Summer French at Université Laval in Québec (STEP Reflection)

Small Alley in Vieux Québec with umbrellas hung up. I bought a print from a local artist of this street!

During this past summer, July to August, I was immersed in the city of Québec at Université Laval. I spent five weeks in classes at the university and exploring the city of Québec to learn more about the French language and francophone culture not too far from home. 

Going into this program I had very few assumptions about what was going to take place. I did not want to create or imagine various possible scenarios that when they didn’t happen it would tarnish my entire time and experience. I wanted to go in with an open mind and I’m glad I did because the experience was a mix of emotions and unforeseen complications mixed with the blessing of studying abroad and forming new relationships. This was my first time spending more than two weeks away from my family other than when I’m only a two hour drive from them during the school year so I feel it was a new sense of independence of getting to a different country and navigating myself around while also having to exercise my French skills due to Québec being a francophone country. I am especially grateful for the personal growth that came out of my experience. I’m so used to being in my shell and sticking to what and who I’m comfortable with and obviously doing a study abroad and going in knowing no one will force you to find new people. I learned to say yes to things because I felt the urge of not wanting to waste my time in the city or the time with my new friends. This STEP program helped me open myself to new people, experiences, and allowed me to extend what I was learning in the classroom to the outside world due to where the program took place and by the end, I felt much more comfortable in myself and my command of French. 

When going to Canada for the program I had no idea what kind of people I would be meeting. I did not expect to meet a girl from Spain, a lot of people from Canada oddly enough, or have the program be full of such a wide range of ages, cultures, and backgrounds. I had thought it would be a majority of people around my age and from America but to my surprise, the program was also open to and consisted of mostly people from Canada through their “Explore” program. In hindsight, I’m thankful for the large mix of people from seemingly all over the world because it allowed me to learn not only about Québec, which I expected to learn a lot about but also all of Canada and also Spain because one of my friends on the trip was from Spain. We could all sit down and discuss and ask questions about their country, politics, dumb stereotypes, and anything and everything. The friends I made shaped my experience in a way I didn’t expect but I’m thankful for the pleasant surprise which allowed me to learn about and explore much more than I had expected to be able to. 

The classes I took were the main reason I was there but also gave me much more than just classroom information. I took three courses while I was there, a grammar class, a phonetics/pronunciation class, and an oral expression class. My professors for my grammar and pronunciation classes were my favorite. Each professor was clearly very fond of Québec and also the program and teaching which made learning from them so fun. They put their personalities and special twists to their courses which were so different from any class I’d taken in America. The grammar and pronunciation classes were three hours long starting at 8:30 am but we would always take a break in the middle which I really appreciated and was something relatively unheard of in American classrooms I feel. Because it was an immersion program everything was in French which I feel really benefitted me in my comprehension and also in my ability to express myself and my thoughts more on the spot than I ever had before. It was challenging but in the end, I feel I really benefitted from it and improved in my command of the language and felt comfortable in engaging with university staff, storekeepers, and even when strangers would speak to me around the city. Even some Québecoise, like a woman in line behind me who just struck up a conversation or my Uber driver to the airport, would commend me on my French and my ability to understand and respond and carry a full conversation in French which made me feel really proud of myself an that the program was worth it.

I think the area where I grew the most was personally and that was due to the experiences I partook in while in Québec. I learned to just say yes to things and not worry as much. I would go into the city with people when they asked because I wanted to make friendships and also explore, I would make plans to go get ice cream simply because we could, and when Virginia asked if we wanted to spend a weekend in Montreal I said yes. I didn’t think about reasons not to, I thought about the fact that I’d regret saying no. I booked an Airbnb for the first time, took an immense amount of public transport which is different in every city but also gives you a sense of independence. Might I add Montreal has a metro system which is my favorite form of public transit. Spending a weekend in a city that predominately speaks French with three girls I had only met three weeks ago would’ve sounded like a daunting thing to me last year, but it’s something you just have to take the leap on because you never know when you’ll be given the opportunity again. I also did something in Québec that I think signaled my biggest growth – I went to a music festival by myself for a night. The FEQ (Festival d’été du Québec) is a fourteen-day music festival and I borrowed my friend’s wristband to go downtown and see the headliner of the night by myself because it was something I wanted to do. I walked around by myself, saw the performances I wanted to see, and didn’t have to worry about other people or what anyone thought of me. I talked to people and enjoyed myself and I’m so glad I did it because it was truly such a unique possibility of being in Québec during the festival and also a performer I wanted to see was there that night. Overall, I did a lot of things during the program that a year ago I wouldn’t have thought I would be comfortable enough with myself to do. I think that’s one of the most beautiful effects of studying abroad is that you change and grow so much as a person in such a short amount of time because you’ll never be in that same place or time every again and there’s an urgency to experience it to the fullest. 

