Starting my Cornell Journey in Santander, Spain
“This is your first year? And you’re here in Spain?” I’ve had to explain countless times to fellow students at the Universidad de Cantabria that yes, I am starting my college experience abroad. Many of my fellow Cornellians in Spain have never even set foot on campus in Ithaca. But I couldn’t have asked for a better way to start my college career.
I’m part of the inaugural Global Start Cantabria (GSC) program for engineering students. We are studying in beautiful Santander, Spain, for our first semester of college, and then returning to Ithaca in the spring. Applying to college as a prospective engineer, I knew studying abroad would be difficult. Engineers are known for heavy course loads and technical classes that don’t provide much flexibility for studying abroad. When I heard about GSC, I knew it was the perfect opportunity for me to explore and see more of the world while staying on track with my degree. I was especially reassured by the fact that GSC was created specifically for engineers. And the location couldn’t be better. I learned Spanish in high school and wanted to improve my skills, as well as immerse myself in a different culture that I had only learned about from a distance. I knew that committing to GSC meant missing out on fall orientation and planning my arrival in Ithaca in the dead of winter. However, I know that I will be coming back to Cornell with a tight-knit group of friends, a unique international perspective, and a new sense of confidence gained from learning to live on my own in another country.
So how has it been living and studying here in Santander for about a month? Adjusting to living away from home has been a journey, and doing it in another country has made that process even more nuanced, but so far I can say that it has been a blast. I’ve had to shift my schedule to eat lunch around two or three in the afternoon and start dinner after nine. I’ve also started taking a much-needed siesta in the afternoons. The university is about a 15-minute walk from the beach, so I’ve taken advantage of this proximity to do spontaneous runs there with my classmates. When I first arrived in Spain, I was terrified of starting a conversation. I’ve learned that people are very friendly and nearly always willing to help, so I don’t have to worry about asking them to repeat themselves or making mistakes. Now I say “hello” to everyone I pass on the sidewalk. I’m still getting used to being charged for water in restaurants, and forgetting that everything is closed during siesta time and on Sundays. When I go shopping, I have to visit three or four different stores because each one sells different things, unlike Target or Walmart in the U.S. However, visiting the bakery as an extra stop is worth it for the amazing local Spanish tortillas and sobao cakes (yum!).
But one of the best parts of my study abroad so far has been sharing the experience with my cohort. This group of 21 engineers is nothing short of fantastic. We share an immense diversity of interests that ensures there is always someone willing to try something new with you. Having a dedicated cohort immediately brought us together as a large, supportive friend group. We organize our own social events like movie nights, beach days, DnD games, and group brunches. If you need something, from a snack to a pair of pliers, someone in the cohort is guaranteed to have it or know where to help you find it. Since we share the same classes (classes that first-year engineers back in Ithaca are also taking), we study together and keep each other accountable. I feel honored to be part of this enthusiastic, funny, and talented group, and I’m looking forward to the rest of the semester here in Spain. ¡Hasta luego!