It’s Wednesday morning and I’m drinking tea with honey at my local cafe to replace the usual cafe con leche, as I think my weekend adventure in Paris took a lot from me in more ways than one. I’m home (away from home) now, taking it slow before I take off for London in the morning. I’ve been abroad a month and a half and still can’t believe I can say a sentence like that! I figured it was time to come on and share some of my highs and cherished takeaways from my time in Spain so far.
highs.
Getting connected right away. The other students in my program are from a small university in the US similar to my own, and I’ve really enjoyed getting to know and spend time with them. On top of that, I was introduced to a ministry for university students here in Valencia where I have met people from all over the world–literally. It is a place where I can go weekly to feel like I belong, have fun, and it adds so much more purpose to my experience here.
The weather. I will say I’m usually a sucker for fall, and Valencia doesn’t do the whole color changing thing I’ve noticed. I’ve decided I’m okay with that because the sunshine has been so good for my soul. It’s October now, and it gets chilly in the mornings, which makes it even better.
Walking everywhere. At first I didn’t know if I’d like this aspect or not, but now that I know my way around, I love it. It helps me stay connected with my surroundings, and I’ve noticed how my daily energy has changed now that I’m active so early, walking to class. Valencia is a vibrant city, but small in area, so everything is a walk or a bus ride away. Exploring on foot has added to my experience so much.
Cafe culture. We have this in the States, but its usually more common with people my age and the handful of hip older people. In Europe, everyone spends their fair share of time in cafes: reading the morning paper or a book, connecting with friends, or just taking in their surroundings. Some are big and photogenic as are common back home, but a lot are simple places with a few tables outside. Gathering–taking meals, snacks, or coffee together, is a huge aspect of Spanish culture, which leads to my next high…
Siesta. This city values rest, and when I found that out I knew I’d fit in alright. Every day, starting at around 1:30, everyone returns home to eat lunch and rest until around 4 in the afternoon. The kick is that lunch is super late compared to what is customary in the States, but once I got used to it, I grew to enjoy the schedule a lot. It’s currently 11:30 in the morning and people have started to trickle in to have their “Almuerzo,” which means lunch in Latin America, but here it refers to the mid-morning snack. After siesta ends, there is another afternoon snack, called “Merienda,” and then dinner is usually eaten around 9 at night. Honestly, this is about the eating schedule I had back home as a college student, so I have no problem with it.
takeaways.
I’ve given myself space to grow. Being put completely out of my comfort zone, with a language barrier and around people I’ve never met, caused me to quickly decide how I wanted this experience to look. I could have given in to the discomfort, but instead I chose to lean into it, allowing myself to feel everything and let it shape me. I keep saying that I feel like I’m putting myself under a microscope, able to notice and examine little things I couldn’t have with the distractions of my life back home.
I’ve learned a lot about a healthy lifestyle. In Spain they follow the Mediterranean diet pretty well, and it’s opened up my taste palette a lot but also grew my appreciation for vegetables and fresh food. It’s so important to be kind to your body, pay attention to it, and give it wholesome things; this is something that is easy to forget in America–to risk sounding like a typical person who has studied abroad, it’s true. We tend to make cooking and eating well more complex than it needs to be, and watching my host mom cook every day with ease has taught me that “fast food” can still be healthy.
I’ve realized that long distance is hard and sad but possible. The hardest lesson learned, because I always knew I was an independent person. Still, being away is difficult at times. But my closest friends and my family haven’t forgotten me, as I secretly feared they might. It takes good communication and effort, but it’s worth it to stay connected. And the community I’ve found in Valencia has made everything so much easier too!
Well, I could name more, but that will be all for this post! My study abroad experience has been nothing short of life changing in a lot of minuscule ways, and I love it. If you would like to hear more or have any specific questions I’d love to know! You know where to find me.
Alex
