“A very common fear students have and I myself had when studying abroad was that I wouldn’t make friends. This fear was dispelled easily when I arrived. I made friends with people in my program and living in the residencia made it even easier to bond with people and form connections. Even if I didn’t live in a residencia but in a host family or in an apartment I would meet people at school and have the opportunity to get to know my classmates. For individuals who are introverts or slightly timid like me often it can be hard to go outside of your comfort zone. But make that first move and ask someone to go grab a coffee or go get tapas because the friendships you could gain will change your life.”
– Anna Sutherland, Granada Spain 2022
2 Months in Granada, Spain
In order to mark my two months in Spain I wanted to talk about some of the harsher realities of studying abroad that I have personally encountered and noticed. Studying abroad is often portrayed as a paradise and only the best aspects are shown and talked about. I know for a fact and strongly feel it is one of the best choices I have ever made and for the most part gone exactly the way I imagined it. I participate in the night life, travel on the weekends to different countries, and it has been the best two months of my life. The connections, memories, and life experience I have gained are invaluable.
However, what people tend to neglect to talk about or show on social media is the homesickness at certain times that eventually does come from being away from family, friends, and animals back in your country. I consider myself an individual who is very independent and I can handle most situations quite well including being away from my loved ones for long periods of time. I had a year being away at college which gave me time to practice being away from my parents for long periods of time. However, being in a different country can add another layer of distance and loneliness that we don’t always anticipate once the excitement of a new country wears off. This is normal though and I wouldn’t change being abroad for anything in the world. I find that being around people or getting outside often helps and brightens up my mood. I did an exchange to Costa Rica in 2018 for a month in the summer and the first day I was feeling very homesick, but I reminded myself that a month would fly by fast, and I would be wishing I could stay and true enough that’s how it went. It’s a similar feeling now in Spain two months later. Thank goodness for facetime and calls. Studying abroad is the time to enjoy life and make the most of my time in a different country
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