Finally, another blog entry! Now that I'm back in the United States and had some time to reflect upon my experience, here's what I have to say:
First of all, my passion for Spanish has certainly grown while abroad. I have a new energy and even stronger desire to become better at speaking Spanish and to continue utilizing it here. When I came to the University of Michigan, I originally planned to only minor in Spanish, and even when I decided to double major, Spanish definitely did not hold the same importance as Neuroscience. Now, my two majors are about 50/50 in my mind. Don't get my wrong, I still LOVEEEE science (and I realize now how much I missed science classes over the summer), but I really take pride and pleasure in my Spanish studies as well.
Next, I have realized how my language skills have improved while abroad. They have probably faded in the month I've been back (it's only been a month?!?), but my listening skills have significantly improved. I didn't think my speaking had improved that much, but being in my Spanish classes in the United States has demonstrated to me that my speaking skills are above other students in 300 level classes and on-par with those in my high 400 level classes. I feel more confident in my speaking abilities and definitely actually WANT to speak more in class.
Besides all of that, I have a stronger appreciation for the United States, but also a deeper understanding and acceptance of other nations as well. I think of foreign countries in a different way and I find it interesting to see and experience how they are different from the United States.
While I was gone, I also gained a desire to learn more languages. I would really like to learn Portuguese and am considering taking a Portuguese for Spanish-speakers class here at U of M. I found it almost a fun challenge to try to decipher Portuguese and Italian since they share similarities with Spanish. It was interesting being in a place where people don't speak English readily. It makes you think about things differently. It makes you less self centered and realize the other cultures and ways of life out there. It humbles you when you can't communicate with others and you have to find another way. It makes you more creative, and more able to solve problems.
Adapting to a foreign country wasn't too difficult for me. I think by not having many ideas of what to expect, I was able to more accept things as they came because I didn't have any idealizations to compare them to. Everything I saw was new and exciting. Being able to communicate with someone in a store, or with my host family felt like little accomplishments. I was astonished by the architecture, the layout of the streets, the charm.
Returning to Spain is definitely something I want to do as soon as possible. I would love to visit my family in Salamanca, and I also want to go to other regions of Spain such as Andalucia. Traveling has definitely opened me up to other places and I want to experience other places of the world as well besides Europe.
