Being confused for a Spaniard is not as fun as it might seem. I am constantly asked for directions and advice about the best places to park, and I have no idea what to say.
What has brought about this observation? It was prompted by three months of studying abroad in Madrid, Spain.
I no longer look for pickpocketers or scan my environment for potential dangers and, most importantly, I accept the differences around me with enthusiasm.
While I still maintain the relatively large bubble of “personal space” that I keep in the United States, I’m used to people standing close when they speak to me, and I’m used to it if they seem to be staring at me. I’ve learned that people are just as inquisitive about foreigners in Europe as we are in the United States.
Even though they don’t always actively walk up to you and ask how your life is back at home, they do observe.
One might interpret this as aggressive or creepy behavior, but do not mistake it for inhospitability. If anything, I have found many Spaniards, especially my host family, to be very welcoming and warm, if you put forth the effort.
At first, all I could manage was to say that I understand Spanish better than I can speak it, but now I try and sometimes struggle to use my Spanish whenever I can.
Frequently I throw in a Spanish sentence into my regular conversations with some of my friends, and everything is fine because we are all in the same uncomfortable situation.
What I can do with this situation, however, is to not let it restrict me and limit my experiences.
The least that I ask from any study abroad student is to at least make a conscious effort to work around any sort of language or cultural barrier.
One day I had to go to the Registrar’s office, and I tried to use only my Spanish. Upon seeing that I was having some difficulty, the lady I was speaking to asked me if I would rather use English.
When I told her that I would rather speak in Spanish, everyone in the room suddenly became happier and more patient with me. All it took was me saying that I really wanted to try and be more than just another visiting student who can’t speak Spanish.
Studying abroad, though it has had its difficult times, has to be one of the most unique experiences I have had so far.
We never know when we are going to be thrust into a completely new and unfamiliar situation.
Even if your first reaction is to retreat and stay within your comfort zone, making the extra effort to say hi to someone or take a walk down the street can make all the difference.
It’s the difference between being afraid of your environment and slowly becoming acclimated and accepting your surroundings.
Always make sure to have an open mind and an open heart.
Even though I miss my home and friends, the memories that I have made here in Spain will last me my lifetime.
Andrew Amelung is a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences, studying abroad in Madrid.
