Matt Cirillo is an AAE junior who is studying abroad this semester in Spain as part of the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (UC3M) program.

Why did you want to study abroad? Why did you choose the UC3M program?

My primary reason for studying abroad is that I likely won’t have another opportunity to do something like this. It has been an incredible experience to live in Europe for the semester and there is so much to do. I chose to study in Spain because it was an opportunity to improve my Spanish and I knew that the country was beautiful with many interesting cities. I chose the UC3M program because it is specifically a great option for aerospace engineering. There are many easily transferable classes, including a few core classes. In addition, the entire degree program is taught in English. And of course, Madrid is such a great city with plenty of history, art, and culture.

Best experience so far:

The best experience I’ve had so far in Spain was a weekend in Valencia. There was a celebration called Las Fallas, which is held every year and is a little hard to explain. Essentially, the Valencian people spend a full year building marvelous wooden statues and then celebrate on Saturday before burning them all to the ground on Sunday. To see a 100-foot-tall statue that is incredibly detailed become a giant bonfire is amazing. In addition, this is done right next to all the buildings and firework displays are continuous throughout the night. It is unlike anything I’ve seen before and must be witnessed in person to truly understand this strange yet wonderful celebration.

What you’ve learned—either about yourself or the culture you’re living in.

There are so many things to learn while studying abroad outside of the classroom. First, the Spanish culture is different in many ways. The entire day is shifted: class and work starts later but ends far later than a typical U.S. day, with dinner being anywhere from 8-10pm. It is also commonly said that Madrideños know how to live life. There is always something fun going on every day of the week, and it is quite common to stay out until 6am on the weekends. Madrid and its people have many more great differences but I won’t go into too many details. As for myself, I suppose I am trying to take some of the elements of Spanish culture and incorporate them into my daily life. There are many food recipes, for example, that I want to take with me when I leave.

Would you suggest study abroad for other AAE students? Why?

I would 100% recommend study abroad for other AAE students. There are so many benefits and I’ve had an incredible amount of fun so far. Madrid is a great to city to live in, Spanish culture is a joy to experience, and the proximity to not only other parts of Spain but all of Europe makes weekend travel very fun and rewarding. As for academics, the classes at UC3M transfer back to Purdue very easily and all aerospace classes are taught in English. While it may be easier to stay at Purdue for the semester, I guarantee that the few months living and studying abroad will be one of, if not the best experience of a student’s college career.

top photo: UC3M students in Toledo, Spain

middle photo: Las Fallas celebration in Valencia, Spain

bottom photo: UC3M students with "astronauts" at Carnival in Cadiz, Spain