This program and the transformation I went through during the program are valuable in my life for a couple of reasons. First and foremost, I wanted to ameliorate my French language skills and my ability to converse on the spot rather than go through translating isolated sentences forever. I wanted to learn French in a real francophone setting from native speakers and be immersed in an environment where French was expected to be spoken. I think I really got what I wanted in that respect from doing this program and I’m thankful that it lived up to what I wanted. In the future I hope to be a high school French teacher and I think this will be an experience that is the most impactful in my journey of learning French and about francophone cultures that I will be able to use in teaching and showing students that this is a language used out in the real world and not solely in that classroom. Aside from the language and future professional benefits of the program, it really made me step outside of my shell as a person. I put myself out into the program and opened myself to new experiences and adventures that in 5, 10, 20 years I’ll look back on and be so grateful that I did. I’ve come back from the program a much more open person who will throw themselves into anything that seems interesting just to try it out. I truly feel like I’m in a place personally now that without this program I wouldn’t have grown as much as a person. 

Without the push and financial cushion of STEP I wouldn’t have been able to say or speak on anything that happened in this reflection. I would have been the same Janelle I was back in May when school let out. I am thankful for the experience and can’t wait to see how what I’ve learned and the growth I endured will treat me in the future.

Mont Royale the namesake of Montréal with a view of the city.

STEP Signature Project Reflection: Summer French at Laval

I used my STEP Signature Project to take part in an OSU education abroad program called Summer French at Laval. During this program, I spent five weeks studying French language at Université Laval in Québec City, Canada. I took French oral and writing class in the morning and had French conversation and singing workshops in the afternoon.

Before the program started, I felt really nervous. My French was only beginner level and it was quite challenging for me even to make simple daily conversation. Thus I assumed that life would be very difficult and I would only socialize with people I already knew during the time I lived in Canada. However, not only did I fit in a group of people from Canada, but also I actually gained the friendship and beautiful memories which I will cherish for the rest of my life. I think the most important thing I learned during this one month is that nothing is terrifying as long as I become brave and start to open myself up.

During the first week, I didn’t have any friends to hang out with. My interaction with everyone in my class or workshop stopped after school. I felt lonely and disappointed, even kind of regretted to spend my summer there. However, one night I went to a cafeteria on campus, and I ran into three girls from my class. I said “bonjour” to them and was just going to pass by and find a table for myself, but at the next second, I decided to take the first step. I asked them if we could share the table. We spent the next two hours eating and talking, and all of us were so surprised that we had so many interesting stories to share with each other and a lot of things in common.

After that night at the cafeteria, I was never alone for the rest of my time in Canada. In class, we helped each other with French; after school, we went to Old Québec together exploring delicate coffee shops and delicious local restaurants. We shared our life stories about growing up under different cultural background…Those are all experiences I could never have if I didn’t take the first step and open up to new people.

My experience in Canada has somehow changed me. In the past, I was intimidated and would never be the one to initiate a conversation with new people. I got used to waiting for others to take the step. Now I have become capable of being that “initiative person”, the one with a more open mind.

I think this transformation is very important for both my personal and professional life in the future. Especially as a finance student, networking with strangers is a crucial skill. Knowing how to initiate conversations with other people and build relationship within a short amount of time is necessary for us. From my perspective, thanks to this experience in Canada, I made a lot of progress on this ability.

Sidney’s STEP Reflection

For my STEP Signature Project, I spent five weeks studying abroad in Quebec, Canada. I stayed in the residence at Université Laval and took intensive French classes there. The rest of time outside of class was free for us to participate in program activities and to explore the campus and the city.

