T-minus 4 days until I depart for Spain. I have always been a planner, plain and simple. Studying abroad is no different and has required patience and most importantly research and preparation. For anyone who is planning to study abroad I cannot emphasize enough not to leave things for the last minute, specifically packing. This I found out when I packed the last three days before leaving for Miami to spend a few days relaxing before I leave for Spain. I’m currently write this blog at 8:05 pm sitting on a hotel balcony in Miami Beach with a beautiful view overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and the bright lights of the hotels around me. I’ve had a few epiphanies over the past few days.

Last night on Tuesday September 20th, it hit me that I was actually leaving for three months. Of course, I’ve had months to prepare for goodbye’s and packing but until you are hugging your family and friend’s goodbye and getting emotional in the moment that’s when you know your journey has officially started. It honestly took me a little off guard the feelings I experienced. Three months may not seem like a long time but when you take into consideration flying across an ocean thousands of miles away from your loved ones, starting a new life, making new friends, and learning a different language you realize its life changing. For all the nerves and thoughts I’ve had about study abroad, turning back has never once crossed my mind because the excitement and knowledge of the adventure I will have far outweighs any fears.

The second epiphany I had was regarding language learning and the expectations I hold for myself. I was first introduced to Spanish in seventh grade and had half a year of Spanish and French. From seventh grade and on I took Spanish each year until the end of high school. I think like most students I just tried to pass the class with a good grade, and I never truly believed I would speak another language besides English. Much less at a level where I could communicate with a native Spanish speaker. My summer month exchange to Costa Rica in 2018 shocked me and helped me realize that I have the capability to communicate with millions of more people using an entirely different language outside of English. My journey to learning Spanish has not only helped me grow as an individual but given me so much respect for language learners in general. As a language learner I constantly am worrying about my grammar, vocabulary, or accent. Language learning has gifted me a unique perspective on the difficulties those learning a language face.

The most common fear that comes up for me when speaking Spanish is making mistakes and my accent. At the same time if I would never judge another person for making mistakes why am I so difficult on myself? Until recently if I didn’t know how to write or say a sentence perfectly, I would translate it. If I would go out for dinner and I knew the staff spoke Spanish, I would stick to English instead of trying to practice. But I realized one evening that becoming fluent or proficient in a language means you can use it anytime and anywhere. I shouldn’t need to prepare for a week before deciding that I feel ready to say something in Spanish. A master of a language can switch between two or more languages in the moment. Ultimately my language goal is to reach a point of comfortability where I don’t doubt my Spanish skills.

What does study abroad mean to me? Study abroad represents to me opportunity, growth, and new experiences. It is an opportunity to continue my education in a different country while experiencing a new environment and learning more about myself simultaneously. It is the start of an exciting and new chapter of my life. This fall I will be studying abroad in Granada, Spain for three months. I had a decent amount of knowledge on Spain prior to deciding to study there partially because I have friends in Spain and learned about aspects of their culture. I am a double major in Spanish and Political Science and Spain is the obvious country to study in to master my Spanish skills even though they technically speak Castellano. Once I narrowed down the country the city was next and was chosen through careful consideration of classes offered. Another consideration was the region being that in Spain there are more languages spoken than just Castellano. Catalan in Barcelona, Euskera in the Basque Country, Galician in Galicia, and Valencian in Valencia each autonomous community with their own language and culture. This was an important aspect to consider unique to Spain. Each country is different, and the research involved may vary for each individual study abroad experience.

I have had months to reflect on what I imagine my experience will be like and what I am most excited about. A few things rank top of the list. One being that I will be able to practice my Spanish and be in an immersive environment. Another aspect is meeting new people and in a new environment where I will establish a routine and make a life for myself in Spain. Food is a big part of a culture and I have heard only great things about the tapas (appetizers/snacks) and finally the nightlife in Spain will be an experience I’m sure I will never forget. Most importantly I am excited about the fact that I will finally have the opportunity to experience it all myself and live it and not just learn or hear about it from people. Why learn and hear about it when you can live it? Along with the excitement there is always nerves. My biggest concern is probably the language placement exam that will determine the classes I take in Spain. The language adjustment is all part of the experience though. Another concern is balancing classes while also socializing but like at any new university it is common. In order to overcome a few of these challenges I plan to go in with an open mind and most importantly positive mentality. My experience abroad is what I make of it!