For my STEP Signature Project, I studied abroad in Seville, Spain with the CINECU program during Spring 2019. This study abroad program allowed me to take Spanish courses at a Spanish university for a semester, all while furthering my fluency goals by living with a host family. My STEP funds went directly to my program fee.
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Though I had anticipated a change in myself and in my worldviews during my STEP Signature Project, I had not expected the extent to which I was affected by study abroad. Prior to studying abroad, I would always laugh when people told me, you’re going to change so much! or, you’re going to be a changed person! How much could I really change in just five months?
Turns out, a semester abroad drastically transforms one’s views. The outlook I have on the world has been enriched by traveling to different countries and interacting with each area’s unique cultures. The slower pace of life in Spain encouraged me to pause and appreciate every moment I had in Europe. While the slower pace was certainly an adjustment from a fast-paced American lifestyle, I ended my experience abroad with a love for all of life’s smaller moments: walking under colorful sunsets; enjoying morning coffee; or detouring through the park on my walk home from class. The Spanish perspective on daily life gifted me with values of positivity and appreciation.
The process of transforming my perspectives was one that was ongoing throughout my time in Spain. Traveling, both the fun parts and the not-so-fun parts, forced me to reflect on how I respond to challenges. Whether it was a language barrier, a delayed flight, or a lost suitcase, there were challenges that arose during every trip I took. Enduring these challenges encouraged me to remain positive in irritating situations and not to lose sight of the end goal.
A surprisingly positive change I made while abroad was my outlook on day-to-day life. As an American university student, I am constantly rushing through the school week, taking breaks only to breathe, eat, and sleep. Spanish society, on the other hand, takes a different approach. Instead of moving rapidly from one activity of the day to the next, the Spanish tend to appreciate small details of life such as the morning walk to work, or a lunch under the sun with friends. By the end of my study abroad experience, I found myself more relaxed and less irritated with life’s annoyances.
Finally, conversations with my professors and my host family helped me transform my outlook. Gaining insight into how other cultures interpret politics, social challenges, or even religion was vital in my transformation process. I learned to put aside my own opinions in order to understand the views of others, as well as the cultural mechanisms that direct the thought processes. A particular professor of mine encouraged me to think differently about history from a Spanish perspective. From this new perspective, I was able to open my mind and remove myself from the American-centric viewpoint in which we find ourselves.
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My goals for the semester abroad were to become more independent and learn more Spanish. I can honestly say that without a change in perspective, I would not have been able to learn more about myself or about the Spanish language. This transformation has encouraged me to live in the moment and appreciate every second with which I have been extremely blessed. My experiences in Europe have also encouraged me to keep following my passions, as I am happiest when I get to gain insight and knowledge into the topics of interest to me. But most importantly, my experiences have brought me to a healthier state of being – one less concerned with how quicklyI can get to class, but rather how muchI can get out of the simple walk to class. I am forever thankful for the challenges living abroad brought me. Without learning how to overcome them, I never would have been able to learn so much about who I am and who I am destined to be.
One of Seville’s many magical sunsets
