Where to begin? The last couple months have been such a rush of emotions that just seemed to get better and more inspiring. Entering the month of June, the feat of becoming a college graduate neared, although I would not officially have the credits until the completion of summer quarter, the excitement poured over me. With the finish line in sight, I thought of, what better way to end it but abroad? In what I imagined to be a beautiful place. I chose to participate in the program entitled UW Bothell IAS Spain & France: Americans in Europe (Exile and Belonging), that took place in the amazing city of Paris and Northern Spain in the province of Leon. There is an abundance of study abroad opportunities that load on the University of Washington page, but it was the curriculum that intrigued me to choose this specific program.
Highlighting the importance of what it means to be an American, I resonated with the exploration of American heritage through all its good and ugly. Pushing myself into the discomforts of being away from what I know and loved added some anxiety, but nothing I couldn’t overcome. Of course, being that I lacked significantly in the French and Spanish language, I was terribly concerned on what spending a month in Europe trying to navigate the land would look like. That, however, proved to be not as big as a deal as I assumed. We were each matched with a host family to spend our days in Leon with, which added to the nervousness of the trip. Part of the reason I chose to embark on this study abroad journey was to break free of an imaginary box I felt stuck in. I was excited to land, learn, explore, and develop.
Leon was a place of socialized, relaxed, safe, beautiful environment that really highlighted the contrast of America and Europe. Americans love to be busy, always striving for something, looking for the next dollar or how to upscale their current situation. Now, I don’t know if this is the case for all citizens of Spain, but the individuals I was able to talk with made it clear that they love their free time to do exactly that… be free. You can’t go more than half a block before you see a group huddled up over a bottle of wine, tapas, and open conversation. Let me be clear, I am sure the people of Europe work equally as hard, I just noticed the work-life balance to be far superior to that here than at home. Given the climate in Seattle is a lot colder, you still don’t often see large or small groups gathered and sharing their time, which to me builds greater community and love for one another.
Throughout this program I felt like I was gaining more understanding of the world, history and most importantly myself. A person’s value is often created from a sense of self and your surrounding environment. Like many of the figures studied this became true within the boundaries of Europe. This trip was the perfect breeding ground for success and enlightenment. I was able to grasp a handle of the transaction of euros, proper etiquette for dining and interaction, day to day lifestyle, and understanding of the history and culture. The best part is I get to take it with me. The impact of this trip was and will continue to be significant for both my career and personal development, especially as I balance work, life and all its external forces. It was hard to see it end, but I was eager to see what gems would showcase in my life as I coursed through life back on the homeland. This truly was a once in a lifetime experience that I would do a thousand times more, wouldn’t change a thing!
