Studyin' Abroad in España
By Julia Smith


Photo courtesy of Julia Smith
Julia Smith (back row, second from the right) and her new family pose for the Spanish photographer.
     My summer adventure began with an agonizing eight-hour flight to Spain on which they did not allow passengers to use headphones. I was left with the depressing options of watching a Spanish movie or beginning those dreaded summer reading books. I chose a third option—I slept. With half-closed eyes, my journey in Spain commenced as I, along with fourteen other strangers my own age and our fearless leader, schlepped through the Madrid airport, tired, jet lagged, and hungry. Our four- day tour of Madrid included all of the famous tourist spots: El Palacio Real (Royal Palace), La Plaza Mayor (Main Plaza), El Museo de la Reina Sofia and El Prado (two important museums).

    A six-hour bus ride brought us to the small town of Antequera, situated in southern Spain, where each of us was placed in the home of a Spanish family. My family was amazing and I quickly bonded with my Spanish mother, father, brothers (ages 20 and 30), sister (25), and niece (4). For three and a half weeks I was welcomed with open arms into my new family and immersed in their culture. I spoke only Spanish, as none of my “relatives” could speak English well. I ate their delicious food (my favorite being tortilla española), and I took part in the vivacious night life at all the discotecas with my Spanish siblings and cousins.

    Every morning, however, I had a grueling forty-minute walk to the high school, where I attended classes for four hours with the other Americans. We participated in a theater improvisation class, a music course (where we learned the words to all the hit songs of the summer, including Ave María, Torero, and Corazón Latino), and a language course in which we practiced our speaking skills. We also took a few field trips to different towns, including Granada, where we visited the Alhambra; Mijas, where we rode mules through the streets; and to Malaga, a beautiful city along the coast where we swam in the Mediterranean Sea.

    My afternoons in Spain usually consisted of a long siesta (nap), hanging out with my siblings, or laughing with my Spanish mother about the differences between our cultures. She had many gripes with American culture and was not afraid to express them to me. She felt that the drinking age in America was too old, we don’t swear enough to vent our anger, the bride’s family should not have to pay for the wedding, and children should not go far away for college.

    Overall, the trip was amazing—I now have a new family, fourteen new American friends, and the knowledge of a beautiful Spanish culture, which I got to experience firsthand. It was a trip I will never forget.