of Christian, Muslim, and Jewish communities. We visited “La Mezquita del Cristo De La Luz” , a tangible example of this coexistence. This mosque was originally built in 999, and later used and occupied as a church by Christians. Inside the mosque you will see traditional horseshoe arches, a key element of Arab and Islamic architecture. Additionally there are depictions of crosses and images of Jesus Christ, reflecting a blend and coexistence of religious history and identity.

Day Two of Toledo consisted of visiting the Santa Iglesia Catedral Primada de Toledo ( Primatial Cathedral of Saint Mary of Toledo). The Cathedral was originally made and dedicated to Virgin Mary in 1226, but wasn’t finished until 2 centuries later in 1493, as contributions and fine tuning continued to occur. I was in awe of the intricate details in the stained glass windows, the elaborate sculptures, and the beautifully adorned altars, all art crafted by human hands.

After returning to Toledo, we had our first day of classes. Classes are Monday through Thursday and I am currently taking a total of 15 credits. My academic classes include College Writing, International Migration and Refugee Crisis, Intensive Advanced Spanish, First Year Seminar, and Microeconomics. Classes are engaging, exciting, and interesting. Coursework is diverse] ranging from multimedia projects, to essays, and group discussion. Our professors are passionate and so experienced in their fields. It is so refreshing taking classes that are in my field of interest.

Admittedly, balancing school work abroad can be challenging, when there's places to explore, restaurants and tapas to try, and friends to hang out with, but it all comes down to effectively using your time. I’ve found that studying and completing my homework in my bedroom leads to distractions, doom scrolling, or accidental naps, so I encourage myself and my friends to find
new work spaces. Some of my favorite spots have included local coffee shops, the International Institute's library, and Retiro, a beautiful lucious green park that is a quiet getaway from the business of the city.

I learned about Retiro Park during our weekly walking tours or “Paseos”. These paseos are every Tuesday, with the intention of exploring Madrid together as a cohort. We rented boats on the lake, walked through the rose garden, and saw the glass palace that is currently under reconstruction.

Fridays are also special program days that consist of field trips that are in conjugation with our Unveiling Spain First Year Seminar Class. Our first Friday field trip was to Barrio de las Letras, or the “neighborhood of the writers”. We explored various sites connected to Spain’s literary “Golden Age” during the 16th and 17th centuries. We visited buildings associated with Miguel de Cervantes, the author of Don Quixote, as well as the home of Lope de Vega, a renowned Spanish playwright and poet.

So how about freetime and weekends? Well my past three weekends have consisted of my 19th birthday celebration, a 8 mile hike in Cercedilla, and a day trip to Aranjuez that I planned.

My friends and I planned a whole birthday bash, known as “Kare-Vaganza” that consisted of fany pizza, loads of dancing, and brunch and shopping. Despite being away from home on my birthday, I felt celebrated and loved by so many people.

Cerdilla was a beautiful, small, quaint town that is known for its variety of hiking routes and smaller skiing resorts. While I didn’t exactly hike the 7 Peaks, I enjoyed the breathtaking landscape, the wild blackberries we found, and the stillness of nature.

This past weekend, I visited Aranjuez, a UNESCO World Heritage site and significant town in relevance to Spanish royalty. The “Palacio Real” or the Royal Palace is absolutely stunning, with a variety of rooms decorated and dedicated to different eras and periods of time. The palace gardens, including the Príncipe Gardens and the Isabel II Gardens, are expansive green spaces
filled with fountains, sculptures, and flowers perfect for walks and picnics. We ended our day with dessert and lunch on the water, overlooking the Tagus River, the longest river in the Iberian Peninsula.

I can’t believe it's been 3 weeks since I arrived in Madrid. It feels like I have been here for a lifetime. Yet at the same time, as Anthony Bourdain said, “the more places I see and experience, the bigger I realize the world to be. The more I become aware of, the more I realize how relatively little I know of it, {and} how many places I still have to go, how much more there is to learn."

And so I’ll keep on learning, exploring, and discovering… and happily, I will share it all.

See you in October :)

-Kare Coley

 

Hi everyone! Welcome to my second blog post. Whether you're reading this while I'm currently in Spain or you're a future Cornerstone student looking back years from now, I’m grateful that you’ve taken the time to read about my experience. I’ve always loved stories and the art of storytelling, so having this little platform to share some of my favorite moments from Spain is super special. I say that all to say it means a lot that you're following along with my journey!

As a first-generation American, coming from a family with generations of migrants and immigrants, it can feel unreal… to have the opportunity to travel, with the purpose of learning and being educated. I like to take the time to pause and acknowledge that unlike my family, I’m here by choice, not out of necessity or fleeing for safety, like so many before me.

Being here in Spain is such a blessing and unforgettable experience. I know I will speak about it fondly even when I am gray and old. Anyways…

Since my last blog, so much has happened. We’ve met with local Spanish university students, visited Figueres (the capital of Catalonia and Salvador Dalí’s hometown), explored Barcelona, taken my first personal (non-school) trip to Portugal, and celebrated Cervantes, the author of Don Quixote, in Alcalá de Henares. My friend and fellow ambassador, Max, and I decided to split up our activities and trips for our blogs, so be sure to check his out for a more complete picture of everything we've experienced this past month!

From Figueres to Barcelona it is about an hour and half drive. Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia. Located along the northeastern Mediterranean coast, it's known for its stunning architecture, rich history, and lively atmosphere.

