With only about 35 percent of the American populace holding passports, I think it's safe to say that most of our knowledge of the big wide world does not come from firsthand experience. When I told people I was leaving my second semester junior year in Michigan behind to study abroad in Sevilla, Spain, I generally got the response, “Oh, that's incredible! You're so lucky! You're going to have the time of your life, and maybe you'll fall in love." While I couldn't help but agree at the time, I now realize that studying abroad is only slightly more complicated than that.
When I first arrived in Sevilla, I definitely felt a bit overwhelmed, but with good reason. My first few days were a twisted combination of excitement, nervousness, information overload, limited Internet access, and jet lag. This has been my first experience outside of the U.S., and I was feeling like there was so much to do, see, and experience, and I only had a few short months to do it all. So, that's when I knew I needed to set my priorities.
My first night out consisted of me and one of my roommates going out to a local bar to meet some people in our study abroad program, experience the sangria, and maybe even find some locals to test our rusty Spanish from last semester. However, the first thing I noticed was a very dependable feature among all of us: we were huddled together in this tiny place, with American music bumping in the background, all sharing the mere experience of just getting off the plane only a few hours ago. I loved being there but it was different and, honestly, a little strange. There was some anxiety concentrated on how I was going to make new friends, adjust, and master the nuances of the language as well as what I was missing back at home. It seemed selfish to be thinking about home while being in this incredible place, ready to embark on the experience of a lifetime, but that palpable feeling was there.
I guess the movies got it all wrong. From growing up watching the Olsen twins frolic around Paris on VHS, to Diane Lane getting romanced after buying a villa in Tuscany, my generation was raised on glamorized half-truths and idealized travel experiences. Even as I am currently planning an upcoming trip to Rome with my friends, I cannot have high hopes that I'm going to meet my pop star doppelganger or receive an invitation to sing on stage in the Coliseum like Lizzy McGuire.
I think the truth is this. Moving abroad is hard. It's challenging, and you don't always find what you're looking for, despite what TripAdvisor says. The movies never talk about the hard times, from sorting out visas to setting up a bank account or a phone plan (the bane of my existence). They make it look so effortless when the reality is far from a piece of cake or a long-term vacation. Sometimes, it's a daily battle that almost always leaves you questioning, “Is that what I really want?" while crying on the metro and finding comfort in Kinder Bueno bars.
It's hard to deny that the act of living in another country, in another language, fundamentally changes you. Different parts of your personality float to the top, and you take on qualities, mannerisms, and opinions that define the new people around you. And there is nothing wrong with that; in fact, it's often part of the reason I left in the first place. I wanted to evolve, to change something, to put myself in an uncomfortable new situation that would force me into a new phase of my life. And I know studying abroad is also so much more than a new country, or a place to check off the bucket list. It's about the experiences you have and the people you meet. I try to not forget that while getting caught up in the “Insta" glamor of it all.
Being here, I have noticed the importance of taking a step back to see how small and special moments actually add up to an entire experience. Among the orange trees, heartwarming sunshine, riverside cafes, cobblestone streets, tapas, discotecas, cathedrals, and horses and buggies, Sevilla is quickly becoming a place near and dear to my heart. Not only does it truly leave me mesmerized as I walk around day to day, but it also gives off this special air of authenticity and history that makes it one of the most beautiful and breathtaking cities in Spain. And now that I am about halfway through my time here (tears are falling), I've come up with a few pieces of advice not only for myself but for others who are even considering going abroad in the future.
Don't let homesickness ruin the experience
Within nearly 48 hours of being in Sevilla, I managed to catch the stomach flu, along with two of my other roommates, and was bedridden like a victim of some death-threatening illness with some of the worst feelings of not being able to call my family in the middle of the night when I felt like I needed them the most. That first weekend taught me something though, as any bad situation does.
