Wrapping Up My Gap Year Abroad in Spain

Post written by CIEE Global Ambassador Lindsey Andel who is currently participating in CIEE’s Gap Year Abroad Program in Spain. In this post, Lindsey reflects on her transformative experience in Seville, expressing gratitude for her host family's kindness, her cultural growth through new experiences, and the personal development she gained from stepping out of her comfort zone and embracing independence. 

Today was my last day in Seville, Spain. I realized I appreciated Seville more today because I didn’t dread the twenty-minute walk home as I usually did but instead longed for more time here. I got to walk through the beautiful architecture with plants surrounding it and I could hear people chatting and clinking their glasses celebrating the moment. I got to walk to a place I could now call home.  

Living With a Host Family

My host parents had gotten me a card detailing how grateful they were to have me stay with them, on the contrary I should be more grateful than they could have possibly been. They offered me into their home and treated me as part of their family, never complaining about having to make me dinner or cleaning my room. We made jokes and shared smiles. This goes to show that you don’t need to know the same language to bond with people, you simply need to have respect. Meeting someone in a different country isn’t easy, but I’ve learned if you try to understand what respect might look like for them, it does wonders. For example, in my family I never need to announce when I’m home; however, in Spain, I learned it comes off as rude if you don’t. By having an open mind, I’ve learned so much on my time abroad.  

Out of Your Comfort Zone

As our Senior Program Manager, Alyana Brown, always taught us, there are three zones when studying abroad: comfort, stretching, and panic. The concept is when a student is abroad, they shouldn’t stay isolated in their own culture but instead try to take in the new culture. Alyana also emphasizes it’s important to not completely change or overexert yourself with immersing yourself in a new culture, lest you end up in the panic zone. A good middle is stretching where you can learn and understand the culture, you’re immersed into but also give yourself grace for things you don’t understand. We were told to set goals at the start of the program, such as meeting locals during your stay, or reading a book in Spanish. If you tried to accomplish three each day, that may lead you to the panic zone, making you feel completely overwhelmed with the task. One a month would be a comfort zone, and I’d say a good stretching zone is saying one every week or less. It all depends on the person. During my time in Seville, I was able to apply this to everything I did, whether that meant talking to someone new in Spanish or even just taking a solo trip. I felt this strategy helped me immensely.  

Independence

Furthermore, my time in Seville helped me further understand who I am as a person. Through the trips and time management of this gap year program, I was able to evolve into a more organized person than I was at the start. During my final day in Seville, I sat down with some of the people who were with me on the first day, and I realized how much they had changed. They changed in the way they carried themselves throughout their conversation. I couldn’t help but feel immensely proud of them. Sometimes it’s hard to see growth in yourself but one of the most rewarding feelings is seeing it in others and them seeing it in you! 

If you are interested in taking a Gap Year Abroad in Spain, just like Lindsey, you can apply here or schedule a call with an Enrollment Coordinator to talk through any questions you may have. 

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