From a young age, I have always had a love for the sport of soccer, as it was engraved into my culture. Seeing as this trip would give me the opportunity to gain a greater understanding into the politics of the sport, I just knew the program would be a good fit for me. By opting for a month-long program across different cities in Spain, I was able to meet so many amazing people and truly experience the vibrant culture.
Before leaving for Spain, my biggest challenge was overcoming my anxieties about staying in a foreign country. I had never been to Europe before this trip, nor do I speak the common language of the country, and I had no prior study abroad experience, which left me with a daunting feeling. However, what helped me most with overcoming this challenge was being surrounded by a group of fellow UW students, who I grew quite fond of during our time abroad. This is why I recommend first-time study abroad students to look into one of the faculty-led programs offered at the University of Washington.
My goal coming into this trip was to really put myself out there and to try to improve my language skills, which proved to be far more difficult than expected! But on a more personal level, I wanted to become more independent and adaptable within a new environment.
The program I chose involved a combination of coursework on Spanish soccer along with taking Spanish language classes within the city of Leon. In addition to these classes, I was assigned to read articles and academic literature, which painted an extensive picture on the history of the country and the role soccer plays in the culture. Throughout my experience of the cities, along with the readings/class material, I was tasked with creating blog posts which documented my journey throughout the month abroad.
My interactions with Spanish locals significantly influenced my perspective on how life in Spain (and Europe) varies from that of the states. They provided insights into local customs and social practices, challenging my preconceived notions and broadening my understanding of global issues. I was most surprised by the differences in the work and social culture, as the Spanish schedule was broken up into parts that were unfamiliar to me. In this work culture, people were expected to work anywhere between 3-5 hours, then have a few hours of break to go socialize or siesta (nap) and return to work to finish out their shift. Additionally, dinner was often eaten past 10 p.m., and people would stay out late socializing. Adjusting to different routines, such as the Spanish mealtimes and the pace of daily life, required flexibility and openness. Adapting to the cultural differences in daily schedules and expectations was both a challenge and a learning opportunity.
As my program neared its end, I felt a mix of excitement and sadness. I was eager to return home, but was also reluctant to leave my host family and the friends I made abroad. It was a poignant reminder of how much I had grown and how deeply I had connected with the local culture. However, I am beyond grateful for my time abroad and eager to return to the beautiful country someday. One area I plan to continue working on is deepening my proficiency in Spanish. The language skills I developed during the program are invaluable, and I want to maintain and enhance them through continued practice.
Something I learned about Spanish culture is that most people in the country don’t really stress over their careers. When I asked different locals what they wanted to do career-wise, most would say that they would work anywhere as long as they could earn a living and have time to spend with friends and family. They would be content with that. This was a huge culture shock for me as someone who comes from a country that glorifies professions and their “value” to society.
Looking back, I would have better prepared myself for dealing with the weather conditions in Spain. Choosing the right clothing cannot be overstated. While abroad, I found out early on that my choice of clothing was not suitable for the heat because it wasn’t the most breathable. This made acclimating to the weather very difficult those first few days.
The program had a significant impact on me by teaching me the value of flexibility, resilience, and cross-cultural communication. Something I learned about myself is that I am much more adaptable and resourceful than I initially believed, which gave me a huge confidence boost when coming back home. I now feel as though I can use my experience in Spain to help guide me with traveling later in life. I plan on going on a second study abroad program later this year and will definitely be using some of my new tricks to enhance that experience.
