Two summers ago, I studied abroad in Salamanca with UMass’s Summer in Salamanca Study Abroad program with API. In the months preceding the trip, I spent hours researching what to wear, what to bring, how to pack, how to act, and anything else you might wonder before studying abroad. This research, though important, was more or less unhelpful. Often, I was reading from the perspective of someone who didn’t mind sticking out as an American. My goal for my trip was to blend in as much as possible. By this, I mean that while I was in Spain, I wanted to be a Spaniard, and with this goal in mind, I learned many things. Please keep in mind that every area and city in Spain is not the same. I am not a Spaniard so I cannot speak on all of Spanish culture, however, this is just what I have learned through my own experience. With that being said, I am going to tell you what I wish I would have known before going abroad.

First, we will start with how to pack and what to wear. Though this may seem trivial, as Americans, I will make the generalization that we do not know how to dress (here I am quoting the Spaniards I have known over the years). If you want to fit in in Spain, you must dress the part. Just look nice! Do not go out in pajamas or sweats. If you are going in the warmer months, do not wear jean shorts. Nobody wears those, at least where I was staying. Stick with flowy pants, dresses, and skirts. If you are going in the colder months, bring clothes to layer, and don’t just live in athleticwear. As for packing, I recommend bringing as little as possible and buying clothes there. Obviously bring the basics and things you know you will wear, but shopping in Spain is a wonderful experience and I highly recommend underpacking rather than overpacking. Also, most importantly bring a COMFY pair of shoes. You will be walking far more than you are used to and having a comfy pair of shoes is almost as important as bringing your passport. This is definitely not the time to try out a new pair of cute shoes.

Next, it’s important to know that Spaniards are very curt and straightforward. They are not excessively polite as Americans are, which means they are not being rude, they are being normal. For example, after I had been staying with my host mom for a couple of weeks, we were walking together and suddenly she burst out “Why is your nose ring SO big?!” (For context, my nose ring was a small silver hoop, no bigger than any normal nose ring and you can barely see it in photos.) I looked at her utterly terrified because the way she said it seemed like she was angry. I responded by telling her I didn’t think it was THAT big and I asked if it offended her. She said that it didn’t offend her, she just didn’t like it and she wouldn’t let her daughter do that. (Funnily enough, she had a tiny diamond stud in her nose.) I walked away from the situation quite horrified because I thought she was offended, but really she just wanted to let me know how she felt and that was it.

Also, words like “please,” “thank you,” and “I’m sorry” are reserved for more meaningful situations. Americans are known for saying these things all the time whereas Spaniards don’t do this. For example, if someone bumps into you on a bus or train, they will not stop to say “Oh no, I’m so sorry” or “Pardon me!” because it is generally assumed that if someone bumps into you, they did not mean to do it. When ordering at a restaurant, you do not say “May I please have…” or “Can I have… please,” you would say “I want,” “I’ll have,” or “I’d like.” (in Spanish obviously). Lastly, do not tip. It is not something that is done. When I was in Spain, I would go out with a bunch of girls to dinner and when the bill would come, there would be a huge debate about whether or not we should leave a tip. They would say “But I feel bad, I’ve never not tipped before” and it was this whole argument. Quite frankly, it was rather embarrassing. You shouldn’t try to apply your culture to other cultures. You don’t tip in Spain because people like hairdressers, waiters/waitresses, tattoo artists, etc. all have entire careers where they are actually paid. They get benefits such as healthcare and they get a livable wage. They do not need to make money off of the customers. Also, when you go to dinner, you should choose one person to pay and you can pay that person back if you’d like, but it’s very uncommon to ask a waiter to split the bill. Depending on where you are, they might not even know how to do that. It’s common in Spanish culture for one person to pay because friends often take turns paying. So, if you ask a waiter to split your bill eight ways, they will probably look at you like you are crazy.

At the grocery store, you have to put all of your things in a bag yourself and you have to bring your own bags. You will go to the cash register, they will scan your things, charge you, and then you must move out of the way for the next customer. You must race to grab your things and move out of the way before the next customer has finished their transaction. I’m not going to lie, it is quite stressful the first time you do it. Also, pharmacies are their own separate store. It is not like in the U.S. where you can go to a convenience store and there will be Advil and stuff like that. You have to go to a pharmacy specifically, and everything will be behind the counter. You must tell the attendant what you want and they will bring it for you. I actually thought it was really nice because you don’t have to spend forever trying to figure out what you want, but others on my trip found it pretty annoying. 

