Study Abroad

In the spring of 2025, I studied abroad in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, through a faculty-directed program with Clemson University. Before leaving, my main goals were to become more comfortable speaking Spanish and to push myself outside of my comfort zone. By the end of the program, I had accomplished both, but I also gained a much deeper appreciation for Spanish culture and a more independent outlook on life.

One of my favorite parts of the experience was living in Santiago itself. Because it is a smaller city, I felt like I was able to experience everyday Spanish life instead of only seeing the tourist side of the country. Living with a host mom made that even more meaningful. Speaking Spanish every day forced me to use vocabulary that I would never normally use in a classroom, especially words for everyday household items, food, and routines. At first, it was challenging to explain things when I did not know the exact word, but over time I became much more confident speaking even when I knew my Spanish was not perfect.

One of the biggest cultural differences I noticed was the slower pace of life in Spain. During the program, I interned at a hospital, and it was normal for everyone to take around a forty-five-minute break to get coffee and pastries together. In the United States, especially in work or school settings, there is often pressure to always be productive. In Spain, these breaks did not feel like wasted time. They were simply part of the day and gave people time to relax and socialize. This slower pace was noticeable outside of work as well. Lunches could last two hours, and people would sit over drinks or coffee without feeling like they needed to rush somewhere else. In the United States, meals are often squeezed between classes, work, or other responsibilities. In Spain, meals felt more like social events. The school schedule was another example. Many students would attend class in the morning, go home for lunch, and then return later for more classes. At first, that schedule seemed unusual to me because American students often try to finish all of their classes as quickly as possible. After spending more time in Spain, I understood how the schedule fit into the culture. It created time during the day to eat, rest, and spend time with family before continuing with other responsibilities.

Another cultural aspect I noticed was the importance of building personal relationships during everyday activities, even in professional settings. At first, I was confused by how comfortable people at the hospital were taking a long coffee break together because I was used to thinking that a break from work meant that less work was getting done. Over time, I realized that the break served another purpose. It gave coworkers time to talk, build relationships, and enjoy each other’s company before returning to work. In the United States, coworkers may also socialize, but work environments often place more emphasis on completing tasks quickly and keeping breaks short. Seeing how naturally social interaction was included in the workday in Spain helped me understand that productivity can look different depending on the culture. Instead of viewing the breaks as inefficient, I began to appreciate how they helped create stronger personal connections.

Even with these differences, I also noticed similarities between Spain and the United States, especially when it came to family and food. Both cultures place importance on spending time with family and gathering around meals. The main difference was how much time people seemed willing to dedicate to those moments in Spain. Meals were rarely rushed, and spending time together seemed to be treated as an important part of the day.

Before studying abroad, my main goal was simply to improve my Spanish. While I definitely became a stronger and more confident speaker, I also learned that becoming better at a language is about more than memorizing vocabulary and grammar. I learned to communicate even when I was unsure, make mistakes without being embarrassed, and find different ways to express myself. The experience also pushed me outside of my comfort zone in other ways. While abroad, I traveled to places I probably would not have visited if I had stayed in the United States, including Morocco. Traveling to unfamiliar places, meeting new people, and figuring things out on my own helped me become much more independent and confident. My goals after studying abroad are now different from the ones I had before leaving. I still want to continue improving my Spanish, but I now want to make sure I keep using it so I do not lose what I learned. I also hope to return to Spain in the future. One of my goals is to attend law school, and I would love to have another opportunity to study abroad in Spain during that time.

Overall, studying abroad in Santiago de Compostela changed the way I think about both Spanish culture and my own life in the United States. The biggest lesson I took away was the importance of slowing down and being more present. Seeing people make time for long meals, coffee breaks, family, and friends reminded me that being productive does not always mean being busy every second of the day. I originally went to Spain hoping to improve my Spanish and get outside of my comfort zone, but I came back more confident, independent, and open to experiencing new cultures.