After a long process of going through different programs and finding out what was the best for me, I decided to go against studying abroad in the normal semester time frame. Instead, I will be going in the summer to study in Peru. But this wasn’t an easy decision, and there are many advantages and disadvantages to studying in the summer. Continue reading
Study Abroad? For sure!
Prior to taking this Fall Spanish 394 course, I honestly was never interested in studying abroad. Although I am currently only a Spanish major, I transferred to UMass Amherst with the intention of adding a STEM major and potentially dropping Spanish all together. With the addition of a STEM major, studying abroad was not really going to be an option for me because I would have already completed my lower level courses and transferring upper level courses would be impossible. After learning that there was a study abroad program in the summer I became more interested in keeping Spanish as a major due to the fact that completing the major finally seemed feasible, but I wasn’t quite ready to make the commitment. Taking this SP394 course and hearing many stories about how people went abroad and learned so much from their experiences allowed me to stop viewing my Spanish courses as requirements on a to-do list and more as an opportunity to experience new, life-changing things , while being able to be immersed in a totally different culture than the ones I have been previously exposed. I decided that regardless of what happens regarding which STEM major I end up in that I will at least complete a minor in Spanish and in order to do so I’ve decided to participate in the Salamanca program this summer. My fall semester was pretty hectic so I haven’t really started my study abroad process besides making sure that I knew where my passport was (which is pretty important) and making sure that I will have enough money to pay for my trip, but as I continue with my the process I will make sure to keep in mind everything that I have read from the blog posts of my peers.
The cultural, social, and environmental changes that happen when living abroad are part of the thrill and the essence of your trip. You will be immersed in a new traditions, slang, and garner more complex cultural perspectives for yourself. But this shift may cause some to feel lost during their time abroad and face difficulties coping with their mental illness.
Mental illness is a scary and often times daunting thing to manage and live with. However, proper care and a good support network can alleviate much of the issues it presents and allow you to live a normal life. And that includes being able to study abroad. Even for a person who may not already deal with mental illness, studying abroad can strain their mental health and make things difficult, and it is for that reason that you should prioritize your mental health when planning to go abroad just as much as you prioritize your financials. Continue reading
I am currently an interpreter at Crocker Farm Elementary in Amherst. I work with first-grade students and love every second of it. I originally had plans to be a Spanish teacher in high school or middle school, but that age is really tough. I like working with younger students. I thought my major in Spanish would only allow me one job, a Spanish teacher. However, being an interpreter, I learned that there is so much more I can do with my major. There are kids that really need extra support and my major allows me to give them that. Continue reading
My first year on this campus was complicated. I quit my job of two years because it got old and I didn’t feel like I belonged there anymore. I left another job because of mistreatment, which I had never experienced before I came to this campus. I joined house council which I loved! And I found a home with Mullins Concessions where I have been for a year. As for sophomore year it has also been very complicated. I was so sure that when I came into this year next fall I would be spending a semester in Spain and I was going to write about how amazing I hoped it would be and how I was going to live with this great family and what I would stress about. Well, it turns out I do not have the time in my schedule to spend a semester abroad, so now I will write about my experience with Student Bridges. Continue reading
Surprising to most people, growing up in a Latino household, I never wanted to speak Spanish with my family. I think it was a matter of my shyness but also a lack of confidence when it came to accepting my culture. Although I never spoke Spanish at home, I began taking Spanish classes in 7th grade. All throughout my school career, Spanish was a class I always excelled in. It was where I felt most comfortable and where I would begin the process of appreciating this beautiful language. I had the most confidence in my listening skills. I could always understand everything my teachers would say in my advanced classes because I would hear my parents speak Spanish on a daily basis. However, when it came down to actually speaking Spanish, I felt like I was missing self-confidence and the native accent of someone more fluent. Continue reading
Are you a Spanish major wanting to go abroad but you have no idea where you want to go? Do you overthink most things in your life, and this is another example of that? Did you already make a spreadsheet of twenty possible programs and their costs, pros, and cons, and still have no idea where to go? If you answered yes to all of these questions, first of all, I want to meet you. Please reach out to me. I’m glad I’m not the only neurotic Spanish major out there. Or if you answered yes to any one of these questions, congratulations on being less neurotic than I am. All jokes aside, I understand what it feels like to be so confused on where to go because I was there two months ago, and I want to give you some suggestions on how to decide. Continue reading
Studying abroad has become an extremely popular activity that students in college will do. Over 1,200 students at UMass participate in these programs of studying in another continent. Studying abroad has been something that I have always wanted to do. My dad studied abroad in Argentina when he was in college and he says how it is something that he will never forget. My roommate is an engineer and he has a small window for him to go abroad. His schedule only allows him to go during his sophomore year and he could only pick from a few schools, while being a Spanish major has really given me flexibility to be able to pick a program that I like and have an option to pick between multiple countries to study in as well. Continue reading
Picking what country I would spend about 6 months in was one of the hardest decisions I have had to make. Why? Because of course you never know if you will have another opportunity to go to this country or spend that much time there. One thing I will advise you to do is make a list of goals first, then make a list of places where you think you can achieve these goals best. You have to realize what do you want to take out of this experience. For one if it’s to actually learn the language ensure yourself that you will be somewhere that many people don’t choose for study abroad. The reason being that you will be with many other students who potentially speak English. If that does occur odds are that you will be speaking more English, you may not challenge yourself as much to go out and find locals and make these great connections with new people. Remember that making these connections is key. That’s how you learn about the culture, feel what it’s like to be a local and essential learn things about yourself that you have never known before. Personally, I would do study abroad alone and somewhere not many people I know have chosen to go. That’s exactly what I did. I chose Florianopolis, Brazil. It was honestly one of the best decisions of my life and the happiest life-changing experience ever. Continue reading
When I was in one of my Portuguese classes at my first year at UMass, there were a lot of native and heritage speakers. Many of these students identified as American, Brazilian, or both. One day the debate came up on whether or not Brazilians are considered Latinx, Hispanic, both or neither.
The origins of the words “Latinx” and “Hispanic” are debatable. It’s generally accepted that Latino/a comes from Latin, which is the language from which Spanish is derived. Therefore, logic would go that all Spanish speakers are Latino and English speakers are not. This coincides with the definition of Hispanic, since the derivation of Hispanic is from the word Hispania, the Old World name for Spain. Continue reading