My perceptions of the Spanish-speaking world have changed a lot these past years as a Spanish major. When I decided to major in Spanish, I thought most of my classes would have been focused on grammar and the language itself, however, I have taken so many classes around culture, literature, and history.

I grew up speaking only Spanish at home – my family is Salvadoran, so at home I would be exposed to my Salvadoran heritage and culture. Therefore, I’m a Spanish heritage speaker. I can speak, understand, read and write in Spanish, but I struggle with grammar because I was never taught that in school the way I learned English. Because of this, many Hispanic/Latinx students may be exposed more to the English language than their Spanish heritage language. They are taught to read, write, and orally communicate in English in school and public areas, whereas in Spanish, they may only acquire it from family at home, other relatives, and maybe friends.

This is what influenced me to major in Spanish as it is part of my own ethnic identity. Little did I know that my perceptions of the Spanish-speaking world would change this much–I have learned more about other Latinx cultures aside from my own. When I studied abroad in Spain this past summer, I was immersed in a culture where they speak the same language, but with a different dialect and culture. I know many words and expressions that Salvadorans use, but now I have been exposed to so many other Spanish dialects that I have loved learning about. Being in college, I have met so many individuals from different Spanish-speaking countries and I have learned so much from them–their dialects, customs, and traditions. This has made me want to continue to engage and learn from the Spanish-speaking world.

More and more Hispanic/Latinx students have been attending public schools in the United States, which means that there is an increasing need for trained Spanish teachers to work with Spanish heritage speaking students. Deciding to double major in Spanish and Community Education & Social Change has really impacted the way I view the language, my community, and myself. Furthermore, I have learned that when heritage speakers have a limited foundation in Spanish literacy, they often encounter difficulties in acquiring fundamental skills in English–which is necessary for pursuing a higher education in America. Proficiency and literacy in Spanish at advanced levels are crucial factors that influence academic success and achievement. Thus, heritage speakers with high proficiencies in their first language are likely to acquire higher levels of conceptual abilities in their second language. Fluency in two languages is a significant advantage, as it enables individuals to expand on their cognitive abilities. This expansion of abilities will allow Hispanic/Latinx students to succeed academically and pursue advanced education.

Spanish heritage speakers tend to struggle with language anxiety in and outside of the Spanish classroom because of their low proficiency levels; this is due to limited opportunities to practice Spanish in the community and in educational settings. Teachers who have awareness of Spanish cultural dialects will be able to properly educate Spanish to heritage speakers. As a future educator, I hope to help other heritage speakers who may have the same experience. Majoring in Spanish has created a sense of community for me, as the Spanish language and my Salvadoran culture are a big part of my ethnic identity.

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

During the first section of this course,  the class component you are supposed to take before you study abroad,  we had members of the second part of the class that I am posting from now (494RI) come in and talk about their study abroad experiences. One of the students spoke of his experience studying abroad and volunteering at a mango farm in Colombia through a program called WWOOF, or World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms.  The basic premise of this program was that volunteers from wherever could come work on registered Organic Farms for  a decided upon length ( anywhere from a day to multiple months)  in exchange for “free” food and board. Instantly, as someone who loves nature and gardening, my interest was piqued. I sought out a similar experience for myself to have during that following winter break. 

My goal was to have a trip where I could meet others from different cultures and backgrounds, and to potentially have an experience where I could practice my Spanish language use. I couldn’t afford to travel all the way to Colombia at the time, and also felt that it might not be entirely safe for me to travel there by myself. Instead, I researched opportunities within the country and landed upon a turmeric farm in Central Florida. I was excited because it looked like a very welcoming space, the work sounded fun, and the people who had left reviews before me were from all over the world: Germany,  France, Mexico, Canada, etc. etc. . 

I spent two weeks on the farm in January 2023.  I would definitely say that it was a life-changing experience, and that I got very lucky with the hosts I signed up with and the other volunteers who I ended up working with. The work was easy, safe, and fun–  almost meditative. My total cost for the trip was just under $200, which included a plane ticket and some gas money I offered to the other volunteers there who drove us around in their cars. I essentially was able to pay for everything else, a bed and three delicious meals a day, through my work. We were only working around 9 hours a day, 5 days a week. In our free time, the other volunteers and I would go for runs, cook and bake together, hike in the surrounding woods, visit local water holes and swim, and play guitar and sing around campfires. The work was so enjoyable that some of us would do more of it in our free time–more time out in the fields digging up the roots, washing the roots, and preparing them to be sent out to the vendors. It was like camp, but better. 

