My STEP project involved a global education experience in which I studied abroad for a semester at the University of Granada in Granada, Spain. As a student at UGR, I attended classes in Spanish, immersed myself in Spanish culture, created close connections with Spaniards, and acquired proficiency in the Spanish language.
My study abroad experience allowed me to grow significantly in my independence and confidence. Through learning a new language and practicing everyday, I was able to meet and connect with people I was previously unable to communicate with. Additionally, living with a Spanish family taught me that there are many different ways of doing the same things that we do in the United States, which I was able to observe and consider. Many things I thought were better than the ways in which I had done things, some worse, but mostly just different.
The largest influence in my perspective change was living with a Spanish family, as I was forced to change many habits from my life in the United States. For example, I adjusted to the significantly different eating schedules that the Spaniards are accustomed to, ate typical Spanish dishes most days, and learned to kick off my shoes at the door in exchange for my zapatillas for the marble floors. This component of my experience also improved my language capabilities the most, as I was constantly forced to circumlocute and picked up new vocabulary, grammar structures, and sayings from the language immersion. The international bond that I have with my host family is something I will hold with me for a long time, and I plan to return in the future to visit again.
Living in another country taught me to evaluate my lifestyles and habits in the United States, many of which I had never considered before. Since returning home, I have made small changes to my daily life to reflect my time in Spain and the lessons I have taken back. I am more open to communication with strangers, I have slowed down my previously-overwhelming workload a bit to take time to enjoy my time in college, and incorporated small aspects of Spanish culture like utilizing their sayings or adding a couple dishes into my diet. My study abroad experience has altered my perception of who I can be in this world, and I will certainly carry my experiences, learnings, and invaluable memories for the rest of my life.
