Brianna BrulloParticipated in 2017Study Abroad | Spain
Brie Brullo is from Southern California. This past year, she went abroad for the first time. She went to London in May to study Shakespeare, and then studies abroad in beautiful Madrid, Spain. Brie studies Psychology and Spanish, and she is especially interested in cross-cultural studies, hoping to pursue a career within the field of international higher education. On campus, she is a tour guide, meeting prospective students from around the world.
What inspired you to go abroad?
I was inspired to go abroad so that I could learn more about the world and integrate into a new and different way of life, and adapt to a new standard of living. That being following new cultural norms and standards, seeing issues and themes in different ways, and learning how to live on my own. I genuinely wanted to gain a sense of independence and freedom, by learning how to navigate, conquer problems and dilemmas, and find my way (even when I get lost) by myself. I wanted the chance to see the world through new eyes, and to meet new people along my journey that challenged, strengthened, and affirmed the things I believe to be true.
Ever since I was in high school, I always heard the cliche phrase "study abroad changes you"; I wanted to see how I would grow and what I would learn about myself, the world, and what my purpose and passions are while on my study abroad journey.
Why did you choose your specific program/organization?
I chose IES Abroad Madrid because I wanted the challenge of taking all of my classes in Spanish, so that I could further strengthen and improve upon my Spanish-speaking abilities. I chose Madrid because it is the capital of Spain, a huge metropolitan city, bustling with culture, vibrancy, and liveliness. I have grown up in the suburbs for all of my life, and wanted the opportunity to branch out and experience a new way of life, at a much faster pace, and become a member of society in one of the largest cities in the world.
Additionally, I was drawn to the Madrid program in that it was a full-immersion experience, which would allow me to learn about the Spanish culture and learn more about the local community by living in a residence hall with local Spanish students. I liked that this program was fairly small in comparison to Barcelona (my 2nd choice), which allowed me to have a more personal and intimate experience with my professors, staff, and my fellow peers on my program. In the long run, I ultimately knew that choosing this program would help me grow the most, and allow me to come out of my comfort zone, to experience the most out of my cross-cultural experience.
What was your favorite part about Madrid?
My favorite part of Madrid was the fact that it completely encapsulated the vitality and heart of Spanish culture. There was so much auditory and visual stimuli all of the time. From museums, to restaurants, to clubs, to shopping centers, and large flashy billboards. There was so much to see, and there was always something to keep me busy and interested! I loved how seemingly easy it was to adapt and to be accepted as a member of society: learning and then mastering the metro system, walking miles and miles every single day, eating delicious tapas, and going to museums and churches on a Monday night. There was so much flexibility, spontaneity, and energy living in the capital city of Spain, which allowed me to take in the Spanish culture through so many different perspectives: Spanish art, history, theatre, religion, and a new way of life. I also loved how safe I felt, everywhere I went in Spain. I also felt so confident as a young woman to walk by myself all of the time, and not have to live in fear.
What made your experience abroad unique?
What made my experience abroad unique was the fact that I had a completely immersive cultural experience, something that over 90% of the participants cannot say that they similarly experienced to the same degree. I was one out of four students from my program of over 60 students that chose to live in the colegio mayor (spanish dorm) for my semester abroad. I chose IES Madrid in part because of this unique housing option, to allow me to meet people from Spain and immerse myself into the student community of the university system.
My program was unfortunately filled with American students who were very cliquey (most of them already knew each other), students that did not want to go out of their comfort zones to meet new people and chose to speak in English the entire time, while living in a homestay or apartment. I truly believe I took the higher road or the "road less traveled" if you will, in that I chose the path that ultimately was more challenging, I had to put more effort in, but in the end it was so incredibly worth it. I gained best friends while living inside of that colegio, and I formed a "pequeña familia" with two of my closest friends (from Spain and Brazil), and we cared and looked out for one another. We knew that the time that we had with each other was limited, but we that did not phase how strong our bond was to each other. I am grateful for these enriching and memorable friendships with people who actually cared about me for me, and fully embraced me as I am.
How did local staff support you throughout your program?
My local staff were so incredibly kind, caring, and accommodating throughout my entire experience abroad. They were so informative and helpful during the orientation process, and genuinely wanted the best for each and every participant in the program to achieve their academic, personal, and professional goals while abroad.
They allowed us a chance to heal, speak, and grieve when the Las Vegas shooting happened, and provided an open discussion and time of peace and reflection for us during that incredibly hard time. IES Madrid staff truly cared about the safety and health of each student; my second mom basically (Yolanda) accompanied me to doctor's appointments and medical visits, and truly made me feel like I was cared for and loved while I was so far from my home.
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently?
One thing I wish I would have done differently was probably not doubt myself as much, and give myself more credit and grace. In the beginning I was so so shy to meet new people (local students inside of the colegio) and come out of my comfort zone, as I was so afraid of how I was going to be perceived as an American, and didn't know how easily I was going to make friends. Looking back, I would have not freaked out so much about making friends inside of the colegio, or living in fear of sitting by myself during meals... the right people were placed in my life at the right time.
