The semester is flying by. The students at NYU Madrid have conquered midterms, traveled around the world for spring break, learned a new language and are currently soaking up the beautiful spring sun.
 
I can describe the past month through the words…
 
Primavera, Familia and Idioma
 
Primavera means spring, and I am certain every student at NYU Madrid has been awaiting the arrival of this amazing season.  Though the winter in Madrid was nothing like what everyone endured back in New York, spring gave us the opportunity to finish up our midterms and start our travels for Spring Break.
 
I did something different and traveled around Europe primarily by myself.  My break began in Dublin, Ireland with my buddy Jack who visited me from New York.  Ireland was all about the people.  The locals were warm and inviting, and it was such a relief to be back in an English-speaking country.  I had forgotten what it was like to have a conversation without navigating the vocabulary, grammar and accent of a second language.  We had a killer time getting lost on the coast of Howth, meeting locals and catching up with each other.




 
Jack said goodbye, and I made my way to London.  At this point, I was completely on my own.  The first thing I did upon my arrival in London was visit a skate park built in an abandoned train tunnel. I spent the afternoon with a group of nine- and ten-year-olds that made me feel like a beginner.  Those kids can skate! Later, I made my way over to NYU London to catch up with the familiar faces in the BPE program that I had not seen in quite some time.  I loved exploring another NYU campus and hearing about the experiences my friends were having in a completely different country.
 


My break ended at a fourth NYU campus: Paris!  Paris is a city that I have wanted to explore since I was little, and it was surreal to finally be there.  Paris is on another level.  The locals are so sartorial.  The food is delicious, and the art and architecture are like nothing I have seen.  I filled my days visiting Notre Dame, the Arc de Triomphe, the Eiffel Tower, the Louis Vuitton Foundation and the Louvre as well as catching up with friends.
 
I had the break that I need to recharge the batteries and return to Madrid inspired and refreshed.
 
Familia is family, and mine arrived in Madrid right when I returned from my break.  All four Carlborg kids were reunited, and we spent the week exploring Madrid and the rest of Spain with our parents. We had delicious food, traveled to the south of Spain to visit Seville and were able to catch up in person about all that we have been doing.  The best part about having a big family is there is so much to talk about!  Dinners last hours, and the jokes and fun never stop.  We did not have a silent moment on the trains or during the car rides.  It was one of the best weekends I have had in Spain, and I was very lucky to share my abroad experience with my entire family.






 
Idioma means language.  This past month, I have truly noticed the change that studying abroad has brought to my Spanish.  It has been so surprising to walk into restaurants and think in Spanish, or run into Spanish friends on the street and immediately jump into conversation in my second language.  The progression has been very natural.  I am having so much fun that I have not necessarily noticed how much the exposure to the language has helped.  Frequently, I find myself dreaming and thinking in the language.  It is incredibly fun to look back and notice the progression that has happened over these past few months!
 
I cannot believe there is only one month left!


 
¡Hasta pronto!