Patrick Murray discusses what he loved most about his three months in Granada, Spain

My name is Patrick Murray and I participated on USM’s study abroad program to Granada, Spain. I spent three months living and learning in Spain and it was an amazing experience. I think the best way to show what study abroad can do for you, is by showing what it meant to me, a student just like you.
As a freshman I decided to participate in the three month-long Granada Semester Program for my fall semester, but as nervous and as excited as I was at that point, I never could have imagined the lasting effects such an adventure would have on me.
Having only one semester of Spanish pre-flight, I expected some difficulty communicating in the county, but the two initial Spanish courses quickly whipped my Spanish into fine working order. As soon as I arrived the food appeared strange and crazy at times, like ham flavored potato chips and cured ham sandwiches, but soon I learned what to order and how to order and since my return I have found myself craving Spanish cuisine. In fact, I enjoyed Spanish food so much that many of my favorite dishes are from my second home such as patatas a la pobre and the bocadillo de tortilla. Apart from the food, I was pleasantly surprised with the welcoming culture found in Granada and it being a college city, it was easy to have fun and meet people my own age.
Classes in Spain were some of my favorites. Having the opportunity to study art history in three of the biggest museums in Spain including the Prado, Thyssen Bornemisza museum, and the Reina Sofia in Madrid was one of the most enlightening weeks of my life so far. Also having the comparative religion class taught in Granada, a city know for its religious diversity and history, was far more interesting and memorable than some of my other core classes.
Apart from dozens of stories I tell far too often, memories I pray to never forget, and insight into a culture that is far from my own, I look back now at my adventure abroad with such admiration and pride in myself at having dared to leave my home and venture into a world unknown to me for three months and return a truly better person. No two adventures are the same, and now that you know some of what I received from my adventure abroad, just imagine what study abroad has to offer you!

Best Parts of Study Abroad

• every day is a new adventure, be it an excursion to the ruins of Cordoba, a weekend in Morocco, or a first encounter with a gypsy, everyday is an adventure with study abroad
• the people, being able to learn and experience a culture that is responsible for things like bullfights, the guitar, and poor potatoes is something few people can own up to (and something I would never give up)
• the language, actually communicating with someone that you could never have spoken to before your second language is an astounding thing
• the food, I would go back just for the food...the Spanish food...some of the Spanish food
• the growth, I entered the program a young student and returned three months later with a little more knowledge, a little more confidence, a little more independence, and a much better perspective of myself and the world.