Paige Graves
Staff writer
Not every Murray State student can say he woke up in a foreign country on New Year’s Day.
Rather than being the product of a crazy night, a group of students spent seven days in Spain as part of the University’s Experience Spain program.
The Experience Spain program gave participants the opportunity to explore Barcelona and Madrid with other University students, faculty, staff and alumni.
Students chose one class that began in mid-October and was integrated with the trip that took place Dec. 30 through Jan. 6. Sudan Loganathan, senior from Murray, is not new to leaving the country.
“I’ve traveled to multiple places in Europe but hadn’t been to Spain,” Loganathan said. “I heard the culture and atmosphere of Spain was very different compared to any other place in Europe and I was really interested in experiencing that culture.”
He recalled his favorite experiences from the trip, which included attending a Madrid futbol soccer game and a Flamenco performance. Loganathan said he felt traveling with a group made the experience exhilarating as he got to know new people and experience a new country with them.
“I would definitely like to go back sometime and I will always encourage anyone to visit Spain,” Loganathan said. “Trips abroad are memorable and are the best learning experiences which will stick with you for a lifetime.
“I’ve learned a lot more about the world visiting Spain and, like any other trip abroad, it has encouraged me to be open to what the world has to provide and explore it and also encourages others to explore the world too.”
Shelby Blalock, junior from Murray, was also on the trip and said two of the seven days were used for traveling.
“I decided to go to Spain because I went to Greece last year for a study abroad trip with Murray State and absolutely loved it,” Blalock said. “The majority of the people that went to Greece were also going to Spain, and they asked me to go. I couldn’t deny an amazing educational excursion with people that love Murray State as much as I do.”
Blalock described the architecture of Spain as breathtaking, noting that the Royal Palace and numerous cathedrals were amazing. She has hopes of returning one day with so much to experience and see.
“I would encourage anyone that is given the opportunity to study abroad to do so,” Blalock said. “Studying abroad has been amazing to experience, and I will always cherish the trips and hold them dear to my heart. It allowed me to experience different cultures and see things that I would have never dreamed of seeing in my lifetime.”
Students interested in studying abroad with the MSU Spain Experience or other program are encouraged to visit the Study Abroad office in 178 Woods Hall.
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