Today is March 20th. I am walking around campus in a t-shirt and jeans pondering how the weather would be a dream in Allentown, PA, there city that had been my 'home away from home' for the past two years. Right now I reside in Madrid, and have been since September, I can tell you which metro stops I am close to and about ten different ways to walk into Sol, the heart of Madrid, from my apartment. Yes, I am currently a student abroad and away from Muhlenberg. However, I consider myself a student of la Universidad de Carlos III, Getafe. I chose to enroll in a Spanish university instead of a language program for American students in Spain. My motivation for selecting a different option from that of most Muhlenberg students? Spanish. I am in Spain to learn Spanish. I knew that if I chose to be in a program with other Americans I would not meet as many Spanish students. I would be tempted time and time again to go out with Americans and speak ENGLISH.

Now I am in classes where there are no Americans and speaking English would only lead to a debate about the current situation in Iraq. I socialize, play soccer, grab a bite to eat at the cafeteria, and go out on weekends with Spanish students. I am learning Spanish, which was my main goal for leaving Muhlenberg and studying abroad for the year.

--Kate Purkert '04

Kate is studying at the Universidad Carlos III through Middlebury College's study abroad program. For more information go to www.uc3m.es.