Studying abroad in Salamanca, Spain, was a somewhat impulsive decision that I made, but it ended up bringing me so many unexpected long-term benefits: like completing my Spanish major and landing a teaching job after graduation.
Studying abroad can be scary, and having a language exchange with native speakers might seem even worse, but in my study abroad semester in Salamanca, Spain, a language exchange helped me feel much more connected to the entire experience.
While I was studying abroad in Salamanca, Spain, I experienced the horrifying ordeal of being sent home for the COVID-19 pandemic on top of ordinary challenges like homesickness. Not all your memories will be positive, and that’s okay! The friends I made helped me through everything.
Spain is often deemed one of the most accepting countries regarding issues like race and ethnicity, gender and sexuality, and mental health, among other factors. Although Spain isn’t perfect, I was amazed by how willing people were to have conversations on topics the US fears confronting.
I can easily say that the reason why I loved my time abroad was because of the kind people I met. My host mom, the Emory students and advisors in my group, and students in my classes created a supportive community around me, making every day exciting and memorable.
A study abroad experience isn’t one person, one place, or even one experience. It’s a culmination of everything that results in something you’ll never forget. My time in Salamanca, Spain left me with memories I’ll have for the rest of my life, and everyone involved in the program helped achieve that.
Community is a vital part of Spanish culture, and what better way to establish community than through food? From the pastries to the tapas to the home-cooked meals, food was involved in just about every social interaction I had in Salamanca, always making it taste so much better.
During my time abroad, food was always more than just food. It was a chance to be with friends, have conversations with locals, learn culture, and, in the end, say goodbye to the most important people to me in the program.
Before I left for Spain, I made some goals that I wanted to achieve. Although I achieved them, I realize now that the main lessons I learned did not fall into some traditional plan that I crafted beforehand, but instead encouraged me to become uncomfortable with being uncomfortable.
When I went on my study abroad program to Salamanca last spring, a few landmarks like the Puente Romano helped guide me through the city, experience some of Spain’s extensive history and culture, and unite with all the wonderful friends I made abroad.
