STUDY ABROAD

           During the spring of 2022, I traveled abroad to Seville, Spain - a place that would become my home for the next five months. Before I left, I was filled with mixed emotions; it was my first time ever traveling outside of the U.S., and while I was excited about this wonderful opportunity, I was also extremely nervous about leaving my home behind and being immersed in a culture that was not my own. I distinctly remember the last flight I took before I landed in Spain and thinking to myself - Am I really good enough at Spanish to navigate this semester abroad? Will I really be able to do this? - Those questions felt so daunting at the time, but as I came to realize through my time abroad, having a willingness to learn and being open to making mistakes will allow you to grow in ways you never even expected.

           

          What I have learned after seven years of learning Spanish, is that the time and effort required to learn a language is immense. It encompasses more than the time you spend and the practice you do in class. In fact, most of the learning takes place out of the classroom and what you do with your free time.

 

          Three years ago, I began learning Spanish through every way possible; I played video games and changed the voices to Spanish, I watched creators on YouTube from Spain, and I began to use Rosetta Stone to practice my conversational skills. Things like that are what made me fall in love with the language - that connection that now allows me to meet other people and enjoy different forms of art. When you learn another language, it is as if another world opens up for you. That is to say, I did everything that I could to keep learning every single day and that is something I held myself to when I studied abroad in Seville.

​

          My time abroad gave me the opportunity to immerse myself completely in the culture and language of Spain, both in and out of the classroom. I was overjoyed that the program allowed me to learn about art, history, literature, and film while I gain this wonderful experience with the language at the same time.​

​

         Participating in the program was an unforgettable experience, not just because I was more knowledgeable about Spanish, but because I got to form a connection with this country that I had spent years studying. When I went to Spain, I was finally getting to see places that I had learned about with my own eyes. It was an experience that gave me the ability to participate in the world of art that has connected me with the language to begin with. I can confidently say that without forms of art like that, I would not have been able to learn the language as I did. Art has a very strong connection to my heart, and I want to share that with other people and this experience has put me in a position where I can do that.

​

         I remember the first couple weeks that I was abroad I felt like I did not belong. I found myself overwhelmed by everyday tasks because they were all different from my own. Even mundane things like going to get a cup of coffee made me anxious. I would prepare what I was going to say ahead of time and rehearse the conversation before I spoke to the cashier because I did not want to say something wrong. But doing that did not feel authentic. I was just scripting everyday interactions, so that I felt prepared. But a couple weeks into the program, I started to let go of that and put more trust in my own speaking skills. When I stopped putting so much weight on everyday conversations, I was able to let myself learn a lot more because I was open to making mistakes. And when I did that, I was amazed at the kindness and support I received from the locals.

​

         Beyond that, I began to notice a myriad of cultural differences between Spain and the United States. One of the most beautiful aspects of Spanish culture to me became the lifestyle. Something that my roommate and I noticed after exploring the city for a couple of months, was that there was this enjoyment that was ever-present in day-to-day life. Coming from the U.S., I'm more accustomed to a fast-paced lifestyle; the majority of the time I eat premade meals, take my coffee to-go, do my work while I sit outside - but in Spain, people take time to appreciate everyday tasks. For example, my señora would take hours out of her day to make us homemade meals, which made us feel really cared for. Since going to Spain, I've made more of an effort to slow down and it has made me have an appreciation for the simpler aspects of life as a result. 

​

         My time is Spain is something that will forever I have an impact on me. I got to see my first fútbol game, I visited several amazing art museums, I saw cathedrals that dated back thousands of years, and most of all I got to connect with the country and its people. There are not many places in the world that I consider my home, but Seville will always be one of them.

​

         And with that, I believe it is best to close with the last thing my señora, María Luisa, told me before I left to return to the U.S.

 

“Siempre tienes una casa en Sevilla,”

“You will always have a home in Seville.”