Lessons I Learned Abroad

I've been back in the US for about three weeks now and I have started to think about all that I have learned this semester. This list could be so much longer, but these are just a few that have impacted me the most and ones that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Learning languages is SO important

As a Spanish major, I obviously enjoy learning different languages. However, my interest in it has only deepened since my time in Spain. Learning a different language means more than just being able to communicate with others. It is learning that there are different ways to interpret the world and that while we may have different words for an object, they are both equally correct and have the same meaning. It's appreciating the differences in cultures and taking a moment to realize you have only seen a glimpse of what the world contains. You are never too young or too old to start learning a language. While in Morocco, there were kids (some only 7 or 8 years old) who knew 4 or 5 languages. Is it because they all went to really good private schools or are prodigy children? No! They interact with tourists every day and learn that way. We may not get to interact with people from all over the world like they do, but we have unlimited resources at our disposal. Take up learning a new language as a hobby! Whether it be Spanish, ASL, German, or Arabic, all are equally important! Even if you chose a language not commonly spoken in your area, it is still useful for growing, not only your knowledge about other cultures, but your understanding of what it means to view the world a little differently.

Just because your situation changes doesn't mean you'll be a different person

I would love to sit here and say that every moment in Spain was the best time of my life and I was happy 24/7, but that would be a lie. In all honestly, there were a few weeks that I was sad and disappointed about how things were going. I thought that every day would be such a great adventure, that I'd go traveling every weekend, and that I'd make tons of friends and go out all the time. While it is totally possible to travel every weekend and be the life of the party, that's just not who I am. The farthest I had traveled on my own before Spain was driving two hours to go to college and anyone who knows me knows that I am not the most extroverted, talkative person. So why did I think that once I got to Spain everything about myself would change? That I would all of the sudden be a confident, world traveler taking on new countries every weekend? I vented to my friends about this and explained how I was feeling. My friend Alex told me something that really helped me out. She said, "Traveling isn't about living another life. It's about living yours. You're still you." I don't think I am alone when I thought that studying abroad would be a chance to "get away" and see what it's like to "live another life". Living in Spain was a life changing experience, but I'm still me. I wasn't there to live another person's life; I was there to live mine and make the most out of it. Certainly do try to get out of your comfort zone and seize every moment you can! However, don't get too down on yourself for not living up to unrealistic expectations you have about who you "should" be.

No country has it all figured out

Studying abroad will change your prospective, not only on your host country, but on your home country as well. Europe does not have it all together and neither does the US! For a short time, I finally got to see the States from an outside view. I watched Spanish news channels cover events from the US, and was able to see how the Spanish people reacted to it. Our country has a long way to go. In exchange, there are also things that I observed in Spain that provoked a different reaction than what the locals had. Spain has issues they have to settle too. We have so much that we can learn from each other's culture and history. Europe has a lot more history than we do. There are buildings HUNDREDS of years older than our constitution. It wouldn't hurt to take a look around and take some pointers.

Don't forget about how far you have come!

It's easy once mostly through your study abroad experience to feel like you didn't do everything that you wanted to. However, it is so important to remember how much you have accomplished. Once you have these new experiences under your belt, you can forget about how terrifying and scary it all seemed before. I remember meeting people who had studied abroad and thought they were so brave and different from me, but now I am that person. I'm proud of myself for taking the chance on going to Spain. I could have stayed home and continued to long for traveling and seeing other parts of the world. It was a lot of hard work and researching to study abroad, but I did it! No, I didn't go to as many places as I thought I would- but I've slept in the Sahara desert, swam in the Mediterranean sea, watched the sun rise on a boardwalk in Portugal, and saw the beauty of Ireland. That's nothing little. Comparison is the thief of joy. Everyone else may have traveled more, but I've seen and experienced more than I thought I ever would in life. I'm so thankful for every moment. While at the time it seemed only relevant to study abroad, now I realize how important it is for the rest of my life as well. There will always be someone smarter, more outgoing, more confident, more traveled than you. But your journey is a great one and you should be proud of how far you have come!

Firsts from a First Gen Abroad

My time here in Spain is coming to an end, so obviously I've been reminiscing on everything that has happened this semester. I always wanted to study abroad and see more of the world; and I did! I would be lying if I said I'm not a little sad to be leaving Granada. However, I want to look on the positive side and think about some of my “firsts” that I have had over the last four months!

