Personal Development

The last four weeks have been very challenging for me, but I'm really happy that I had the opportunity to experience everything that I did during this month. Frankly, I never thought that I would leave the United States, much less go stay in another country without any friends or family. Throughout my life, I've been very dependent on other people to help me navigate obstacles, and when things would become too overwhelming for me and I didn't think I could handle it on my own, I would just give up. This trip taught me that I am capable of managing a lot more on my own than I previously thought, and I will always be grateful for that lesson. Of course, there were times where I let my anxiety get the best of me; for example, I had one particularly abrasive sales clerk treat me like I was the stupidest person he had ever dealt with, and that kept me from going into a store by myself for over a week. However, my most unpleasant experiences here have taught me that even when I'm feeling anxious or uncomfortable while dealing with an experience, I always come out of the situation just fine, and I usually end up laughing about it with my friends. This has given me the reassurance I need to take risks when I go back home. I now know that I don't need other people to help me solve my own problems.

Additionally, I have gained a new appreciation for people who learned English as a second language. I've worked in retail and the service industry for a few years now, and I've always been patient with people who struggle with a language barrier, but you can bet that I will bend over backwards to help people once I get home. Nothing has been more discouraging for me during this trip than people who became impatient or annoyed with me when I tried to speak in Spanish, and nothing has been more reassuring for me than when people acknowledged that I was making an effort and they took the time to talk to me. There have been so many times where I was too embarrassed to talk to people here because I feel stupid when I try to speak Spanish, but having people interact with me without any judgment has been such a gift. By the way, shout out to Patrick McGinnis for becoming friends with the waiter at Rialto. Every time the waiter sees us walking over, he greets us and gives us a smile. The last time we were there, I even got the coveted double-cheek kiss, and I've never felt so fancy in my life lol. Little gestures like that mean the world to me here because I don't feel so foreign.

While there were times of frustration during this trip, I would go back and do it all again for the lessons I learned while I was here. I hope to return at some point in the future (perhaps once I've fully mastered the difference between ser and estar).

Some of my favorite parts of the trip:

This was one of the best nights in Spain. I loved drinking tinto de verano and eating helado with my friends!

Wine tasting at the bodega with Kirby and Pat.

Trying out some Spanish carnival rides.

I would come back to Spain just for the paella