Global Student Life: In Spokane and Abroad

By:

Center for Global Engagement (CGE)

Are you curious about what lies in store for a Zag when they study abroad or when international students come to study at Gonzaga? This month, we will look at what our global Gonzaga students are up to, both here in Spokane and abroad.
Gonzaga has a diverse international student population studying everything from ESL at the English Language Center to accounting and law. The CGE offers programming to help introduce international students to the Gonzaga campus, American culture, and beyond. If your student is interested in connecting with international students or is an international student, they are very welcome and invited to join our events and activities, which can be found on our Facebook page.

We also recently heard from Jackson, a GU student studying abroad in Madrid, Spain. Read about Jackson’s experience below:
For the first time in my life, I have been fully emerged in a different culture other than my own. As you probably know, it’s exciting learning and living a new lifestyle, but it also makes you appreciate everything we take for granted back home.

Upon arriving in Madrid, the first thing I had to learn was how to navigate the metro. The Madrid metro system is the perfect way to explore and get around the enormous city. It’s affordable and fast, but sometimes can be smelly and crowded. Most students studying abroad in Madrid must take the metro to get to school and most of us don’t seem to mind.

Madrid has a rich and diverse history and its citizens are proud and passionate about their city. The traditions and holidays that I have witnessed, show the true spirit of Spain and unite the city together. My homestay is in the main plaza of Madrid, and I see and hear the chants of the Spanish people outside my window daily (celebrating, protesting, etc.). Despite the city being bustling and busy, I also believe the people of Madrid enjoy a lifestyle of leisure. Their favorite pastime would have to be eating and conversing with friends. At least once a week, my house mom invites her friends over for tapas and sangria. They usually stay late into the night, chatting and sometimes singing. I wish I could speak Spanish so I could understand their conversation and figure out what they talk about all night long. This pastime is also reflected throughout the city in its numerous cafes, bars, and restaurants. Simply put, people here love to talk.

School is, more or less, the same here in Madrid. As you know, it’s harder to stay focused and get into a routine while abroad and this definitely applies to the Gonzaga students here. Luckily, the accents of my professors aren’t too thick, so I can understand the material and participate in class. The most interesting aspect about my school is the integration of American and Spanish students. Usually, this integration goes smoothly and everyone can get along with one another and learn from each other. This interaction, in my opinion, embodies the best that studying abroad has to offer.