If you stay with a host family, it will likely be difficult to adjust to the Spanish eating schedule. They generally do not eat breakfast. Maybe a slice of toast with their coffee, but not often. Lunch is the biggest meal of the day, normally around 2 or 3 and it is normally eaten at home. Dinner is not usually until 9 or even 10. For me, this was not necessarily a huge adjustment because growing up, I did not usually eat breakfast and I would not eat lunch until I arrived home from school around 2:30 or 3. Since coming to college I have begun eating breakfast, but at the time that I went, it wasn’t a big change. However, a lot of the students on my trip had a huge problem with it. Students demanded that their host families make them breakfast and they would snack all throughout classes and until lunchtime. A lot of students also didn’t like that dinner was so late. It was a pretty large area of complaint among my companions and many students complained to the program about it. Once again, I think this is an issue of trying to apply your own culture to another person’s culture. You should not study abroad if you are not prepared to change your way of life and your way of thinking.

My last piece of advice is to have so much fun and be yourself. You will likely not be a twenty-something in Spain again and the people you meet will likely never see you again. Learn all that you can, ask all of the questions. You are there to learn and if someone is mad at you for asking too many questions, then find someone else to answer your questions. Live in every single moment, whether it’s an excursion, reading in your bed, or an exam, because all of it lasts for such a short time and will become a small space of time in your memory. Learn who you are when you are pulled from everything you know, and be someone you would be proud to know. Studying abroad will change the way you think and the way you view the world and you should be grateful for every moment.

By Adelyn Hoyt

It wasn’t until I was encouraged to reflect on my cultural enlightenment from being a UMASS student that I realized how fortunate I was to have been raised in Dorchester. In highschool, I was part of a program called METCO, which allowed inner city kids in Boston to travel to suburbs to study. I attended school in Brookline. Because of that, I grew up around a wide variety of ethnicities and received an education that ranged to be representative of different populations.

My school was very liberal and used a lot of its time and resources to shed light on historical and educational discrepancies. My US history course teacher made sure to tell both sides of the story and express that the textbook had a tendency to white wash history and therefore would fill in the gaps, whether that included brutality or affluence. I also took an African American history course in my senior year and throughout my years was in a seminar for Black and Latinx students. We had student body assemblies for minority and lgbtqia+ communities every year, with panels from professionals and student and faculty participation. I also had the opportunity to travel with a group called “The Floating Doctors” through a program at Brookline High. We traveled with medical staff to remote indigenous villages and were able to see the ways that other cultures lived and their liveliness. We weren’t there with a sense of pity or believing ourselves to be saviors but just to inform them about health practices and learn about their ways of life without assessing whether it was “wrong” or “right.”

Something that was along the lines of all of this at the university was in Sut Jhally’s Race, Inequality and Representation course. It’s a course that I highly recommend for cultural and historical insight. He touches on a lot of Black History that wouldn’t usually be known among students who don’t have prior experience with the topic. I even learned some things that I didn’t know about Black History, like how Martin Luther King wasn’t pursued and heavily pursued by the FBI until he opposed the Vietnam war and started speaking on issues of class.

By Kaitlyn Harris

Studying abroad in Costa Rica has profoundly shifted my perspective on the Spanish-speaking world. Prior to this experience, my knowledge was primarily limited to the language and a few cultural stereotypes. However, living in Costa Rica unveiled a vibrant and multifaceted world I had never fully appreciated.

The most notable change has been recognizing the immense diversity within the Spanish-speaking world. I came to understand that each country has its unique cultural identity, shaped by its history, geography, and people. The customs, traditions, and way of life in Costa Rica were distinct from what I had previously encountered in textbooks, shedding light on the rich tapestry of Hispanic cultures.

Moreover, my grasp of the Spanish language transformed from a mere academic skill to a practical and essential means of communication. Immersed in everyday conversations, I became attuned to regional dialects and colloquial expressions, making me more fluent and culturally sensitive.

Costa Rica’s commitment to environmental conservation, its breathtaking landscapes, and the profound influence of nature on its culture made me realize the intimate relationship between environment and culture in the Spanish-speaking world. This insight prompted me to delve deeper into the eco-conscious attitudes and practices of other Hispanic nations.

Lastly, the warmth and hospitality of the Costa Rican people revealed the profound importance of relationships in Hispanic cultures. Their strong sense of community and family values emphasized the significance of human connections, prompting me to reevaluate my own priorities and the value of interpersonal bonds.

