This past semester I used my STEP funds to go to Granada, Spain for a semester to study the Spanish language and it’s art, literature, and culture. I attended classes at the University of Granada’s Centro de Lenguas Modernas and stayed with a Spanish host family to help me practice my speaking. I also extended my trip after the semester was over to do some extra European travel.

I went into this semester expecting to be in completely over my head. I had not studied Spanish in several years, so I assumed that I would have trouble interacting with my teachers, talking to my host family, and navigating the city, but I found that it became easier over time. I was able to have really in-depth conversations about politics and society with my host family and learn about healthcare, taxes, school, and the different political parties. It was interesting to see how the United States is viewed in Europe, and similar issues both countries have. I was also able to see how different Spanish day-to-day life was from that of the United States. They take a siesta during the day, where many workers would come home to eat lunch with their family, and therefore many businesses would be closed for a few hours in the middle of the day so people could have time to connect with their families. In Granada many families also followed a Mediterranean diet. My family would cook many different legumes and vegetables every week, and fresh fish was very abundant. They also depend on olive oil for their cooking. In addition, it is normal to separate trash into organic, recyclable, and regular waste. Fast food is very scarce, and most people are able to walk anywhere they need to go. After living there all semester, I began to appreciate their way of life, and see how it shapes their personalities and overall culture.

One of the best things about my time in Spain was my host family. Through them, I was able to hear their first-hand opinions about life in Spain and what they thought of the United States. One of the most interesting conversations that I had with them was about what they valued as parents. During the first few years of school they taught the kids about how to deal with emotions and practice mindfulness, and they said disciplining the kids for bad behavior isn’t as common. They also feed their children the same meals that they eat, including things like fish, chickpeas, and tofu. Being able to watch the news with my host family not only gave me confidence in my Spanish-speaking abilities because I was able to understand it, but it made me feel more connected being able to talk to my host family about what was happening. It was also very meaningful to speak with professors in my classes about the problems in Spain. In one of our classes, we had to do presentations on a controversial topic in Spain, and it was very eye-opening to hear how they were affected by issues such as Brexit, excessive tourism, and assisted suicide.

This semester had a huge impact on me and my self-confidence, specifically with my Spanish. As mentioned, I was very worried about speaking since I hadn’t practiced Spanish in a couple of years, but having this experience has helped me a lot. I was able to have complex conversations with my host family and understand native speakers in contexts I’d never learned about before. Any problem I encountered I could find a way to ask for help. My goal with my job is to use my Spanish-speaking abilities to help those who need healthcare and don’t speak English, and additionally to eventually participate in Doctors Without Borders. Having this experience was humbling, because it showed me how much work it takes to become truly fluent, but it gave me confidence that with time I may be able to communicate effectively. I am taking a Spanish Medical Terminology course this summer to become more comfortable. In addition, I became more confident traveling alone and connecting as well. The semester all culminated in me spending a few weeks traveling alone around Europe, which to me was very valuable. I had already learned so much about the politics and ways of life in Spain, but in the hostels I stayed in I was able to meet people from all over Europe and hear about the similarities and differences between our education, political leaders, healthcare and more. This has helped me be more aware of what’s happening in the world around me, which I think will help me when I travel for work. Going abroad, it was important to be accepting of the culture, and not look for things that are better or worse, but more so what is similar and different, and I think that going abroad has helped me practice this. My experience abroad has helped me grow so much, and truly solidify what I want to do later in life.