When I first got to Spain, I did what most people studying abroad do... I stuck with the Americans. I later felt like I was doing myself a disservice by not getting to know people from Spain, so I did what every young adult does, and I downloaded Bumble and used it to make friends. In this way I met a girl named Bisola who is still a really close friend of mine. We only hung out for a month before I had to leave, but we still often talk and catch up. She's from a small, beautiful island called Mallorca. She introduced me to her siblings and her friend group. I loved having the chance to meet locals who showed me around and showed me the non-touristy places that are super cool and all the cool foods. Spending time with Bisola is actually the reason why I tried my beloved Tortilla de Patatas! She also taught me slang and introduced me to the nightlife and artworld in Madrid. Her boyfriend was interning for a Spanish artist, and she brought me to ARCO, which is a contemporary art fair.
In my classes, I also interacted with Spanish locals who had a lot of questions about America. Everyone was so curious to learn if being in America and N.Y.C. in particular was like the movies. Everyone I met was really kind, even random strangers.
