I’ve previously been an editor and reporter for The Alligator, but this semester I will take on a different role: a columnist.
While I sadly won’t be able to attend Alligator Sunday print nights or editors meetings twice a week, I will still be on staff — just halfway across the world.
For as long as I can remember, I have always wanted to study abroad in college. Through UF’s study abroad exchange program, I am finally fulfilling that dream.
I will be living in Madrid for the Spring semester and attending classes at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid. On the night of Jan. 21, I’ll board a seven-hour flight from my hometown, Philadelphia (go Birds), to Madrid, knowing almost no one and not feeling the least bit confident in my Spanish-speaking skills.
While all of my friends and my Alligator family are back in Gainesville, I’m still at home preparing for what’s ahead, including packing for the weather. Since coming to school in Florida, I haven’t experienced a chilly winter in over three years. I’m physically — and mentally — preparing for the 40-degree weather with my puffy parka.
Though my travel plans aren’t concrete yet, I do have a long bucket list of places I want to see. From Barcelona to Toledo, and even as far south as Seville and Granada, I hope to travel extensively within Spain.
Beyond Spain, I plan to visit Portugal, France, Germany, Switzerland and, if I’m lucky enough, Ireland for St. Patrick’s Day. Despite being more accustomed to the Gainesville warmth, I look forward to spending some time in the colder regions, including Scandinavia and Western Europe. And as the weather heats up toward the end of my time abroad, I want to visit places like Italy, Greece and Croatia.
Regardless of where I end up traveling, my main goals remain the same: learn new cultures, meet new people and see new places. And, of course, learn new material through a mix of journalism, history and economics classes at an entirely different institution.
For those of you planning to follow, I’m excited to take you along with me.
Contact Shaine Davison at sdavison@alligator.org. Follow her travels on Instagram @shaine_in_spain.
Shaine is the Fall 2025 enterprise editor at The Alligator. She has previously written for the sports and university sections. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends, going on runs and trying new coffee shops.
