Study Abroad was a transformative experience. I had the opportunity to travel to four different countries, walk on a glacier, hike in the Andes, climb Manchu Picchu, and grow closer to 12 strangers. While surrounded by the Spanish language in everyday life, I also took literature, linguistics, culture, and conversation classes all in Spanish. I found, very quickly, that learning a new language is not like learning other subjects in school. I was able to grasp the information much faster than communicate what I was able to understand. Some days, I was completely lost. Being in a state of total confusion during school was not a feeling I was used to experiencing. However, working through the confusion taught me valuable patience with myself as a learner. This process will also be useful when I become a teacher. Some of my students will be completely lost and it will be my job to help them. Now, I can relate to their feelings and we will work through the problem together.
My favorite trip was traveling down to Patagonia. My two friends and I spent most of our free week on the Argentine side of the Andes and one day touring the Torres del Paine national park in Chile. Planning a trip, booking tours, navigating new airports, and working through unexpected hurdles are all skills that become invaluable as a traveler. Michele, Ashleigh, and I planned, booked, navigated, and problem-solved together. When busses were late, stores weren’t open, and border stations were closed, we had to chill and figure out a way to solve the issue. Working through kinks and appreciating the beauty of nature as a little team proved to be both a valuable and bonding experience.
While learning Spanish in the classroom was an influential part of the semester, it is necessary to practice with natives if fluency is the goal. Confidence in my language ability was a major hurdle. I found talking to strangers in Spanish very intimidating and it was difficult to walk outside and practice. One of the most helpful tools the group was given was a list of activities around the city, Montevideo. The list of 30 items had suggestions such as ‘meet two new people in the park’ or ‘ask a shop owner where an item is located. This list was a practical way to get outside and speak with strangers. The greatest day, for me, was the day I bought Mentos by myself. It may not come across as a very large accomplishment, however, the preparation and confidence I needed to walk to the store and ask a question was a huge milestone in my learning. My professor, Carolina Archer, and I wrote out a script so I felt prepared to speak with the store owner. When I came home successfully with my Mentos, my confidence grew immensely. I learned that people are just people, as simple as it sounds. There is kindness everywhere and new faces can provide growth and learning opportunities every day.
