Traveling abroad is something that everyone should have the opportunity to experience. Over the summer, I had the privilege of studying in Spain for the duration of one month. However, it wouldn’t have been possible without the completion of my Spanish classes. By the end of junior year, I had finished my AP Spanish course, and was burdened with the possibility of losing the language that I had been studying for 4 years. That was when my parents suggested the idea of studying over the summer. But who wants to study during summer break? It was then when my parents asked how I felt about practicing my foreign language skills in Spain. I was exhilarated with the idea and couldn’t wait for summer to start.

When my parents said studying they really meant it. A program called Middlebury Interactive Languages had provided me the opportunity to study in another country where the prime way of communicating was through my targeted language. Since this program was located in Granada, Spain I was forced to utilize my Spanish even when attempting to complete a simple task like asking where the bus stop was located. This program also allowed me to meet teenagers my age from all around the world, who had the same dedication towards the Spanish language and culture as I did. You probably think that it was all fun and games, but trust me when I tell you we had actual schoolwork we had to complete. We had class every day, interviewed the locals, and did individual projects. Even though it was a lot of work, I was able to make unforgettable friendships and learned an immense amount about not only the Spanish language, but the culture and people.

Going into town every day and talking to the locals opened my mind to the reality of the presence of individuals who had different priorities than people here in the United States. In Spain, family values were deeply treasured. On some nights, my roommates and I would go with our living advisor to eat Tapas. We would stay out until 11 o’clock eating, chatting, and genuinely enjoying each other’s company. It was a big change from the fast-paced life that I was used to. Even the locals had a more relaxed and positive vibe. When we went out to interview them for our class assignments, they were more than happy to stop what they were doing and talk to us. Every day I would encounter new people and I, myself, started to feel like one of the locals, strolling through the stone-covered streets without the worry of being late for work or school.

Then when I thought it couldn’t get any better, my parents told me that they were going to come pick me up in Spain and then we would travel to France, Italy, and Monaco. The experiences I encountered was something I could never find in the United States. Each country has its qualities that differentiate them from one another, and even though I didn’t speak French or Italian, I was immersed in their culture. The food, people, and traditions from each country truly changed my mindset. To be completely honest, when I first heard that I was going to travel through Europe, I was excited to take Instagram pictures and brag about my summer whereabouts, like any other teenager in the twenty-first century. However, it wasn’t until I arrived in these countries that I discovered the importance of getting to know the diverse cultures. It is something that I’ll never forget or take for granted, and I can only hope that others are able to travel and meet the beautifully unique people that this world has to offer.