I have always dreamed of going to other countries. I have always wanted to see what life is like outside of the United States. As I learned Spanish, this dream started to become focused on Spanish-speaking countries. My mom taught high-school Spanish for many years. She even took students abroad to Spain. The stories and pictures she brought back caught my attention every time. As I started college, I realized that this dream could come true. I looked forward to studying abroad for so long. In September of 2021, I finally got my chance to see the other side of the world. 

 

My study abroad experience in Alicante, Spain was a lot different than I had expected. First of all, I was supposed to go in 2020, but, as we all know, the pandemic hit. This delayed the trip for one year. Covid added another layer of challenges to my trip. From wearing masks everywhere to getting tested and vaccinated before the flight, it gave everyone some extra things to do. 

 

Once I got to my apartment in Alicante, I was exhausted, full of excitement, and missed home a little. The first couple of weeks were really busy and it took me a long time to catch up on sleep. Classes started two days after I arrived, so I always had things to do. Also, we had several group outings on weekends and weekdays after school. It took me some time to get on a schedule. 

 

During the week, I would wake up, ride the tram to the University of Alicante for class, and then ride the tram back to my apartment. There was a bakery below the apartment in which I stayed. Every day after class, I would get empanadas from that bakery for lunch. I made friends with the lady who worked there and it gave me another chance each day to practice my Spanish.

 

My favorite trip that we took with our class in Spain was the trip to Tabarca Island. We went on the first weekend to this small island with a population of around 200 people. I spent the first hour exploring the island by myself, because there were a lot of trails that you could walk down to see different historical buildings. Then, we all met in the center of the island to go snorkeling. This was my first time snorkeling, so it was a little difficult, but it was so cool! The water there could not have been any more clear and blue. It was beautiful! Also, there were so many fish in the water and I swam right up to them. This was definitely one of my favorite outings in Spain. 

 

Another day trip that I have to include is one that I took with a few friends on a long weekend. This was a long day, full of adventure. We got up early in the morning and rode the tram up the coast for about two hours to Calpe. Even the tram ride was exciting, because we met some teachers from the United Kingdom with whom we talked for a while. From the tram station in Calpe, we walked through the city for an hour to reach the base of a mountain. Then, we hiked this beautiful mountain that bordered the ocean. After a hike that took about an hour and a half, we walked to the beach and swam in the crystal clear water. Later, we walked down the beach until we found an ice cream shop so that we could cool down. After our snack, we explored more of the beautiful city. Finally, we walked the hour back to the tram station and rode home. We were exhausted by the end of that day, but it was a trip that would be recalled several times throughout the semester.

 

There are a lot of differences between Spain and the United States that I noticed. For example, many stores were closed on Sundays. Also, a lot of those same businesses were closed for Siesta, a time in which many people take a few hours after lunch for a nap or break. This reflects one thing about the Spanish culture that I have learned: Spaniards tend to value quality time over work. In other words, they work to live, whereas Americans live to work. Another way in which I saw that Spaniards value their time spent with their families and friends is at restaurants. In America, we tend to eat fast and leave quickly when we sit down at a restaurant. In Spain, people like to sit for hours and have long conversations. This is why tapas are so popular in Spain. They allow people to eat small amounts of food over a long period of time. 

 

I also saw some similarities between the United States and Spain. One of the biggest similarities was the way people dressed. I realized that everyone wants to look American. Before going to Spain, I tried to pick out clothes for my trip that didn't look extremely American. After arriving, I realized that I probably should not have worried so much. While people in Spain do not wear the American flag shirts, they do wear shirts with classic rock bands, American TV show characters, and other American branding. As I looked through every store window, I noticed that all the stores sold American brands. Even if it was not an American brand, it was a knock-off of an American brand. Seeing all of this helped me to see the huge impact that the United States makes on the world.

 

Overall, my time in Spain was the experience of a lifetime. I learned so much about Spain and Spanish culture.  I got to meet some great people and made so many friends. I also learned more about myself on the trip. I now know that I can survive on my own, even in a foreign country!