When I got the call that I’d been offered a spot in the Language and Culture program in Santander, Spain, nothing could have prepared me for how much I would gain from this experience. As I sit writing this blog in my small homestay room, admiring the skyline of this beautiful city, everyday still feels like a dream.
From buying delicious fruit in the local “fruterias,” or fruit markets, to watching Inside Out Two with my classmates at the theater, applying for this program has been the best decision I’ve ever made.
Initially, I was scared of flying across the world for six weeks, but I knew I had to face my fear. Deep down, I knew I’d been selected for a reason.
During my childhood, I always felt disappointed that I didn’t know Spanish. I learned that my grandparents were not allowed to speak Spanish in school and my grandmother was discouraged from teaching my mother and her siblings when they were young.
This caused our native tongue to rapidly decrease in our family. However, I remain hopeful that I can revive this significant part of our heritage and implement it into our family, starting with my nephew and all future family members.
Taking Spanish courses in middle and high school helped me learn a few words and phrases, but I found myself desiring more. The day one of my professors sent out a flyer about the program, I was ecstatic and thought it was the perfect opportunity to continue learning. Nothing compares to traveling to the origins of the language that you’re studying.
One morning while listening to Bad Bunny on the way to school, I thought to myself, “Wow. I’m really listening to a Spanish-language song by a Spanish-speaking artist, going to a Spanish class at a Spanish university in Spain.”
It hit me that this would be my life for the next six weeks, Completely surrounded by the Spanish language everywhere I go.
Even though I have a long way until I consider myself fluent and confidently answer yes when asked “¿Hablas Español?”, I learned that native speakers here are always happy to help. While I was nervous about being taught completely in Spanish, I was surprised on the first day when I understood everything my professor said.
Learning a new language will always pose challenges, but it’s important to give yourself credit where credit is due. I’ve often felt discouraged from putting in the extra effort in previous Spanish classes. However, my outlook has completely changed since studying abroad.
Everyday I wake up excited to go to class, fully engaged and eager to learn more. Collaborating with others who also want to improve their skills has eased any concerns I had and my own confidence grows every day.
In addition, the support I’ve received from my classmates, fellow staff, host family and Texas Global has made my experience easier. I truly believe the connections I’ve made so far will hold a special place in my heart for the rest of my life.
As an aspiring journalist, learning Spanish will act as a great advantage in covering events and news. I will have more opportunities to engage and collaborate with individuals. Communication is the core of media and journalism and I’m grateful I’ll be able to write and share more stories for an another audience.
I would like to give a special shoutout to my mom, my siblings and my grandmother, who have been my biggest supporters during this whole journey. I’d also like to mention my late grandfather and great grandmother, who I know are beaming with joy from the skies watching me take charge of furthering my language skills.
To anyone who is considering studying abroad, I would say go for it. All it took for me was one email that changed my life forever. While you might be scared of the unknown, as my late grandfather’s favorite song goes, “You simply take it ‘un día a la vez,’ or one day at a time.”
This post was contributed by Avery Silvas, a Global Ambassador for Summer 2024. Avery is a sophomore English studies major studying abroad in Santander, Spain.
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