MY STUDY ABROAD EXPERIENCE

Toledo, Spain

Looking back on before I started my study abroad experience, I was incredibly nervous because I had barely visited outside of the United States before. I had also never traveled to Europe or lived far away from my hometown for any extended period of time. I had done my google searches and learned about the basic aspects of Spanish culture before leaving, but never truly knew exactly what I was going to experience. 

The culture shock I had when I first got to Toledo, Spain was intense but often fleeting as I found myself too distracted with excitement to focus too much on my nerves. The culture in Spain is so family-oriented and focused on life outside of work that I found myself having very eye opening experiences about my cultural differences constantly. Tasting new dishes, learning flamenco dance, building meaningful relationships with my mentors and visiting Spain’s most historical sites will be memories I cherish for the rest of my life. Traveling on weekends to new countries and being back just in time to for Spain-oriented courses is an experience I hope everyone can experience in their life.

Before leaving for Spain, I had one specific goal in mind: Learn everything you can about the Spanish healthcare system and the cultural influences that are ingrained in it. One of the most rewarding aspects of my experience was spending so much of my time in Spain learning and experiencing both of these goals.  

Living in another country and experiencing the depths of its culture can be one of the most rewarding experiences of one's life. My study abroad experience showed me that I am capable to adjust to anything outside of my comfort and learning to focus on the people around me more than just the work done on paper.