Pretty much since middle school I have been “go, go, go” nonstop. I love to learn and try new things, so I’ve always filled my schedule with as many different activities as possible. This always made me happy, but it also meant that I often felt burnt out. I am used to becoming so overwhelmed with commitments that I work myself to the point of hating things I once loved.
Not to mention the fact that I had limited time for family and friends or even time alone. The many pressing issues of the present always distract from thinking about the future. This has only become more intense in college. Since freshman year I have filled all of my breaks with academic and extracurricular activities. With plans to continue my education after college, I knew my study abroad experience would probably be the most relaxed period of time I would have for a few years.
Taking only four classes this semester and handling only a few other commitments, I was worried that having so much more free time than I was used to would make me unproductive. I was worried that I would waste the valuable time that I have in a new country where I get to travel and experience new things. Luckily, the culture here in Spain has been perfectly conducive to learning how to enjoy a slower-paced life. Spain is relatively untouched by the modern hustle mentality. Spaniards here work to live, not live to work. Students and professionals alike do what is required of them and spend the rest of their time with friends by eating, dancing and enjoying the outdoors.
I have always prioritized family, friends and experiences above school and career. Rarely did I actually put this mindset into practice, though. Now that I have been surrounded by this lifestyle for several months, I think I will be able to resist external pressures and continue this way of life back home in the U.S. I will prioritize time and connection with friends and family and my own mental and physical health. I will spend more time cooking, playing sports, reading, going for walks and taking time to self-reflect.
While I’ve been here this has meant traveling, visiting museums, going on hikes, playing and attending sporting events and performances, trying different foods, talking with friends, making new friends and calling family members and friends at home. I have been able to learn about other cultures and about myself. Comparing different cities and cultures has also allowed me to learn what I like.
I have learned how to think on my feet, go with the flow and embrace spontaneity. To not just enjoy things even if they don’t go according to plan, but because they don’t. I have pushed myself to speak in a language I frequently make mistakes in, whittling away at the limits my insecurities place on me. I have let the distance from the rest of my life remind me that so many of my issues are temporary and trivial. My time here has felt like a dream, but I will make sure that I don’t compartmentalize it as such when I go home. I will incorporate all of these lessons into my everyday and let this period of time have a part in my future.
This post was contributed by Isabella Zeballos, a Global Ambassador for Fall 2023. Isabella is a junior biology studies major studying abroad in Barcelona, Spain.
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