By Emily Bartelheim, Features Editor
So I’m supposed to cram a summary of my study-abroad experience into one 500-word newspaper article.† For the others who have gone abroad, you know how hard it is to describe everything in a 30-minute conversation, let alone half a page of text.† Talk about a challenge; but here are a few snapshots.
Spending three-and-a-half months abroad was one of the best decisions of my life.† This past fall semester of 2010, I went to C€rdoba, Spain, a beautiful city in the southern region of the country, with a great history of religious diversity (which is pretty uncommon in Spain; as most people are Roman Catholic).
Even after touring around the country, C€rdoba is still my favorite city.† Okay, I did receive a few glares from some local girls because of my accent, but most people there were very personable, the weather was fabulous, and most of the buildings and houses are old and beautiful.
I chose to live with a host family, which consisted of a 78-year-old couple and their Yorkshire terrier.† They were like stereotypical grandparents from home ó grumpy some days, but always caring and concerned.† I like how some things don’t change overseas.
Encarni (my host grandmother) was the quintessential sweet figure who always encouraged my roommate and me to eat abnormally-large meals.† Paco’s (my host grandfather) favorite topics of discussion were the weather, fruit (he could go on for hours) and bull fights.† There is a current debate in Spain about bullfights; some people support the ritual because of tradition, but more and more are now opposed to it because of the perceived cruelty.
The general pace of life in Spain is much more relaxed than in the United States.† The average day for a Spaniard seemed to be breakfast around 10 a.m., lunch around 3:30 p.m., siesta after lunch until about 6 p.m., and dinner around 10 p.m.† On weekends, going anywhere before 2 a.m. is unusual.† The afternoon siestas are a three-hour block of time during which everyone comes home (yes, stores close too) and naps or lounges around; nobody was ever in a rush.
Another neat custom in Spain is the glorious Ïtapas,Ó which are appetizers that come free with any drink purchase.† Tapas became a weekly occurrence instead of dinner, usually consisting of a couple hours hopping around from restaurant to restaurant.
Spaniards also† love their olive oil and ham.† I especially had fun discussing this with Will Schoenfeld ’12 and Heidi Klise ’12 when I went to visit them in Granada one weekend because ham is everywhere (there are at least ten different types), and olive oil is on practically everything.† My first few weeks in the country, locals always asked, ÏHave you tried the ham?† It’s so great!Ó
Looking back, studying abroad and completely immersing oneself in another culture really opens the mind in ways never even thought possible.
As Nelson Mandela once said, ÏThere is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered.Ó
I really encourage everyone to take a chance and go somewhere completely different to have an amazing experience and learn more about yourself.