Every day as I sit in my apartment, I’m reminded by the pictures on my walls of all the journeys on which I have embarked. Studying abroad can be one of the greatest joys of the college experience. It was for me, and it ended up changing my life and my outlook on the world. In the summer of 2013, I decided to participate in the university’s study abroad program in Alcala de Henares, Spain. Choosing to go to Spain was easy for me because I was pursuing a minor in Spanish, and it happened to be a perfect time in my life for me to study abroad. The summer before my senior year was approaching with lots of curiosity and anxiety about what lay ahead for me. The study abroad office on campus was of great help with everything.
Spain was more beautiful than I had ever imagined. Big cities, beaches, countrysides and amazing landscapes always surroundedme. My favorite city was the capital, Madrid. I visited there many times a week via the 20-minute train ride. I also traveled around to the cool Spanish cities of Granada, Barcelona, Segovia and Toledo. I often found myself becoming more observant because of how intriguing the surroundings and all of the people were.
Life can be crazy, adventurous and full of moments that take your breath away. These are the emotions I felt while studying abroad. I’m grateful for everyone who convinced me of study abroad special value, and since returning I have made it my mission to talk to others about doing the same. I remember arriving at the airport before leaving I knew only one other person on the trip, and now I share a special bond with a group of friends from our travels.
Just meeting people from different corners of the world for me was a special experience. When I met my host mom the first day I was full of anxiety. I realized I would be spending the next couple of weeks with a family I knew nothing about. I was scared to even eat and speak; luckily I got past those feelings fast. After living in Mississippi my entire life, it was fascinating to see those different cultures there that contrasted with the life I have here in the United States. In my classes, there were students from Canada, Brazil, South Korea, China and Denmark. Being enriched in other cultures you come to realize everyone doesn’t speak English, or at least may not speak it as well. Not understanding someone and just smiling can sometimes work wonders. I remember forgetting to answer questions in Spanish at times, and my teachers would look at me with confused expressions, which were followed by awkward silence and laughter because of the language barrier we were caught between.
The time spent studying abroad is something I took for granted at first, I simply did not realize how perfect the opportunity was. At times, I think many forget there is a whole world outside of what we normally see, and we often seem to live our lives in a bubble. I was surrounded by historic buildings many centuries old, mesmerized in a state of awe of the architecture and the color that comes to life. Spain is a place I now think of every single day, wondering how and when I can return. Life moves fast; take advantage of opportunities while you can. I remember being the last one to show up at the bus to return to the states, somehow thinking I could stay behind and not let that special summer come to an end. I still keep in touch with a friend I met there and constantly express my desire to travel there again and return to that state of happiness. I encourage anyone who has thought about studying abroad to do so without hesitation and follow his or her emotions. Not everything can be taught from a book. Sometimes it’s best to get out there and take a leap of faith.