Throughout the course of my project, I learned a lot about myself as well as the world. I learned that I had the ability to navigate a new city and country by myself. I originally thought that I would have trouble doing that, but it wasn’t really too big of an issue and I actually found it to be quite enjoyable. I was surprised by my independence as well as my adventurous spirit while abroad. I was also surprised by my ability to communicate effectively in French while being in Québec.

Being in Canada showed me that every country has different methods in which they operate, but one isn’t better than the other. I believe that we can all learn from each other and become more efficient as a global community. Being abroad also taught me that even though people come from different countries, we’re all very similar at the end of the day and can still find ways to connect with each other.

Whenever I went into the center of the city which was called Vieux-Québec, I had to maneuver the bus system and find my away around by interacting with the locals in French. This really helped me grow in my command of the language as well as in my confidence while speaking French. The native French speakers often spoke really fast which provided me with a challenge that I was eventually able to conquer by the end of the program.

While in Québec I met people from all over the world in the residences as well as in Vieux-Québec. Interacting with these people taught me the differences and similarities between the cultures and customs of the United States and other parts of the world. This experience showed me how important it is to be a global citizen because we all have a lot that we can teach each other. The exposure I gained to diverse beliefs and cultures has helped me grow as an individual and as a student. I feel that getting to experience life as a student in another country has been an especially transformative element in my education thus far because I was taught by native French-speaking professors who shared their expertise and culture with me throughout the course of the program.

Throughout the course of my time in Québec, I made very close friendships that I will cherish for the rest of my life. These friends come from allover the world and during our time together we celebrated our similarities and differences and that brought us closer together. We had the opportunity to share the unforgettable experience of exploring a city that was new to all of us. Because of this shared experience, I still feel connected to them today and I now have friends that I can visit allover the world and that can visit me in Ohio as well.

This transformation was very valuable for me because I gained a greater appreciation for travelling and learning about other countries. It is very important to me to be a well-traveled global citizen and this program was the most intense travel experience I’ve ever had. This experience also showed me that the ability to speak two languages can be empowering and it strengthened my love for learning French. Being bilingual has always been a goal of mine and I believe that this program has brought me so much closer to achieving that goal. I feel so much more confident in my French speaking abilities than I felt before the program. Speaking French has even started to become more natural and I unconsciously think in French from time to time. This experience will help me in the future if I ever travel to do research or to a conference abroad in a French speaking country or if I need to communicate in French in another professional setting. There are many francophone countries that are hubs for scientific research and I believe that the ability to speak French fluently would be a very useful skill to have in the future.

 

Education Abroad – Salamanca, Spain

I had the opportunity to study abroad in Salamanca, Spain through International Studies Abroad. This program allowed me to enroll in Spanish courses, as well as provided me the opportunity to travel to cities all across Spain.

 

This experienced helped me better understand myself and helped grow my understanding of different cultures. In Spain, I was exposed to different teaching styles in the classroom. I learned to adapt to this change while comparing and contrasting the teaching style I experienced growing up to that in Spain. I also had the opportunity to live with a host mom. This experience was incredible and taught me many things. I learned what the Spanish diet consists of, and when proper mealtimes are. My host mom would talk about the media and the news while we ate, and this allowed me to see how information is shared in Spain. All of these experiences and memories have helped me become more empathetic and understanding of different cultures and has encouraged me to seek more opportunities like this.

 

One experience that changed me while in Spain was living with a host mom. She taught my roommate and I how to be “española” women through proper table etiquette, the importance of house shoes, and how to properly make a bed. She told us stories of her son and how she raised him on her own, and she explained what it was like to be a model in Spain. Living in a house with a woman who only speaks Spanish pushed me out of my comfort zone and forced me to speak Spanish all the time. She always treated us like her own children.

 

Traveling to different cities shaped who I am today. Every weekend, I had the opportunity to visit a new city. ISA held three weekend sponsored trips to Portugal, Toledo, and Santander. I learned to surf, how to bake traditional Portuguese desserts, and see the different cultures in every city. We heard new accents, tasted the local specialties, and saw incredible sights. I was able to meet people along the way and learn more about that city.