Homesickness comes in waves, and it's always best to do whatever will make you more comfortable during your time away from home. However, that's no excuse to sit and sulk in my apartment, video-chatting for hours on end and missing out on fun nights out and weekends jet setting all over the continent. That's not what I came here to do. Now, with that first weekend far away in the past, I have learned to keep myself busy and to not let a little sadness hold me back from having the time of my life! I also cannot help but laugh at myself for actually popping a blood vessel in my eye from throwing up so much.
Live like a local and do as the Spaniards do
It is totally easy to get caught up in wanting to travel to places all over the world every weekend, like every one of your other friends you see on Facebook. Now, don't get me wrong because traveling is amazing, especially coming from someone who has never stepped foot on anything but American soil. So far, we have visited Lisbon, Brussels, Amsterdam, Barcelona, and some smaller cities in Spain including Córdoba, Granda, Jerez, Cádiz, and Ronda.
As fun as it is, I have also come to terms with how physically exhausting it can be and how much I actually miss Sevilla when I'm gone! I like to tell myself that this study abroad semester could be the last time that I will ever actually live in a foreign country. It could be the last chance that I will get to experience a city for more than a few days and to feel like a local in a town other than the one you grew up in. I want to take advantage of living and speaking like a local in a town other than the one I grew up in. I want to take advantage of this and soak up the city's culture as much as possible while I'm living here! Not to mention, I know the Euro-chicness that has been added to my wardrobe collection here in Spain is quite the step-up from my sweaty running clothes I sport around Michigan's campus on the regular.
Practice the language and keep practicing
Before coming to Spain, I thought I knew Spanish. LOL. There are no two ways about it -- you won't become fluent until you live abroad. But, even that is not enough. I have known plenty of Americans in Spain who get by speaking English and put in zero effort to learn Spanish. You have to try, really try; commit to it and make it a priority and it will happen. Live with locals, join a club, go out frequently, make a fool of yourself. You will never learn to speak a language well from a book; you will only learn by practicing. If it helps, drink a beer first.
I have come to see how foreign friends can share with you what it's like growing up and living outside of the U.S. They can help you learn the local customs and etiquette, i.e. kissing on the cheek, remembering that stores close between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. during siesta time or Spanish nap, family time. And they can even recommend great spots around town that only a few people may know about. Total bonus! Even more of a bonus is that my roommates and I each have intercambios, or language partners, to practice our Spanish with whenever we want. Our intercambios are all local students who are our age and study at the same university as we do. We've actually all become so close that we now go out together to one of the best local nightlife spots, Plaza Alfalfa, every Tuesday!
Don't be afraid to not have a plan
I could not be a more schedule-oriented person, but coming to Europe meant it was time to quickly break that habit. Some of the best memories I've made during my semester so far are actually the ones that weren't planned or that happened by mistake. For instance, one of my favorite memories came during a visit from our friends back at school. There was one day that consisted of us walking around the entire city and then stopping in Maria Luisa Park (my favorite spot in Sevilla) for a mid-afternoon bottle of wine in the sun. Also, just the other week, I made the decision to go on a day hiking trip to el Cerro del Hierro, which is a village and old iron mine natural monument located to the north of Sevilla. I spontaneously spent the day biking, hiking down a waterfall, and rock climbing for the first time along the slopes of a mountain in the area, all while meeting an entirely new group of people I would have never met before. So instead of booking every tour and activity I can find, I have learned that it's actually so much cooler to just go with the flow and see what unfolds each day.
Step out of your comfort zone
One of the things I've really enjoyed about being abroad is that it has given me a lot more confidence. I have felt completely comfortable relying on myself, navigating international airports and the streets of foreign cities like I run the place. I have seen how travel does change you, for better or for worse. Choosing to study abroad was one of the best decisions I ever made, and it has helped shape and continues to shape who I am today. It has taught me to be independent, responsible, have respect, and above all, to appreciate the people and the world around me. Struggling to learn another language, to adapt to a different culture with a different set of rules, and learning the difference between fiction and reality -- those are the lessons that stay with you, shape you, and change you.
