I chose ‘The Politics of Soccer in Spain and beyond’ program because Soccer has
always been an important aspect of my culture and has had a huge influence in my relationship
with my family, friends and even myself. This program also included Spanish classes as part of
the curriculum and I knew this would help improve my Spanish fluency. Lastly, the fact that we
would travel to Spain was what tied everything together. I knew I would be able to practice and
experience first hand what we were learning about given that Spain has had, for a long time, a
complex political system, and deep ties with the sport.
Initially I faced a bit of a culture shock such as the type of food available and what time
to eat, people’s attitudes and demeanor, and I even experienced a little bit of a language barrier.
I had a hard time balancing my school work and exploring the city, as well as digesting some of
the material we had to read for the class. I took the challenges in small steps so as to not
overwhelm myself and also be aware of what was not working. When it came to meals I
sometimes bought small snacks that could fit in my purse so if I ever got hungry before lunch or
dinner time I could have something light to keep me going. When meeting new people I tried not
to take what they said personally but rather stay neutral and curious. This helped me ask more
questions when I didn’t understand a particular word or phrase. Or if we were conversing, it
would help move the conversation along. As far as the school work and time I realized some
other students were also struggling between getting work done, and trying everything new the
cities had to offer. However, I would get together with other students to work and read the
material. This also made the concepts easier to understand, and when I had questions or
counter arguments it was helpful to have someone to talk to them about.
Personally, I wanted to travel to Spain and experience new traditions, food, people,
music, etc. It was a chance to step out of my comfort zone and learn about how I would react in
unknown situations. Academically, I wanted to learn more about soccer and how it’s used by
governments, corporations and people as a political tool to manipulate narratives. I also wished
to improve my Spanish vocabulary and practice it on a more academic and social level.
Professionally I wanted to be exposed to different people and their areas of expertise to see if it
would spark inspiration for my own career path. I hoped to network and make connections with
people from different parts of the world to have the opportunity to collaborate sometime in the
future.
Before my experience I was worried that I would not be able to afford the program.
However, thanks to my study abroad advisor I was able to connect with different resources and
apply for scholarships. It seems daunting but these awards are actually there because they
want to help students travel and experience the world. I also worried I would have a hard time
fitting into the study abroad group, or that I wouldn’t create friendships along the way. But I
quickly learned that all of them were in similar situations. I didn’t have to force anything because
we would all naturally get to know each other as time went on. Another big concern was
whether I would get along with my host family or if it would be uncomfortable living with new
people. I was gladly comforted to find that my host family was very welcoming and kind. I still communicate with my host mom until this day and I hope to do so in the future (so I can visit her
on my next vacation)
Normally, I think I also felt anxious traveling to a new country and getting lost but I felt
reassured because I knew that I would be able to use my phone. Also, most people are very
helpful in giving you directions and trying to understand what you are trying to say. At times I felt
nervous about leaving my family whom I have such a close relationship with. However, thanks
to whatsapp I was able to communicate with them whenever I needed to. Also, I was always so
busy that I barely had time to stop and think about them (my family understood and encouraged
it).
I would best describe the program as an inclusive, hands-on, theoretical study of soccer
and Spain. The University of Washington has a study center in Leon, where we stayed for the
majority of the program, and they collaborate with the Centro de Idiomas de la Universidad de
León. We received Spanish classes at the language school five days a week from 9:30 to
1:00pm. This time was proactive in both meeting new people from all over the world and also
improving my spanish. Since I am already a fluent speaker I would sometimes help other
students with their pronunciation or their understanding of a word. It sparked an interest in
maybe becoming a Spanish teacher or at least learning more about becoming a counselor for
students.
We also held discussions in the UW center where we heard from different speakers such
as Rafael Guerrero Alonso, a globally recognized referee and Ricardo Pozo the director of the
soccer club la Cultural Leonesa. Thanks to Ricardo Pozo we had the opportunity to train with
the head coach at the stadium of la Cultural Leonesa. It was such a great time and honor to be
able to play with my friends in a stadium that gets filled with hundreds of people to watch star
players. This was a great chance to dive deeper into my own thoughts about becoming a sports
psychologist and being able to visualize how this could look like in reality.
Throughout this program I was able to meet people from Ukraine and learn more about
the effects of the war. I also met people from Singapore, Belarus, France, Morroccos, who
taught us about their own languages, cultures and practices. Although I know I won’t become
the closest of friends with everybody I was able to make deep connections with several of them
and get their contact information. I always offered them a place to stay if they came to Seattle.
I learned that in Spain people like to eat well, dress nice and talk a lot. It was such a different
social setting than Seattle, in every aspect. Since arriving, our taxi driver was very chatty, telling
us about the different ways we could get around Madrid, singing in metaphors and jokes.
Everywhere you went you saw people talking hurriedly and expressively, while drinking a glass
of beer or eating a tapa (small plates of snacks to accompany the drink, usually free!!).
Needless to say, people in Spain have a really good sense of style. It seemed their appearance
was instrumental to their snappy quick witted mood. It was also shocking to see that most
people walked everywhere. You had to be quick on your feet and savvy with your hips to not run
into someone. On the metro you had to sometimes squish your way into a space where you
could hold onto something. If not, you would hope the person next to you wouldn’t mind being your grab handle, usually they didn’t. However, as much as the norm was to socialize and be
extroverted. Spanish people took their rest time seriously and with pleasure. From two to five
pm, most stores and offices would close for ‘siesta’ time. Which meant people would go home to
eat with their families, and if they could, rest a little before going back to finish their shift. I found
this to be a wonderful practice that I should have taken more advantage of.
And it’s one of the many things that I might have done differently if I had the chance to
study abroad again. I think as much as you want to see and do everything, you have to be
organized. The more organized and planned you are with your time, the more you will actually
have of it. If I could I would have done more research beforehand to see what I ACTUALLY
wanted to visit, I would talk more with locals to hear their recommendations and I would splurge
on a MetroCard.
However, I learned many lessons throughout this program and my time in Spain. First, I
learned that soccer really is a sport that unites all groups of people, and like with anything, the
more you practice it, the better you can actually get. Even if they are small incremental
improvements. Second, I realized the value of work, rest and play. They are all important
aspects of a person’s life, but when we focus on only one or two, important parts of who we are
start withering. We must water them all as equally as we can. Third, always ask questions when
in doubt, it will save you time and confusion down the road. Even if you feel embarrassed about
it at that moment, you will feel equipped in the future. Lastly, this program has allowed me to
learn so much about myself, how I handle stressful situations, who I show up as when I am in a
different environment and what I aim to offer the world. Although I didn’t see it during the
program, once I was able to reflect, I was able to see the lessons that the world was trying to
teach me through the challenges I faced. I hope if you read this that you feel inspired to apply to
this program (especially if you’re a soccer fan) because you will reap rewards that benefit every
aspect of your life.