 

Finally, I was changed through the people I met. In Spain, I grew to know the locals through the coffee shops, ice cream joints, and teachers. I learned how kind the people in Salamanca are and how willing they are to help. I also had the chance to meet people from across the world in my classes. I became great friends with a girl from Tokyo who shared her culture and perspectives with me.

 

This change relates to my academic, personal, and professional goals. This experience has allowed me to progress in my Spanish speaking skills tremendously. I was able to earn credit toward my minor and gain confidence in my abilities. These skills I have obtained are extremely useful. I would like to speak Spanish fluently and use it every day in my future career. This trip has allowed me to grow one step closer to fluency. I also have grown in my cultural experiences and learned more about different people and cultures. This helps me to be more understanding of other people as a whole.

Devenir bilingue: A continuation of the path to French fluency

This summer, I was fortunate to work on developing my French proficiency skills through two incredible immersion experiences in Montpellier, France and Québec City, Canada. I spent the month of June exploring the beautiful Medieval and Mediterranean city of Montpellier, studying French multiculturalism, and also had the opportunity to spend a weekend in Paris. Then, for most of July and the beginning of August, I was enrolled in Université Laval’s renowned summer French immersion program in, the very birthplace of French immersion education, Québec City.

It seemed that almost every single day throughout this summer provided learning experiences, whether it be for something new about the language, the country I was in, or about myself. One of the most valuable lessons that I took away from my experience was the fact that I can indeed communicate effectively in another language. I have gained confidence in my ability to use other languages, recognizing first-hand that the ‘perfection’ of a language is not at all important, so long as you can be understood.

The transformative experiences that this summer has afforded me began early, with the international journey and my first time across the Atlantic—alone. Initially ecstatic having found a cheap four-leg itinerary, stress became a little bit heightened as WOW air went out of business and I missed my first connection. Nevertheless, my altered itinerary provided me with the opportunity to converse with an elderly man, just as passionate about language learning, who shared stories of his own time living abroad and studying new languages. I arrived in Montpellier a short 44 hours later, and was thrown into my first true immersion experience, as the taxi driver spoke only French. When I stepped out into the heart of the old city, though a bit intimidated, I knew I had made a choice that I would never regret.

The class I took in Montpellier, French Multiculturalism: La France Mosaïque, was not only intellectually stimulating but a perfect complement to my time abroad. This course explored the history of immigration in France and the diversity of the Francophone world, posing questions such as: “What does it mean to be French?,” and, “Is there such a thing as a French identity?”. This allowed me to not only question popular representations of French culture, but to a greater extent reevaluate 

how we are traditionally taught to conceptualize the world around us, understanding that borders are not as rigid as they may appear on a map, and that the depicted nations in a uniform color foster a much greater and richer diversity. Furthermore, this course allowed me to build on my own research at Ohio State, learning about initiatives on behalf of the French government that address refugee integration and opportunities to learn the French language.

My time out in the community was just as educational as the time spent in the classroom. One of my favorite experiences in France was the weekend I spent exploring Paris. I was fortunate to have been accompanied by a local friend, who spent the weekend introducing me to all of the beautiful aspects of her city—all in French. It was great to visit one of the most famous cities on the planet, all while practicing and building confidence in my language abilities. Though my time in Paris was spectacular, I loved the time I spent in Montpellier, a city that I was lucky to call ‘home’ for a month and that I will never forget, from Place de la Comédie to the Promenade de Peyrou and the Jardin des Plantes, from Antigone and the Esplanade de l’Europe to the beaches of Palavas-les-Flots (and so on). I am thankful for all of the locals who were patient and welcoming as I practiced my speaking skills, sometimes messing up the most basic words (such as “Sprite”). Additionally, the excellent European-style public transportation system available around the city made up for the slight difficulty I had in adjusting to understand  the concept of ‘the business day’ in southern France. Though the month flew by, I was excited to continue my summer in Québec. 