Though many volunteers came and went during my time there and I made many friends that I still stay in contact with to this day, there ended up not being anyone else on the farm with me who knew how to speak Spanish. However, I do believe that if an individual signed up for an experience through WWOOF,  they could make it an integrative Spanish learning experience as well if they selected a location within a Spanish-speaking country or with hosts that speak primarily Spanish. I was lucky and had already completed my integrative experience for my major the summer prior in Madrid in 2022, but I could see WWOOFing as a viable route to completing the integrative major requirement in a very unique, cost-effective, and enjoyable way.

I would definitely recommend this idea to anyone looking for a fun, hands-on getaway, and to future Spanish majors as an opportunity for them to complete their integrative experience component of the course! 

By Livia Iwanicki

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

Before arriving to Spain, I didn’t know what to expect. This was my first time traveling outside of the country in years and I had to do it alone! I was very nervous, especially since the only other country I have traveled to is El Salvador, where my family is from. I was so eager to immerse myself in a whole different culture and learn from the people, traditions/customs, and food!

Upon arriving here, I realized how kind people were to me. I traveled a day earlier from the whole group, so I remember arriving at the airport in Madrid alone and having to figure out how to get to my Airbnb. I had no phone service and was only able to use my phone with wifi. However, people around me were so helpful; my Uber driver helped me so much as soon as he got to the airport to pick me up and take me to the Airbnb. My host at my Airbnb was also very kind to me and helped me get things I needed for this trip. The following day, I met with the rest of the group. We went to Salamanca together on a bus and when I first arrived, I immediately fell in love with the city and its architecture. There were several times in which I went to a cafe, store, restaurant, or bar, and people made me feel comfortable and welcomed.

A typical day for me in Salamanca went like this:

Classes start at 9:00 am and go on until 1 or sometimes 2 pm. I stayed with a host family and had three other roommates. Before class, we would have breakfast and then walk together to the school. My first class was Lengua Española, and this class lasted 2 hours. First period is always the longest class, so we are given a 10-15 minute break towards the middle of class. My second class started right after. I took Historia de la España Contemporánea. After this class, we had to go straight to our next class, which was Literatura Contemporánea for me (this was my favorite class by the way!). On days where I did not have our discussion class for API, I would be out by 1:10 pm, otherwise I would get out at 2:10 pm. When class was over, I would walk back home and have lunch with my roommates and host family. After lunch, which is typically at 3 pm, everyone would go take their siesta! Taking midday naps is suggested in Spain, so I definitely took advantage of that whenever I could! Later in the day we would usually have an activity or group excursion through the API program. At 9 or 10:00 pm, our host mom would serve us dinner and my roommates and I would sit and talk about our day together. It was a nice way to end the day (and yeah, there were some nights we decided to go out and meet with friends after dinner!).

Traveling to other cities on the weekends was definitely one of my favorite parts of the experience. We traveled to Galicia, Segovia, and Santiago de Compostela. Studying abroad allowed me to place myself in a whole different world where I got to learn so much from the people and their culture. If you want to study abroad, make sure you go with an open mindset and be willing to try new things. I promise you it will definitely make your experience more enjoyable and one you will never forget. I look forward to traveling there again in the future!

Lucía’s Experience:

I came to UMass having already decided that I was going to major in Spanish. My family is from Uruguay and I was fortunate enough to grow up speaking Spanish at home. I grew up in a predominantly Spanish-speaking community and was able to take Spanish classes all through elementary and middle school. In high school, I continued to take Spanish classes and founded the Spanish club at the high school I graduated from. To me, it was a given that I would continue with Spanish into college. When I was applying to UMass, and even after I had been accepted, a lot of people would ask why I was majoring in Spanish when I already spoke it. I explained that Spanish, and any language for that matter, is more than just grammatical structures; there is culture, history, and literature worth learning about as well.

In some classes, when I would start speaking, I would quickly notice that some students could tell that I spoke Spanish. I often worried that they would also question my place in the room. Sometimes, it could feel like I was not welcome in Spanish classes. However, I kept reminding myself that I had just as much of a right as anyone to be in those classes. Education is what you get out of it and it does not have to look the same for everyone. I take Spanish classes because I love it and always want to learn more. It does not matter how long you have been studying a language, there’s always room for improvement.

Taking Span-314, a course designed for heritage speakers, was very helpful for cleaning up mistakes commonly made by heritage speakers. It also reminded me that there is a place for heritage speakers in the department, places where we can also learn. I would also say that even though I came into UMass with a predetermined major and path, I was not shy about trying new things. I joined the marching band, I learned how to drive a bus, I added a film major and a theater minor. I would definitely recommend going beyond the major and adding something outside of Spanish or language.

Daniela’s Experience:

When I first decided to come to UMass, I was unaware of what I wanted to major in. There were so many options and I felt a bit overwhelmed about what I wanted to do, especially as a first generation student. Growing up, I had to learn a lot on my own in school because I would only speak Spanish at home with my Salvadoran parents and family – so I couldn’t receive much help from them.

