A New Point of View
It is needless to say that you learn so much when stepping out of your comfort zone! Before going to Spain, my life revolved around work and school. The only people I truly ever interacted with were native Texans, more specifically, UT students. To be able to talk to others from different paths of life with different morals was so refreshing! Hearing their point of view on the world and contrasting it with my own is one of the experiences I will keep close with me forever. Below are just some of the changes I decided to make in my life after visiting Spain.
Put down your phone and enjoy life!
When I was in Spain, seeing people just sit on their phone in public was rare. The ambiance and life of the city was so bright, and seeing people take time out of their day to have dinner or a drink with friends was a common sighting.
1.
Make time for those who matter to you.
Relating to the previous point, I was surprised by how taken aback I was that people made time for one another. Almost every day I would see plazas crowded with family and friends. Life is more beautiful with those who matter to you!
2.
Travel more
I had the great fortune of getting to befriend people of different cultures while in Spain. Almost everyone I talked to had traveled to many different countries, picking up the language and culture along the way. When one of my friends asked me why I didn't travel more often, I realized that I honestly didn't have a good reason, so why not add that to my bucket list ?
3.
Learn more about international politics.
Learning about health care, welfare, and hearing about the overall political climate from countries such as Italy or Greece was something I never even thought about learning before going abroad. To be able to see the differences in subjects such as health care taught me of the shortcomings and successes of American politics in a way textbooks could never.
4.
Genuinely listen and learn from others.
Once when I was at a bar, my friend asked me about my experience as an Asian American female living in America travelling to Europe. He was so interested in what I had to say, he actually took out his phone to take notes! Never in my life had I experience someone genuinely care about my point of view and learning from me like that. Reciprocally, I learned so much from listening to him tell me simple stories of going to a supermarket in Italy to his experience traveling the world.
5.
Make more new friends!
Without a doubt, my experience in Spain would have been so different had I not reached out to others to make friends. All that I learned, shared, and experienced with my international friends are genuinely the gem of the whole trip. Why not bring that mentality back to me in America?
6.
Be kind to others.
I lived in a home-stay during this program. A family that did not know me took me in and showed me nothing but kindness and understanding. They treated me like I was part of the family (which included the occasional teasing) and made me feel like I was home. All of my fear and apprehensions melted away after just a few days. They showed me so much kindness, and to be able to make people the way they made me feel is something I strive for every day.
7.