My first few days in Québec had me questioning everything I had learned before—I struggled immensely to understand people when they spoke to me. However, as time went on, things became clear again, as they were in France, and I came to understand that the change in accent is what initially threw me off. In fact, this aspect of linguistic diversity was one of the most rewarding aspects of my time in Québec. This experience was complemented by one of my three courses at Université Lav

al, Étude des textes oraux, which examined dialectal differences between Québec, Paris, southern France, West Africa, Belgium, and Switzerland, while engaging such questions as, ‘Who gets to decide what dialect of a language is ‘best’?’, ‘Is there really such a thing as a ‘standard’ dialect?’, and ‘What is the meaning, if any, of dialectal differences?’ 

As in France, my experiences outside of the classroom were fruitful as well. It was very evident that the rich history of Québec truly played a huge role in fostering appreciation and dedication to the preservation of the French language. I enjoyed conversing with locals (who were overjoyed to speak French with me) and learning more about their perceptions of the French language and the important role it played in their cultural identities. I was also very happy to have spent a weekend with relatives in Montréal. I felt delighted to spend time with my family, as well as experience first-hand the sharp distinction between the predominantly Francophone city of Québec and the bilingual city of Montréal, learning more about what meaning such linguistic differences carried in the city.

The experiences and confidence that I have gained in regard to my own second language acquisition have been incredibly valuable. I have developed an altered mindset and approach to language study—I must engage in conversation more frequently in the languages I study and I must recognize that it’s okay, normal, and even beneficial to make mistakes. With all of these new experiences, I am thrilled to continue my language learning journey!

My Incredible Spanish Journey – STEP Reflection

  1. For my STEP Signature Project, I studied abroad for 6 weeks in Salamanca, Spain. This education abroad experience allowed me to receive credit for classes required for my Spanish minor, but also opened my eyes to the Spanish world, language, and culture.
  2. I am not sure what I expected Spain to be like before I started the trip, but it was nothing near my expectations. The lifestyle in Spain was so much more relaxed and easy-going than it is here in the United States. This taught me that time is a precious thing. In the US, we are always on the go, going from one class or commitment to another, without ever slowing down to appreciate what is around you. In Spain, people walk slower, enjoying their surroundings and their company as they do so. Additionally, between the hours of 2 pm to 5 pm, most stores and businesses are closed, allowing everyone to go home for lunch and spend time with their families during the day.

Also, I learned a lot about myself in Spain. One of the most important lessons that Spain taught me was to be myself. Sometimes in the United States, everyone is so caught up in what other people think about them. In Spain, it was almost like a whole new beginning. The lifestyle there is so different that it allowed me to be my truest self. However, this would not have been possible without the people I encountered on my journey. I learned so much about myself in Spain, but most importantly, I learned to live everything to fullest because I might never have the chance again.

 

  1. There were several incredibly value relationships I made in Salamanca during my time there, and I firmly believe that the relationships I made there were the most transformational experiences I have ever encountered. Firstly, I participated in a homestay during my time there, which means that my roommate and I lived with a Spanish family. Our family consisted of a woman, her daughter, and their dog. Our host mom was one of the sweetest people I have ever met. While she didn’t have to, she always met every one of our requests and truly tried to show us the experience of being a Spaniard. Every night we would watch the news, which gave us amazing insight on how Spain’s political system worked. Whatever we did not understand, she tried to explain. By living with my host mom, I feel like I truly learned about Spain, not only lived there. Her kindness and hospitality is something I will cherish for the rest of my life.

Aside from just my host family, there were many other people who helped make my journey so transformational. My professors at La Universidad de Salamanca were absolutely incredible. I have never learned so much about Spanish culture in the 5+ years I took Spanish in the United States than I did in my six weeks in Spain. Not only did they teach us how to better understand and speak the language, but their actions, mannerisms, and relationships they developed with all of us students truly gave me an unforgettable experience. At Ohio State, it is sometimes hard to develop a real relationship with a professor due to our large class sizes, but in Salamanca, I can truly say that if I were to return someday to visit my professors, every one of them would remember who I am and welcome me back with open arms.

Lastly, by far the most important thing that happened to me in Spain was the friendships I made with people not only in my group, but in my classes as well. My ISA group was phenomenal. We did not all go to the same school nor were from the same region of the United States, but we all clicked together very well. I have never had an experience were everyone got along as well and as quickly as we did. The people I was closest with, including my roommate, and I still all talk to each other over text, social media, or even in class, considering some of the people I became closest with go to Ohio State. The experiences I shared with these people – surfing of the Cantabrian Coast, going horseback riding through the Spanish countryside, or simply sampling all the tapas in Salamanca that we possibly could – are memories I will cherish forever. I could not have asked for a better group of people to share this life-changing adventure with.

