Study Abroad: Attitude Changes
Studying abroad has given me so much respect and new found knowledge about other cultures. This experience has shown me certain ways of living I would like to implement in my life in the United States. On the other hand there have been a couple of things I will not be adding to my lifestyle. My attitude towards Spain has changed a lot over the month I have spent there. In both positive and negative ways.
There were many positive things I learned in Spain. For instance, it is mandatory to recycle. This helps ensure that many plastics and other packaging products do not end up in a landfill. Also, walking or taking public transportation is the main form of commuting. By walking or using public transportation the harmful byproducts that cars emit is lowered, helping the air pollution. Spain isn’t only a country concerned about the environment but they care about the well being of their people as well. A great example of this would be that companies give their employees a minimum of 30 days worth of paid vacation leave. While you are walking along the street you will notice that everyone says hello to each other. Plus people will often stop to have a conversation. People also tend to be out with friends for tapas and it is seen as a shame to be seen alone at a restaurant.
One major difference in my host country and my home country would be opinions on air conditioning and illnesses. My host family did not have air conditioning and most of the hotels we stayed at did not either.
However, when I got sick everyone said I had to have been exposed to air conditioning. I personally do not think that was the case since I did not have air conditioning for 3 weeks. The visit to the doctor was also a negative experience for me. This is because the doctor I went to did not perform any test or do a thorough exam. She didn’t even take my temperature. Although being sick was a bad experience it was only a small portion of my trip. Next, crosswalks were very dangerous in Spain. This is because they would count down how long you had to cross and cars would still drive through the crosswalk during this time. I don’t think that is super negative. However, it was very dangerous.
I have adopted some new habits I am wanting to add to my lifestyle back in the United States. For example, sorting out my recycling so it can actually be recycled instead of thrown in a landfill. Recycling isn’t a very big concern for my town but I would like to help the environment. Also, I would like to walk more. Whether that be taking walks in my neighborhood or parking my car further back in a parking lot so I can get some steps in. Walking has really changed my energy levels here in Spain. I feel more refreshed and want to be more active from having to walk so much. Also, the food here is so fresh. So, one of my goals is to cook healthier. Using more vegetables and less salt will definitely make my meals feel more Spanish.
Overall, I had a very positive and welcoming experience in Spain. The country and its culture were beautiful. I hope that one day I will get to share my experience with my friends and family. By bringing them back with me for a visit. Studying abroad can be daunting at first but I highly recommend it to any student thinking it may be a good experience for them. This is because I became very independent and culturally aware during my stay. Being independent and culturally knowledgeable are very valuable skills to have.