We started off our time in Barcelona strong with paella, a signature dish. This flavorful, saffron-infused rice dish is immediately thought off when someone mentions Spanish food. Traditionally, this dish is cooked in a wide shallow pan and packed with fresh seafood like prawns, mussels, and squid. In a coastal city like Barcelona, right by the Mediterranean, where the seafood is incredibly fresh, paella was the perfect way to be introduced to some of its culture.

Barcelona is renowned for its unique blend of Gothic and modernist architecture, most notably the works of Antoni Gaudí. Our first stop was Park Güell. It wasn't your typical national park, instead it was a whimsical, lively, and interactive park that led to beautiful panoramic views of the city. When you enter the park you are greeted by a mosaic adorned dragon (or lizard) that has become an iconic symbol of the park.

Another stunning area is the Hypostyle Room. This area features 86 columns that support the terrace above. The columns are designed to resemble trees, with their bases fanning out and their tops covered in colorful mosaics.

His work intentionally integrated art and nature together so harmoniously. The park is famous for its imaginative structures, including fluid, moving, organic structures rather than rigid shapes. What I love is that Park Güell is not just a park, but a vibrant celebration of creativity and nature and how they coexist and enrich one another.

A pattern you will begin to notice is Gaudi’s art is heavily inspired by nature and other living things. We see this in Casa Batllò, another iconic creation by Antoni Gaudí, and yet another stunning testament to his genius and artistic vision.

One of the most striking features of Casa Batllò is its staircase, which is designed to replicate and resemble the curvature of the human spine. As you walk and ascend up the staircase, you will notice the smooth, flowing lines that create this sense of movement, agility, and grace.

The gradient ombré blue tiles on the walls are designed to recreate the fluidity and movement of the ocean. The tiles beautifully transition from a deep, rich blue to a lighter shade, mimicking the color and depth of ocean waves.

And the last of Gaudi was the Sagrada Familia. I was in awe. As you stand before the Sagrada Familia, even simply as you approach it, its hard not to be overwhelmed and blown away by its intricacy and detail. 135 years later and the construction continues on the Basilica. It’s remarkable to think that his legacy and vision continues through this architectural piece. The Sagrada will be completed by 2026. And, although we didn't get to see the Sagrada Familia fully completed, our group had the unique opportunity to witness its construction in progress, a rare experience that few will be able to say they saw.

Lastly, on our way out of Barcelona we stopped at the Picasso Museum. Everyone knows Picasso. You probably did some variation of a Picasso art project back in elementary.

I appreciated how this museum showed Picasso's evolution as an artist, offering a more nuanced take on his life as an artist. Most museums will showcase him as JUST a cubist, but this museum truly showcased his journey and progression as an artist, both skill and type wise. Picasso's exhibition takes you from his days as a young prodigy, with early sketches and paintings, to experimentations with different styles and mediums, to his abstract cubist pieces. This museum gave me a newfound appreciation for Picasso as not just a cubist, but as a multifaceted artist.

After getting back from Barcelona and a week of classes… off we were again to Portugal! I had the chance to spend my first long, free weekend in Lisbon, Portugal. Or as the locals say, Lisboa. We were lucky to find red-eye bus tickets that were 40 euros! Definitely a steal.

The city is filled with a unique charm that's hard to put into words. The pastéis de Belém and café com leite were simply divine. Pastéis de Belém, also known as pastéis de nata, are Portuguese custard tarts that dates back to the 19th century.

Every corner of the city welcomed us with open arms-the colorful homes, narrow tiny cobblestone streets, cozy restaurants and bars tucked away in alleyways, and the beautiful plants and vines spilling over patios and balconies.

One of my favorite moments was witnessing the artistic tributes to the city's elders. As we wandered through the streets, we came across various black and white photographs dedicated to local elders. These works of art not only celebrated the lives of these individuals but gave Lisbon an even deeper sense of history and community. It served as a reminder of the people and stories that make up the city’s identity.

And then there was St. George's Castle, no picture could ever do justice to the view from those ancient fortress walls. This castle was originally built in the 11th century by the Moors and then later conquered by the Christians in 1147. Throughout history it has been a royal palace and military fortress. Standing there, overlooking the city on St. George’s Castle, I felt an overwhelming sense of peace and awe. Seeing Lisbon from that capacity, laid out before me, was absolutely breathtaking.

Now back from Portugal, our most recent Friday outing was Alcalá de Henares, a city rich in literary history and cultural significance. It also happens to be where Ava, one of our professors, went to college!

Alcala de Henare is also the birthplace of Miguel de Cervantes, author of Don Quixote, an iconic character and famous work about an idealistic knight. We visited the Cervantes Birthplace Museum which is where Cerevantes was born in 1547. After visiting the museum and the local university, we went to the Cervantes Festival. It feels very similar to the renaissance festival back in the States. This celebration includes theatrical performances, costumes, markets, and food celebrating Cervantes' work and the importance of his novel and literature!

As you can see, Spain has been keeping me busy with activities, trips, outings, and yes… plenty of homework too. By the time I write my next blog, the semester will be more than halfway over, which is bittersweet to even think about. I am truly enjoying the lifestyle and home I’ve created in Spain. It really feels like that now, home.

If you made it this far, wow. Thank you for reading and I am looking forward to chatting more about my adventures here soon!

With love, Kare

Ps. I took over instagram and there are a bunch of stories and instagram posts where you can find more information and pictures on what I have been up to! I also post a bunch of stories on what I am up to in Spain so you can totally find me on there: @karecoley

Content will be uploaded in December!