 

  1. I believe that the experience I had in Spain was absolutely necessary for me to grow as a person. I did not realize this while I was over there, but looking back on my time there or laughing over memories with my Spain friends, I have realized how much that trip impacted my life. As I stated earlier, the experience showed me that our life and our time is a gift, and we need to use that gift wisely and cherish every moment. Not only was this evident while I was in Spain, doing and seeing things I may never get the chance to see again, but it also gave me insight to my life here back at home. I was barely able to communicate with my family or friends for six weeks, and that was difficult for me. I now know how truly precious these relationships are to me, and that I must never lose sight of who I am and who helped get me to where I am today.

Additionally, while the classes I took in Spain were wonderful, they made me realize that my true academic passion in life is science. At Ohio State, I have always balanced my Spanish courses with my STEM courses, allowing me to appreciate both, but in Spain, I was only taking Spanish courses. Much to my surprise, I found myself missing classes like organic chemistry or physiology. I learned that science and learning about how life works is the thing that stimulates my brain and makes me continue to push myself harder and harder in my classes. While this experience gave me great insight on the Spanish language and culture, it also helped me solidify my future academic and career goals.

Me with my ISA friends in Santander, Cantabria, Spain

Plaza de España in Seville, Spain

Catedral (Nueva) de Salamanca in Salamanca, Spain

Jeremiah’s STEP Reflection

My STEP Signature Project consisted of a study abroad trip to Spain for six weeks. I lived in Salamanca, Spain for six weeks with a host family and took classes at the university there. Additionally, the trip consisted of excursions to other Spanish cities and Portugal.

I think what changed the most during my study abroad trip was my perception of the world in relation to myself. Before I went to begin my project, I had no idea that other places could be so different in so many ways. The people, their ways of living, and their own perspectives on the world were very distinct from my own. What I considered normal was sometimes strange to them and vice versa. This new knowledge allowed me to feel more like a small part of the larger world and less confined within my own country and background. Now, the possibilities of what and where I could be in the future seem endless.

While I was abroad, one of the most important sources of cultural knowledge came from the time that I spent with my host family. As a native Spanish speaker and a lifetime citizen of Spain, my host mother had a lot of useful information about how to navigate my new environment as well as the ways in which Spaniards typically live. Besides her, her son was also an extremely useful source. He had a more relatable perspective on things because he was closer to my age and was a student as well. I learned a lot from him about how to approach challenges and how to improve my communication skills. In all, they taught me both about how they live their lives, and better ways two navigate my own

While in Spain, I did a lot of travelling and learning about the various places that I went to and the community that I was living in. It was immensely educational to find all the differences between Spanish culture and my own and the historical events that shaped it. Every day I learned something new about Spanish traditions, speech and history. It all really created an image of Spanish culture that I had never seen of any culture before. Getting to learn about Spain’s culture made it more real to me than I thought it could be and made me understand that each culture is just one smaller piece of society at whole.

My classes are of course one of the largest sources of my learning about Spain. Not only did I gain a greater understanding of how to use the Spanish language, but also of the education system, the relationship between students and their teachers and how to interact with students from all over the world. I got to learn more than what just I was taught. I learned about the people who taught me and the people with whom I learned. This was possibly the most valuable part of the experience. Getting to meet students from different places with the same ambitions as me helped me to track myself on my own path on a global scale. I got to compare myself and my experiences with other people whose main difference from me is their place of origin. It was extremely transformational to form bonds with them and grow along with them.

I’ve grown and feel much more capable and prepared for challenges in life. Now I feel that after having gone to Spain and done something that seemed so impossible, I could do anything in my own country. I think to myself that school and the other challenges that I face at home may be difficult, but they must be easier than going to college in a foreign country. It’s caused me to better understand my path in life and just how far I’ve come along it. I’m certain that I will use the knowledge I’ve gained about Spanish for the rest of my life. The knowledge that I learned through Spanish is what will likely define what I choose moving forward.

