When I saw the space in my wallet where my driver’s license and credit card usually sit, my heart dropped. I rushed back to my apartment and let out a sigh of relief when I found those missing cards sitting at the bottom of my backpack. I knew that pick-pocketing was prevalent in Spain and that I needed to be cautious when in public but you only hear about bad things happening to other people, you usually don’t experience it yourself.
While I have visited Europe before, this is my first time without a parent accompanying me. It can be very intimidating being a young woman, living in a brand new city, to try and navigate cultural and societal differences. I am from a very small town in Texas where it is normal to leave your car and house unlocked, to leave doors and windows open during warmer weather, and being told I needed to make sure the people following me into my apartment building actually lived there was a little shocking. That being said, staying in a big city has made me more aware of my surroundings and potential dangers. Although we have only been here a total of four days, I know that I am likely to encounter a scenario where I could feel in danger. I am continuously taking steps to ensure the safety of myself, my belongings, as well as those in my program.
In regards to safety, I have noticed that Spaniards don’t take personal space as seriously as those in the United States. This was not something I was expecting as people tend to go out of their way to avoid contact with people on the street back home. This can make it difficult to spot when a pick-pocketer may be targeting you or another person in your program.
While there are many things to be cautious about when traveling abroad, I feel as though everyone here has been extremely nice and welcoming to us Texans. These safety precautions are important to think about but I am excited to immerse myself in the Spanish culture and embrace these differences.