In summary, my study abroad experience in Costa Rica has expanded my view of the Spanish-speaking world by highlighting its rich diversity, deepening my connection to the Spanish language, fostering my awareness of the environment-culture interplay, and underscoring the importance of relationships within Hispanic societies. This transformative journey has enriched my perspective on this dynamic and multifaceted global community.

 Here’s a list of my favorite experiences I had while I was there:

Manuel Antonio

• Met a shaman and, had it not been for the lack of time, would have undergone an energy reading. He told me about his time spent in Denver and his sister, who spreads awareness of their tribe in New York.
• Saw monkeys throughout town and sloths resting on the beach
• Went parasailing!

Puerto Viejo

• I sat by the ocean with live Calypso music in the background under the twinkle lights of the restaurant behind me
• Tried some jerk chicken from the street vendors who bathed in the sun playing dominoes and drinking

Montezuma

• Watched a fire show and spoke with local musicians
• Went to a fugata party with those same locals late into the night

Bocas del toro

• Danced the night away in clubs that sat right above the water and soaked in the most beautiful views

Guatemala

• Climbed a live volcano and ate marshmallows roasted from its heat
• Watched chocolate being made from scratch
• Watched a weaver in action
• Visited a Mayan honey farm

La Fortuna

• Rested under a gorgeous waterfall and bathed in hot springs

Jaco

• Talked through the night with Nicaraguan immigrants

By Kaitlyn Harris

I gave a presentation recently in my Spanish class that you take as a requirement to end your chapter as a Spanish major. The first thing that it made me reflect on was the fact that throughout my time in college, I haven’t necessarily landed on a definite path. Sometimes this is something that worries me, especially when other people ask questions but I’ve realized that it’s a gift in how many paths there are for me to take. And aside from that decision, I also realize that I was extremely fortunate in the majors that I chose despite my current state of ambiguity. Being a Spanish major has allowed me to undergo a lot of personal growth. The opportunities that were afforded me due to studying Spanish and the mindset that I adopted as a Spanish major were pivotal in how I navigated my college years. So when I’m asked to give advice the majority of that advice revolves around how majoring in Spanish has an effect on your personal life and core values.

My first piece of major advice is to have a core reason for choosing it as a major. I say this, because in my own experience, I had a lot of people who were asking me why I chose to major in Spanish, especially due to the fact that I am not of Latina descent. And that is not to say that other people’s opinions should govern your decisions, or make you doubt your reasoning, but for me, I liked to have something of substance to tell people asking me about my major, because that helped me get a sense of why it was important for myself. And that is another part of why having a core reason is important. When you have a major that is relatively broad and allows for you to have so many different career paths and life paths, it is vital that you go into it with a sense of how you want it to affect you. It could benefit you in your pursuit to live abroad, work abroad, in your day-to-day interactions serving as a supplement to your life, for cultural knowledge, or to simply gain a new skill. This connects to my next piece of advice, which is similar, and it is that you shouldn’t let other people’s opinions impact your goals and experiences. What made me think of this piece of advice was that when I chose to study abroad  A lot of people expressed their fear of living in Latin America, and that fear is expressed when I speak of traveling to many destinations but having spent months there, making memories and not having a single scare of my own I can’t imagine setting those sorts of limitations on someone and other people’s opinions are often projections.

My greatest piece of advice would be to travel, and if you can’t go abroad to find a local community or even just a store or a restaurant with native speakers. I went to Costa Rica and during my time there I think I experienced some of the most personal growth That I’ve had in my life. Whether it was with the other study abroad kids and having my patience challenged or learning to live with another family, which had its good and bad side, I learned a lot about myself. I think that, in terms of living with a host family, the only thing that I could say was bad (if I was to go so far to even say that) was that I missed feeling like I had my own space. But aside from that, we had a lot of freedom to explore the country and I think we all gained a sense of independence and self-assurance. My favorite memories are those in which I was speaking with locals and I think I went out of my comfort zone to do that because I get nervous about speaking with native speakers sometimes. So going abroad is definitely something that will stretch your limits and give you confidence for future experiences.

Lastly, for the purposes of learning Spanish itself, I would give the advice that you should be using external tools. Personally, I watched a lot of telenovelas like Sobreviviendo a Pablo Escobar and Siempre bruja. It’s also helpful to watch things that are related to a field that you want to go in or are in a geographic location that you want to visit because it’ll give you specific vocabulary that is used.

By Kaitlyn Harris