 

Anne Gerhart’s STEP Signature Project Reflection

  1. Please provide a brief description of your STEP Signature Project. Write two or three sentences describing the main activities your STEP Signature Project entailed.

 

My STEP Signature Project was a study abroad trip to Salamanca, Spain through ISA. I studied various Spanish courses at the University of Salamanca for 6 weeks and traveled to various cities in the Iberian Peninsula throughout my time there.

 

  1. What about your understanding of yourself, your assumptions, or your view of the world changed/transformed while completing your STEP Signature Project? Write one or two paragraphs to describe the change or transformation that took place.

 

         My project developed the way I see things both externally and internally. I consider myself to be much more of an active global citizen after my trip. I have improved my language proficiency which has allowed me to communicate with incredible people and learn a great deal about Spanish culture firsthand.  I have also learned a lot about Spanish history, current events, and art, and this has allowed me to see my own culture in a different perspective. Not only did my understanding of the world around me increase, but I also grew a keen sense of adventure, independence, confidence, curiosity, and open-mindedness through my travels.

 

  1. What events, interactions, relationships, or activities during your STEP Signature Project led to the change/transformation that you discussed in #2, and how did those affect you? Write three or four paragraphs describing the key aspects of your experiences completing your STEP Signature Project that led to this change/transformation.

        

         One of the most impactful aspects of my study abroad trip was that I lived in a homestay. I lived with a woman named Lourdes and another student from OSU. Lourdes cooked us authentic dishes every day and helped us get adjusted to studying in Spain. She taught me so much and helped me start to feel more comfortable interacting with Spanish people. My roommate didn’t know as much Spanish as I did, so I often ended up leading the conversations. I had to become comfortable communicating in another language with someone who I didn’t know very well, and this ended up boosting my confidence in my communication skills in general. The kindness that she showed by welcoming us into her home and providing us with many resources so that we could be as successful as possible inspired me to work hard to be kind, patient, and understanding with others.

Having all of my daily interactions and my classes be in Spanish pushed me beyond what I previously believed my limits were.  I found myself rising to the occasion and putting in the work to make sure I was understanding and that I was understood. Sometimes being in a busy city is hard enough to navigate in English, but I proved to myself that I could confidently travel internationally and have an enriching experience. I am proud of my flexibility and determination, and I have gained confidence not only in traveling, but in experiencing new things in general.

Lastly, studying and traveling in Spain allowed me to learn so much about its culture, art, history, and current events and how the locals perceived these things. My classes were rigorous, and my teachers were incredibly supportive of furthering my learning. I visited many important cultural and historical sites in many cities that I have dreamed of going to for years and have made important connections that I will remember my whole life. Through my increased knowledge of this part of the world, I have deepened my awareness of the world as a whole and how everything is interconnected. Some cultural highlights include visiting the Reina Sofia and the Prado in Madrid, seeing a lot of Gaudí’s masterpieces in Barcelona, attending an 800-year-old university in Salamanca, and traveling throughout the Historic city of Toledo which is rich in history from several converging cultures. I had a wonderful, enlightening time and made memories that will last a lifetime. Furthermore, my understanding of the world and its people deepened through these experiences and for that I am forever grateful.

 

  1. Why is this change/transformation significant or valuable for your life? Write one or two paragraphs discussing why this change or development matters and/or relates to your academic, personal, and/or professional goals and future plans.

        

         This experience has resulted in profound impacts in my academic life. I am currently taking a Spanish Literature class and as I am more aware of Spanish history and culture, I am able to build on what I know and take away even more from the class. Additionally, spending six weeks deeply connecting with the language and receiving feedback from native speakers has made me much more fluent and I am able to comprehend complex Spanish literary texts. I feel I am gaining knowledge exponentially and I am very fulfilled by my Spanish education. This is the last Spanish class that I need to take for my minor, so I am beginning to think of the impacts this will have on my professional life. I have reached a level of comprehension that allows me to carry on conversations with relative ease and now feel confident putting it on a resume which has the potential to really increase my marketability for future jobs.