I started my freshman year as a Public Health Science major in the exploratory track (I was leaning toward kinesiology). After my first semester, which had been fully remote, I realized that was not what I really wanted to do. I decided to reach out to my student success coach at UMass and we figured something out. She suggested I take Education 202 and that’s when I decided I wanted to move forward with a major in Education. However, I thought more about what I wanted to do in the Education field and that’s when I told myself I wanted to be a Spanish teacher – so now I’m a double major in Spanish and Community Education & Social Change.

I didn’t know what to expect with majoring in Spanish. Many people would say, “Don’t you already speak Spanish?” or “That must be easy for you,” but in reality, majoring in Spanish is way more than just learning the language and it hasn’t been that easy considering I’m a heritage speaker, not a native speaker. I have learned about the literature, culture, history, and of course the language itself. My first Spanish class was Spanish 314: Spanish for Heritage Speakers, and I absolutely loved it and knew I was in the right place. The more classes I took in Spanish and in Education, the more I fell in love with them both.

Being a first-generation college student who started her college career during Covid was tough. However, I learned a lot about independence and reaching out to others for support. I have met so many people along the way and have created long lasting friendships. This past year I have worked as a peer advisor at the College of Education and have loved my experience because I get to create that sense of community for incoming students. Additionally, I am gaining valuable experience as a student teacher at Northampton High School, through the Secondary Teacher Education Preparation (STEP) program for Spanish. I have also been involved in numerous clubs and extracurriculars throughout the years. These involvements include an internship at an adult education program called Partnership for Worker Education (PWE) and serving as the logistics coordinator for Latinos Unidos. I have been engaged in other organizations such as the Center for Latin American, Caribbean, and Latino Studies (CLACLS) and have been living in a defined residential community called El Barrio. As a Latina, immersing myself in these diverse communities has enriched my understanding of the Latinx culture. This commitment to community involvement is a passion I intend to carry forward even after graduating from UMass.

For so much of my life, I have wondered and dreamed about traveling. I knew from a very young age that I did not want to have the typical 9-5 office job, and I have curated my academic journey to fulfill my dreams of traveling the world. Some of my longest standing passions have been to learn from as many different people, and to see as much of the world, as possible. I decided on a Spanish major when I was making college decisions because I knew I wanted to enter a career that would help to fulfill these passions. Aside from loving languages, my Spanish classes at UMass have sparked an interest and love for the Spanish-speaking world and the amount of diversity that it encompasses. As soon as I learned what studying abroad meant, I knew I wanted to take the opportunity. Choosing where I wanted to study was a little daunting at first, but eventually I decided on Barcelona and I couldn’t be more excited about what’s to come. 

From talking with students who previously studied in Barcelona, and from some research of my own, I learned that Barcelona is a culturally diverse city with incredible architecture, amazing food, and new experiences. Although I am confident in my choice to study abroad and I feel excitement more than anything else, there are still some aspects of leaving that are intimidating.

One of my main goals of going to a Spanish-speaking country for an extended period of time is to push myself out of my comfort zone in terms of my Spanish abilities. Although I have studied Spanish for almost 9 years now, I still find my nerves getting the best of me and forgetting much of my vocabulary when I go to speak to someone. I can understand most conversations and know what I want to say, but when I go to put this into practice, I get nervous and would rather say nothing at all. I want to use my time in Barcelona to really expand my vocabulary and practice whenever possible, in hopes of becoming more fluent. This endeavor is slightly intimidating, but in the end I know that native speakers often appreciate the effort. 

Additionally, an aspect of studying abroad that is often overlooked is relationships from home that are being left behind. Personally, I have been in a romantic relationship for almost a year now and leaving for Spain requires a big shift in this relationship. I know that I will experience a new level of independence while away, and I am very excited about this. With that being said, it is a confusing mix of excitement and disappointment that I will be leaving friendships and relationships that I treasure so much. Because many people do not talk about this aspect of studying abroad, it has been confusing to navigate. There is no rulebook telling you the best way to go about this, and I have found that this is one of the first big life decisions that I have to manage by myself. I have ruminated and reflected on these contrasting feelings, and have come to the conclusion that, although is it unfortunate that I will be away from these relationships, it will be an opportunity to grow individually. I might never again get an opportunity to travel in the same way with the same accommodations and it is a time to take advantage of all that it has to offer. 

Being that this has been an experience that I have been anticipating for so long, I worry that I will not absorb as much as I am hoping that I will. I have set certain “goals” for myself, but I think I have turned them into expectations that I feel I need to fulfill. I worry that I won’t be living in the moment when I am there but I am actively trying to combat this feeling. In the end, I know that regardless of my expectations, this experience will be life changing. This is an opportunity to expand my perception of the world and learn about a completely new way of life. I am beyond excited despite my worries!