Seeing the Mountains

I love being able to see the mountains everyday! One of my favorite things about Granada is randomly seeing the Sierra Nevada peeking over the buildings as you walk down a long, thin street.

Mirador San Nicolas

Seeing the Mediterranean Sea (and swimming in it)

I've never had the opportunity to visit the coasts in the US, so being able to see the Mediterranean Sea for the first time in Almuñécar, Spain was breathtaking. My favorite beach I've traveled to since then was in Nerja (top right picture)!

(Almuñecar, Nerja, Salobreña, Fuengirola)

Visiting Africa

During Semana Santa (Holy Week) I went with my program to Morocco. Sleeping in the Sahara Desert and riding a dromedary (aka one-humped camel) over the sand dunes were my favorite parts of the trip.

Sunrise on the dunes

Trying Spanish Food

Surprisingly, I never had Spanish food before coming to Spain since it's not that common where we live. Boy are we missing out! My two favorites are paella and toast with tomato! My host mom is a fantastic cook, so I’ve been able to try a lot of traditional Spanish meals.

(Tortilla española, paella, churros con chocolate, pan con tomate,

roscos -a traditional Semana Santa pastry, remojón granadino)

There is so much that I have done this semester! These were just a few highlights that come to mind when I think of firsts. I am so grateful for my time in Spain and I will never forget how lucky I am to have been able to have these firsts! On the bright side, there are still so many experiences to come!

Sevilla & Córdoba

Our recent excursion trip lead us to Sevilla and Córdoba. Both cities are quite beautiful! In Sevilla we first saw the Real Alcázar. It is a beautiful Moorish Palace that you may recognize if you're a Game of Thrones fan! I've personally never watched it, but the people there who have were very excited, to say the least. Next we saw the Cathedral and the Giralda bell tower. The cathedral, like all that were built around this time, is very grand. An interesting addition is the tomb of Christopher Colombus. However, only a small part of his body is there because it was moved several times and much had been lost during the transitions. The best view of Sevilla can be seen from the top of the Giralda tower, and I was able to climb it! And if you are thinking, “Wow, that would probably be really tiring to go all the way to the top!” you are correct. There were 33 floors, but the view was worth it! When we got to our hotel, we saw the FC Girona (professional soccer team from Girona, Spain) bus right outside! They ended up being on the same floor as us. I didn't know who they were beforehand since I've never really watched soccer, but it was kind of cool since that doesn't happen every day. Some other girls and I tried a Mexican restaurant since I had been missing it. It was pretty good, but it's not remotely comparable to what I have back home.

The next day we headed to Córdoba. When we first arrived, we saw a lot of people dressed in costumes since they were celebrating Carnaval. Once we left the bus, we walked past the Roman Bridge. I would have gone out on it, but there were so many people and we didn't have much time so I decided to admire it from afar. We did a walking tour of the Jewish Quarters and passed through the famous Calle de los Flores. The main part of the tour was seeing the Mosque–Cathedral. A long time ago, the Moors built a huge, open mosque. Most of the original marble pillars are still there, but the design was changed a little during the Reconquista. The catholics turned it into a cathedral and added walls. It was much too dark after the addition, so they added a tall dome in the center to bring in more light. A cool fact about the pillars is that when they were finished, the man who made it added his signature to it. They have a wall with copies of the signatures they have found, but you can still find them around if you look hard enough! It is still an active church and has mass along with concerts around Christmas. After, we were able to relax in the sun for a little bit, which was nice because the Mosque–Cathedral was very cold inside. We unfortunately encountered some ladies trying to “gift” us rosmary for luck. If you are ever in Spain, just ignore the “gifts” even if you come across as rude. They will typically offer to read your palm and then quickly demand you pay them for their service. Don't let them swindle you, and worse comes to worse, just mention the word police and they will more than likely go away. It's nothing to worry about, just say “No gracias” and move one. Córdoba was still amazing despite them!

While Sevilla was very pretty, I really enjoyed the few hours I had in Córdoba! It was absolutely gorgeous and possibly my favorite city in Spain that I have visited so far. My favorite part was the mosque aspect of the Mosque-Cathedral. The Moors were truly so amazing at what they did and I wish I could see what it looked like before the cathedral was added! Spain is filled with so many of these cool places and it is mind blowing to think about how much history you get to explore and experience. Plus, the landscape in Andalusia is STUNNING. I am so thankful for it all!