Student Journals: AIFS in Salamanca, Spain

Padraic Stanley
University of Salamanca, Spain

¿Has Terminado?

There I am, in the terminal of Madrid Barajas Aeropuerto, waiting for my plane back home from Spain. I am sitting in the airport staring at the wall mostly, occasionally watching people pass by, all speaking Spanish—unfortunately, I can only understand every other word. I spent a semester abroad, and it wasn’t enough. I wasn’t done, but my time was up. Suddenly, I’m startled by a flight attendant who grabs my shoulder from behind. I turn around to the row behind me to meet her eye-to-eye, and she says, “¿Has terminado? (Are you done?).

“¿Qué?” (What?), I said in confusion.

“Chico, ¿has terminado?”

And then I snapped out of it. I was in my homestay 4 weeks into my study abroad program through AIFS, when I was daydreaming during la comida with my host family. I was staring out the window daydreaming, when my host mother put her hand on mine and said “¿has terminado?” with a sad look on her face. I hadn’t yet touched my food.

Originally I had decided to study abroad at the Universidad de Salamanca in Spain for the entire academic year, but was having doubts because of financial situations with my home university. I was contemplating whether or not to “throw in the towel” and go home. However, I gave a firm answer, concerning both my daydream and the delicious paella sitting in front of me, by saying, “No he terminado. Quiero completarlo.” (I’m not done. I want to finish it.)

I’ve found that life after graduation from high school can be seen as a “string of humbling experiences.” By humbling experiences, I am referring to getting knocked on your butt, academically that is. These experiences certainly aren’t negative. These lessons are imperative to learn and to grow. Although getting knocked on the butt may be painful at times, your level of success depends on how vibrantly you rise up again. Students may experience this when they first attend college, discovering that the competition is fiercer and the competitors are more seasoned. Students may get knocked around by a class, a tough professor, or social experiences—all culminating into a “humbling experience.” Then, through internships, students get a taste of the real world – “whomp!”—I’m on my butt yet again. However, this study abroad experience has been the most humbling of all humbling experiences (for now, that is). For me, studying abroad has been a tooth-and-nail fight, made more complicated by the pool of high-interest student loans and lack of eligible scholarship applications available. However, the most persistent students manage not to drown in their study abroad experience, defying what seems to be all odds. I intend to be one of these persistent students.

I am certain that after studying abroad for an academic year through AIFS, I will have another useful “humbling experience” under my belt. In all optimism, I wouldn’t like my study abroad experience to be any different. Within a short amount of time, I have met new and exciting people, including Americans, Spaniards, and other Erasmus students, that have made an impact on my life, making this experience more eye-opening, and far more enjoyable. This studying abroad experience will not only be the hardest, but also the most useful in my personal and academic growth.

Learning from this experience will give me the confidence and know-how that I will need to succeed in this globally interconnected world that awaits me post-graduation (pending yet another humbling experience). Utilizing my language skills and cultural observations acquired this year, I will be more prepared for entrance into the job market. Appreciation and adaptation of culture will be imperative for success in this increasingly diverse world. Study abroad is the perfect opportunity for students to learn these skills and values through active participation. Being completely immersed in a foreign language, even for only a short period of time, has drastically increased my comprehension and fluidity of conversation. Immersion in the language, culture, class, and social life of a different culture has not only been challenging and entertaining, but has also been extremely worthy of measurable academic credit. The courses I am taking through the Universidad de Salamanca challenge students to utilize the world around them in addition to class. Even time spent outside the intensive classroom is nearly credit-worthy, because this entire Spanish-speaking country is one giant classroom.

Through personal life, study abroad teaches students how to deal with real-life adversity. I have come to know, within my short time present in Spain, the severity and the reality of culture shock. Regardless of how high a students’ language skills may be, or how prepared he/she may be for the culture, this shock is nearly inevitable. How a student deals with these cultural difficulties foreshadows his/her resilience in future adverse situations. Also, regardless of where a student may study abroad, regardless of financial status, regardless of language level—study abroad is no easy feat. Students deal with new types of people well outside of their comfort zones, from members of the host culture to difficult people back home (university, family, friends, etc.). Study abroad, without a doubt, opens a student’s mind to the existence and acceptance of other points of view—at times even integration. I want to see the world, to be ripped out of my comfort zone, to learn new things every day, and to overcome obstacles. Study abroad was the right choice for me.

I’m glad that my daydream was just that—only a dream. I am currently putting forth all of my effort to ensure that my study abroad experience this academic year is academically and personally fulfilling. I am certain that when I leave Spain in June, if asked the question “¿Has terminado?” I can then respond. “Ahora, sí. Estóy contento, pero después, vamos a ver.” (For now, yes. I’m content, but later, we’ll see.)