During my time in Spain, I learned much more about life outside the United States, foreign affairs, and my own ability to navigate life independently. Being exposed to a new culture allowed me to experience daily life from a different perspective and appreciate the ideals their society is centered around. Total immersion in another culture can be overwhelming but provided me with more challenges to overcome on my journey to becoming fluent in Spanish. Taking history courses alongside my Spanish courses provided me with context of Spanish customs and let me connect historical events with contemporary practices. Most of all I was able to learn more about myself in terms of my own resilience and adaptability in the face of obstacles. My time abroad provided me with countless opportunities that I used to foster my self-growth personally, academically, and professionally.

Personally, I learned more about my own limits and abilities when faced with challenges. I found that the initial adjustment to such a drastically different culture was difficult, especially since it was my first time being in a country where English is not the official language. It was initially difficult to navigate the public transportations, adjust to the new routine, and become familiar with local expectations. My family was very orderly and punctual, which pushed me to be more mindful about following a routine and keeping up with my household responsibilities. I was able to learn the Spanish ways of cooking, cleaning, and organizing household items. While living in Spain I also lacked the same aids for times of need. For example, most restaurants and shops close early every evening, with grocery stores additionally being closed on Sundays. This made it difficult to access resources when I ran out or needed to make a purchase on the fly. As a result, I became much more flexible in terms of how I approach problems and come up with practical solutions, as well as more open to accepting help from other people in times of distress.

In terms of academics, I learned about the rich culture and history of Spain and the influences the country has had and received on numerous other cultures. Seeing as the United States is a more recently established country, America does not possess historic landmarks or deep-rooted culture to the same extent as the country of Spain. Many aspects of Spanish culture can be traced back to the Roman, Muslim and Catholic kingdoms that once inhabited the area. Roman colonization impacted urban construction and planning in cities, ancient agricultural techniques like the aqueduct of Segovia, and the vocabulary and structure of Spanish as a language with Latin origin. The Muslim Empire rule over the south of Spain can be seen in monuments like the Mezquita in Cordoba as well as the regional Andaluz accent that uses sounds similar to Arabic in the Spanish language. Finally, the Catholic influence on Spain is the most obvious as the country celebrates many Catholic holidays nationwide, contains 23,000 thousand parishes, brought Catholicism to Central and South America during colonization, experienced Catholic reformate under the reign of Spanish dictator Francisco Franco, along with many other examples. I believe this new knowledge of Spanish history helped me to navigate the modern culture and understand the rationale behind many Spanish customs and schools of thought. This also enabled me to draw distinctions between Spanish and American political beliefs and ideals.

Lastly, I improved more professionally relevant skills like my abilities to adapt to new situations and work under pressure. In Spain I was put into many situations that required me to use my Spanish speaking skills. Many language classes I’ve taken have focused on written exams and reading comprehension as opposed to orally speaking and understanding. My first month was much more difficult than the second month but I feel that I improved exponentially. I was able to use my limited vocabulary to come up with creative alternative phrases when faced with words I didn’t know. For example, when asking my family if the building had an elevator, I used the word “box for people that goes up” to try and describe what I was talking about. This method helped me to acquire more Spanish vocabulary without the use of translators, which proved to be useful in attempting to remember things over longer periods of time. I also improved my ability to work under pressure, as I managed to find better ways to use my time, plan, and study for exams. The summer courses were only a month long and as a result much faster paced than typical semester-long courses. Practicing Spanish so frequently allowed me to review, study, and practice the material I was learning in the classroom. Likewise, I was able to use alternative study resources to help me learn material faster, like visiting historical landmarks, asking friends and family about Spanish history, and watching culturally relevant movies and TV shows. The experience helped me to improve my communication skills and boost my confidence with speaking Spanish.

My time in Spain was truly eye-opening and has left a lasting impact on me; giving me numerous invaluable skills that I can use back at Pitt and in my future career as a neurologist. I learned to navigate daily life in Spanish, which was challenging at first, but helped me develop communication strategies. I believe that my newfound confidence speaking Spanish will allow me to connect with a wider range of patients in the future and offer support in a more authentic and personal manner. The intricate differences between English and Spanish increase the chance of miscommunication, which could be harmful for patients that struggle to speak in their nonnative tongue. As a doctor I believe it is my responsibility and life goal to provide the greatest level of care, which includes effective communication with my patients. Furthermore, my abilities to adapt and work well under pressure will serve me well in a medical field as well as during exam season this year at Pitt. There are always unexpected events occurring in my life and I take pride in knowing that I am still able to make ends meet, which I’ve now proven during my Spanish summer adventure. Overall, my trip to Spain wasn’t just about learning a new language or experiencing a new culture; it also taught me more about myself and my abilities as a student and communicator.

I am forever grateful for this once in a lifetime opportunity and the countless friends that have been there for me every step of the way. I will miss dancing to the Bee Gees with my host dad in the kitchen and eating breakfast with abuela every morning. I will never forget the late nights spent talking to my host mom at the table or unexpected trips to the doctor with my host sister. I will always remember horribly out-of-tune karaoke sessions with Anamaria and long car trips spent overthinking with Pablo. Most of all, I will now have a reason to come back to Spain. Thank you to everyone that has been there for me on this awesome adventure, and I look forward to seeing you again!