Before studying abroad in Madrid, I’ve always had the feeling of discomfort and fear about how my ethnic background would be perceived in a cross-cultural context. When I decided to study abroad, I spent a significant of time reading through forums and blogs from other Asian-Americans who had studied abroad in Spain to learn about how their experience was. Especially in Madrid, I found out that there was an Asian presence, particular Chinese, due to the increased immigration in the 80s. Amongst my research, I learned that Spaniards called convenient stores el chino and that there was a disconnect between the harmonies of both populations. Ever since I started the Spanish major, I was generally a minority amongst the white and Latino students that dominate the classes, so I had already prepared myself for this reality when I went abroad. Continue reading →

I think a lot of Americans have certain ideas about Spain and Spanish people; that their passionate, flamenco dancing, bull-killing matadors. Or something like that. Surprisingly, Spain is actually a very diverse country, from its rainy northern coast to its sunny, dry Mediterranean beaches. It even has four national languages, not just Spanish. Though I traveled a lot within in the country, I lived in Granada for my year of study abroad. I became aware of a lot of differences between Granada and Western Massachusetts during my time there. I want to share a few tips and observations on the less well-known aspects of the culture of Andalucía (southern Spain). Continue reading →