Reflections On My First Year Abroad
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Post written by CIEE Ambassador Abroad Haimanot Shimeles who just finished participating in CIEE’s First Year Abroad Program in Spain. In this blog, Haimanot shares how studying abroad in Spain helped her grow personally and culturally by embracing new experiences, adapting to local customs, and gaining a broader global perspective that will shape her future.
Studying abroad was an amazing opportunity that was filled with opportunities to adapt and grow. Reflecting on my time abroad, I valued the importance of being open to new experiences. Without that openness I believe the experience will not be made the most of.
Stepping Outside My Comfort Zone
Studying abroad in Spain led me to try many new foods. Growing up, I’ve always been wary of seafood. Seafood is a huge part of Spanish culture so despite my intimidation I was open to trying different dishes. I discovered my love for mussels and prawns. And while my experience with oysters wasn’t as positive, at least I can say I tried them. I believe trying new things is not about liking everything but more about the willingness to try them.
Cultural Changes
One culture shock I experienced within my first few days in Barcelona was the amount of walking. Growing up in Los Angeles, a city notorious for being car dependent, walking was not a big part of my lifestyle. I grew to enjoy walking so much that I have been incorporating it more into my routine back home.
The First Year Abroad Program
As a first-year college student, studying abroad was such a surreal experience. I have always considered myself to be independent but living abroad challenged me in many ways. Experiencing living on my own for the first time while trying to learn a new cultural way of living was definitely a challenge at first. There were many aspects of European culture that were new to me. Spain’s late dinner hours took some time to get used to but after some time it became my new normal. I believe that to fully experience cultural immersion, it’s essential to adapt to your new environment rather than clinging onto what you are accustomed to. While some people preferred to maintain their habits at home I preferred to embrace the difference. I saw my time in Spain as an opportunity to learn new cultures while remembering my favorite aspects of American culture will still be there when I return. The CIEE program organized many cultural activities that really helped me experience Spanish culture. I tried leeks for the first time, drank wine from a traditional portion, and tried many traditional Spanish and Catalan dishes. These moments taught me that allowing for change in your study abroad lifestyle can really maximize your experience.
Adapting To the Language
One of the more challenging adjustments was continuing practicing yoga. Yoga is a big part of my life that I wasn’t willing to give up while living abroad. Attending yoga in Spanish was extremely confusing at first and after my first few classes I left discouraged. But rather than giving it up, I stuck with it. As I spent more time in Spain my Spanish began to improve, and I eventually got the hang of it. Studying abroad deepened my understanding of how cultural practices differ abroad. Through my travels through other countries in Europe I also noticed slight differences. I learned to appreciate the different forms of communications such as the warmth of a Spanish greeting (dos besos) and the unhurried pace of a sit-down meal.
Takeaways
Cultural immersion isn’t just about eating new foods but fully adopting a new lifestyle. Living in Spain allowed me to develop a more global perspective which will help me in my future career. Not only do I think this knowledge will help me in the long run, but I also truly enjoyed learning about other cultures. While many people only see studying abroad as an opportunity to see new places, I see it as much more. Don’t get me wrong, I was able to travel to many new countries but to me studying abroad is about personal growth and embracing change. I taught myself to open up to new experiences and adapt to different cultures, which I will continue to do throughout all my travels. This was a life-changing experience for me, and I now understand the importance of cultural immersion.