For one thing, there are a lot of people in the world who do not like Americans. It's interesting to be on the other side of that when you are in another country. To walk into a bar and have everyone else walk out is a hard thing to see. We are so used to being comfortable, and that is exactly NOT what happens when you are abroad. You are uncomfortable, you try to speak Spanish and no one understands. It's a very interesting place, but also an amazing place. The history is beautiful and the lifestyle is beautiful. People seem to be in less of a rush and are more apt to sitting and eating tapas for hours on end then getting home and getting a good nights sleep. (Which has been hard to adjust to, as I love my sleep.) They also love nudity. Which I personally think is great. In the US, if you are wearing a swimsuit, no matter who you are, some idiot is going to make a comment or gawk at you. When you're in Spain, if you're topless no one gives a damn. Your body is your body and there is nothing to hide about it. It seems as though the culture is way less focused on sex then the US is, and in a good way.
Studying abroad with 11 people also forces you to enjoy togetherness. You learn to make good group decisions and you learn how to please more than just yourself. You learn to sacrifice and compromise. It's a wonderful thing, and our group is quite amazing. However, I do need my alone time and sometimes just putting on my i-pod is enough to cure that issue.
Taking photos is an absolute joy in a city that is full of so much energy and life as Barcelona and Madrid are. It's like seeing life through a camera lens and every picture, no matter who takes it, is beautiful in it's own way. I've been having a ball and wish there were days when that's all I could do.
Being in Spain has also taught me to be open to change and trying new things. You can't keep judgements and past morals all the way with you as you grow up, because that's impossible. There is a quote that says how ridiculous it would be if you liked the same books when you're 80 years old as you did when you were 8, and I think that speaks true. If I believed the same things I did when I was in middle school then where is the progression? Where is the growing? Learning to change and accept new things has helped me grow as a person and being in Spain has definitely sped up that process. Why not try new things on the Mediterranean Sea in Barcelona? When will you have that chance ever again.
I also think that being away and having to use skype and not having a cellphone has given me a warm up for the idea of moving away after graduation. I'm good at being all talk, but once I walk the walk I realize it's a lot harder than I think. But then again, I think about how much I've changed in 2.5 weeks and am excited to see what moving away could do for me. It's a learning experience and why not do it now? I can't wait to be independent and live in SoCal and have my dog named Max :) So I dream a lot...
That's all for now, read http://spain2010.wordpress.com to read a daily blog about what we are doing here in Spain.