As much as an impact as my experiences in Spain had on my academic and professional development, the impact on my personal growth was much greater. I now try to passionately seek out new experiences, adventures, and learning opportunities as often as possible. I have gained a love for learning about cultures firsthand and traveling. This experience has inspired me to continue my travels and pursuit of acquiring new languages.

pictures from my study abroad

Buck-I-Serv: The Akumanyi Foundation Ghana

For my STEP Signature Project, I participated in a Buck-I-Serv to the central region of Ghana in Akokwa at an orphanage. Other trip participants and I served as support staff to the employees at the orphanage, helping to complete daily chores and other day to day needs for the orphanage to run successful. The greatest part of this trip was the opportunity I had to build relationships with the children, employees, and foundation staff based in Ghana.

As I had the opportunity to go out of the country from my Signature Project, I gained a new view of the world that I did not have before. Something that I brought back with me was the importance of human interaction that I was immersed into while in Ghana. It hit me when I returned that if you really want to avoid seeing people in American you can, due to all of the technological advances we have made. I was in a grocery store when I realized I could be here for hours and never have to speak to anyone although I was surrounded by people. Ghana places a high value in supporting the people apart of your life and around you and I truly admire that aspect. I had the opportunity to speak with Ghanaians natives about their opinions on the United States and they informed me they find us to be incredibly individualist. I have reflected on that since my return and, after seeing the importance of community and support systems, am working to be far less individualist than I was socialized to be. This helped me learn that I am a person that appreciates community and having the opportunity to always serve as a support and help with others. Ghana taught me to prioritize human interaction.

In Ghana, shopping is done by going into the markets that are in town. Every market is owned by someone apart or near the village they are shopping in. There is constant hustle and bustle along with community interaction and support. People buy where they live, which keeps money circulating in the villages. Something interesting about the markets was the aspect of negotiations. Due to the fact we were Americans, it was assumed that we had money. Prices would go up when we came around. I found no fault in this as people are just trying to make their best living. Regardless of pricing, you always have to talk to someone to get the things that you need. You are bound to run into familiar faces in town as, people shop where they live. The opportunity to be a part of constant human interaction was not something I was familiar with because of the individualist ideas of America. Constant communication became something that I cherished. There was no fear in needing someone’s help in Ghana. I actively practice not feeling shameful for asking for help now.

Many of my interactions were with the foundation workers that lived alongside us every day. I was able to learn so much from them during my time in Ghana. Patrick, Prince, and Tina played a huge role in my ability to be so comfortable on a different continent. I learned from them to always be open and honest. Ghana felt like home to me due to the openness of people to talk to you and share their experiences. Here, there was not a sense of danger, as people operate with trust and honesty as a priority. The children will always trust us to catch them if they jumped into our arms. Situations like this emphasizes the leap of faith you just have to take sometimes. Coming back to America, I understand that many are not as honest and pure hearted at some of the kindest souls I met while I was in Ghana, but I can be that kind soul here and maybe open up others to do the same.

My experiences with the children was a vital part to the transformation aspects of my STEP Project. I enjoyed learning the games that the played. I was able to witness so much creativity that I just don’t see here in America. From my perspective, Americans have minimized our span of creativity due to the dangers we suspect may come. Children played games with stick and rocks that were fascinating, but I knew would never be used in America as I worked all summer with kids and told them to put the sticks down because they may get hurt. It was amazing to see what can be created from a few items in nature and an idea. I struggled with understanding if it was fair these children had to play with sticks and leaves as toys when children in America have all sorts of miscellaneous items to toss around. I came to the conclusion that it is not a measurement of fairness but a calculation of resources and creativity. The children I played with in Ghana taught me to think outside the box and truly make the best of all of the resources available to me.

As a person who wishes to work with kids for the rest of my life, I learned so much about building trust and being open to people with different experiences from myself. When we talk about different experiences, I don’t think you are able to fully understand how differences may affect support until you’re immersed in a situation where there are barriers all the way from language to culture. Asking a three-year-old what was wrong when they spoke minimal English forced me to be creative and attentive to needs of children, as this is something that is not too far off from work that I may encounter when working with children in America as well. Assessing the needs of those around me became a significant part of my trip and I was happy to be able to do so in an age setting that I wish to work with in my professional goals.