Crossing off my to-do list
Studying abroad has always been on my collegiate to-do list. I’ve often daydreamed about living and learning in another country and culture. Photos and stories of peers abroad colored and shifted the daydream, adding must-see destinations and excitement about the adventures I, too, would one day have. I suppose it was a thirst to explore and discover those things for myself (fed by Google searches of foreign cities and landscapes) that first made me decide to study abroad, however the process that led me to Spain, and to Granada specifically, was almost entirely based on my major. I am a combined Spanish and International Affairs major, and my first and foremost goal of studying abroad is to enhance my Spanish language skills. While many study abroad programs in Spain offer language immersion, the API program in Granada was one of the few that offered a wide range of courses for its students. While I am far from fluent, I am by no means looking for a semester of Spanish grammar, writing, and vocabulary classes. I know enough of the language to successfully take classes in Spanish, and the program I have selected will allow me to take courses in economics, literature, and history that (as I like to put it) just so happen to be in Spanish. In my experiences so far as a student, my most meaningful progress has happened in classes that are taught in Spanish, but do not teach Spanish. I am expected to know enough of the language to understand, interpret, and respond to lessons, and this teaching style has allowed my knowledge to develop beyond the basics to a more holistic understanding of the language. I am hoping that my semester abroad will have similar effects. I am of the firm belief that the only way to truly learn a language is through immersion, so here I am immersing myself! I am slightly apprehensive about being a part of a program for American students, as I really do want to focus on learning the language. My biggest academic fear is that with English-speaking students as my classmates, I will not devote enough effort to speaking the language. I think that I need to have Spanish as my only option for communication if I am to improve, and while I don’t want to isolate myself from the other students in my program, I will have to find a balance between making friends and improving my speaking skills. Personally, I am pretty nervous about the food in southern Spain. From what Google tells me, it consists heavily of pork, seafood, cured meats, and gazpacho. While I don’t have any particular allergies, I try to steer clear of certain kinds of foods, and I’m worried that that will prove difficult when I am abroad. While I’m usually pretty good at finding something to like, I will be participating in a homestay, and my control over my meals will be very limited. As nervous as I am, food is one of the biggest parts of any given culture, and I will try my best to go in with an open mind. I wouldn’t typically describe myself as adventurous (especially when it comes to food), but what is a semester abroad for if not to push ourselves to the edge and then some? If I’m not willing to be flexible, what’s the point of leaving Boston? In discomfort I will discover new people, places, cultures, and (hopefully) a new understanding of what it means to be a citizen of this world.
