In the spring of 2022, I spent my semester studying, working, and living in Seville, Spain through a program with CEA. Throughout my time abroad, I sought to fully immerse myself in the culture and language however possible. If you had asked me how I felt before departure, I probably would have told you that I was excited, a little terrified, and trying to learn as much Spanish vocabulary as possible. At the time, I had no idea that my time abroad would be the most fulfilling and transformative experience of my life.

 

At the beginning of our program, students had one-on-one meetings with a CEA advisor in which we set learning goals for our semester. At the time, my focus was set entirely on fluency. All I wanted was to be fluent in Spanish, and each of my goals pertained to that central idea. When I reflect on my time abroad and how it has shaped my learning goals today, I realize that my focus has shifted into wanting to improve cultural fluency rather than just improving my language abilities. It did not take me long to realize while abroad that when speaking with a native, you will miss half of a conversation’s context if you are not familiar with the culture. While being fluent in a language means you can speak to others with ease, it does not mean you will always understand them.

 

During my time abroad, I could always find comfort in spending time with my host mom. When asked about the most meaningful memories from my time abroad, one specific day always comes to mind. After about a month in Sevilla, when my roommate and I were still adjusting and learning, our host mom invited us to join her for a celebration with her family. While they usually gathered together at least once a year at her sister’s home in the countryside, this day would be the first time they were able to in over a year because of quarantine restrictions. My roommate and I spent the day getting tours of the house, eating home-cooked Spanish food, and getting to know all twenty-five family members. Our day with their family taught me that while there are many differences across cultures, kindness, family, and laughter are universal. While I spent every day learning about the culture and language of Spain, this day was by far the most impactful and special for me.

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The culture in Spain is something that I believe everyone should experience for themselves, especially the culture in Seville. The people are warm, friendly, and more social than you would believe possible. Every day, people dine together outdoors, go for walks, have coffee together, or just stop to say hello when passing friends in the street. When dining with my host mom, we would sit and talk in depth about life and our days. At home, it is rare that I would eat lunch with my family or stay at the dinner table for more than thirty minutes. Before going abroad, I heard repeatedly that Spanish meals move much slower than we are used to in the United States. After arriving to Spain, I realized that this is because they are not just meals — they are events and social outings. When my friends and I would go out to eat, there was the possibility of spending up to two hours at a table. Our meals were also much more spread out — breakfast at 8 a.m., lunch at 2:00 p.m., and dinner could be any time from 8:00-11:00 p.m. My days started early and ended late, almost every day. This way of living reaches across all aspects of the Spanish lifestyle, not just at mealtime. The people of Seville taught me how to appreciate every second of my days and to slow down and take it all in. I now live much more presently, rather than rushing and focusing on the next thing.

 

I spent each day while abroad chatting with my host family, studying and learning in Spanish-focused classes, and working at a local yoga studio. Each and every day, I was faced with challenges ranging from cultural differences to miscommunications. I learned to never be afraid to ask for clarification, to be confident in myself, and to not be afraid to just try to speak, even if I was not sure my message would be clear. I was pushed out of my comfort zone constantly, and as a result this experience became extremely impactful for my personal growth. I can confidently say today that I am not the same person that I was before I left for my program in Seville, and that I now constantly seek new experiences and learning opportunities that allow me to grow even more.