My time in Spain has definitely changed over the course of this semester. When I got to Spain originally, I was a little overwhelmed with not having my usual support system with me and the new Spanish lifestyle I had to get used to. I had to learn basic life skills again like where to buy certain products, proper manners when out with people from other cultures, and even how to use the stove. There is an adjustment period, but I truly learned a lot. Firstly, I learned that there is always an opportunity to grow while abroad whether thats breaking your comfort zone, talking to new people, or attempting to learn a language. Doing things like this helped me grow in my confidence and let me feel more at home in Spain. Also doing activities such as those helped me gain perspective on the lives of Europeans, as I met more people. Many of them are very open minded and globally aware of many things happening outside their own country. It was a fresh new perspective that I don’t always encounter in the United States, and I was glad I was able to experience it. My greatest advice for people going to European countries is to go to ESN events. These are school sponsored events that help you not only meet people but help you learn about your host country.
When I look back on my original post, I realize that I was truly only looking at Spain with a surface level understanding of the country. Over my time here, I was able to get more of an understanding on things that are less commonly known. For instance, the work culture in Madrid is very relaxed with the need to be exactly on time not important and the need for an afternoon siesta is generally accepted. This is definitely different from American work culture. I learned other things as well like the importance of Catholicism here, the different variations of Spanish within Spain, and even that Sangria is not a drink that Spanish people would enjoy (it was apparently developed for tourists).
I highly encourage any business major looking to do in exchange to go to Madrid. The city is extremely diverse, so you will develop a more firm understanding of other cultures that are not Spanish. People in Madrid are also so welcoming, like my original post stated. Yes, it will feel different at first because it is so different from America. However if you are anything like me, you will walk away with a more in depth understanding of Europeans’ cultures, and a more open minded perspective on how to live in the future.