Describe a typical day in the life of your program.
I had daily Spanish grammar class at 9 a.m. (ouch), followed by two consecutive classes, each one hour and 40 minutes each. After class, I would then go downstairs to eat inside of the dining hall for lunch where I would meet up with friends, or make friends with an unfamiliar face! I enjoyed eating the European way... eating a meal for an hour and a half or so. During this time I would practice my Spanish with my friends, and potentially help them with their English as well. Afterwards, depending on my level of fatigue, I would take a nap or go out exploring. I loved going to the park, going to the museums, or going with friends to a cafe (Rodilla is my favorite place on earth), allowing me to unwind and destress from sitting inside of a classroom all day. Depending on the day, there might be a special cultural event that the study center puts on that I would occasionally attend as well. If there was any reading or homework for that night, I would do it before or after dinner, where I would spend another two hours sharing laughs and using my Spanish with my friends inside of the dorm. I would then finish my homework or reading I had for the next day, whatsapp my parents, and try to catch some z's.
What did you enjoy doing in your free time?
I loved going to El Parque del Retiro, one of the largest parks in Spain, and in Europe! It was so relaxing to me to be able to go places independently and do a little exploring during the week. I loved being able to sit down on a park bench and journal about my thoughts on the day, and how I was liking my experience thus far. I also enjoyed writing poetry, and even began writing poetry in Spanish, because of the high amount I was speaking! It was also really fun for me to just hangout with my friends inside of the colegio, go out to eat or go to a cafe, and just practice my Spanish and learn more about the culture with my new friends. The study center was also directly across the street from another beautiful park, Parque del Oeste, and I loved being able to go on walks, clear my mind, and think about how much I grew and what I learned from my experience.
What was your accommodation like? What did you like best about it?
I lived inside of a Colegio Mayor, or a Spanish dorm, in which I lived with Spanish students from all over the country, as well as students from all over the world. Living inside of the colegio was like a melting pot of cultures... I had the privilege and blessing of gaining close friendships with people from places like Panama, Dominican Republic, Brazil, and Czech Republic. I was able to not only learn more about the Spanish culture by living and learning in Madrid, but also had the opportunity to meet wonderful people and encounter other unique and interesting cultures at the same time. I was able to learn slang and colloquial terms from the different countries, who each had their own individual way of speaking, which was so fascinating to compare and contrast! I was able to live on my own (single room) which allowed me to have more independence, but still had the opportunity of getting to know my neighbors and becoming close friends with my fellow peers who lived alongside of my in the colegio.
What is one thing every participant should know before participating in your program?
One thing every participant should know before studying abroad with IES Madrid, is that this a full-immersion, advanced language program. You should be speaking in Spanish inside of the study center and when out and about in the city as much as possible in order to further immerse yourself in the culture, and to also improve your Spanish skills. Due to IES programs only having American students, it can be ever so easy to fall into the trap to speak English whenever you want (outside of the classroom); I would genuinely advise you not to! You came across the world so that you can develop your Spanish skills and meet locals, not stay inside of your comfort zone to only speak English and talk to people you already know.
Now that you're home, how has your program abroad impacted your life?
Now that I am at home, I have been able to share my abroad experiences with others, especially my peers who just went abroad themselves so we have been able to share stories, and speak about what we have learned and how we have grown.
I am currently in a Study abroad re-entry course, with fellow peers who are just coming back from being abroad like me, where we share our unique experiences with one another, and learn how to translate the skills and experiences from abroad to future work opportunities (both domestically and internationally). While abroad, I found that my passion lies with international education, cross-cultural communication and... study abroad!! I have big dreams of working for a study abroad program (internationally hopefully), and helping students achieve their academic, personal, and professional goals while abroad, and giving back to the staff on my program who gave me the most amazing cultural-immersion experience I could have ever imagined. Now that I am back, I am an IES Ambassador for my program, and help future IES Madrid students navigate the nervousness, frustration, and anxiety that comes with stepping out into the unknown. I'm excited to work alongside IES at my university to help represent IES, and promote studying abroad in general, and use my personal experience to encourage others to participate in a cross-culture experience to become a more global citizen of society and see growth in so many areas of their lives.
Would you recommend your program/provider to others? Why?
I would 100% recommend my program to future students!! If you are interested in practicing and improving upon your Spanish language skills in the heart of Spanish culture, then this is the program for you! IES Madrid had interesting course offerings to choose from, provided cultural immersion activities for the students, and created a caring helpful environment for the American students. I was challenged and grew in so many aspects of my life because of my experience abroad, and I cannot be more grateful for choosing this wonderful program for giving me the experience of a lifetime, and allowing me to call Madrid my second home. Studying abroad has allowed me to view the world in a more globalized, empathic, and understanding lens, an important and life-changing experience that I so eagerly hope the next generation of study abroad students to encounter.
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