Studying abroad changed my life. I feel as if I never studied abroad, the course of my life would be very different than it is now. Moving to Madrid for a semester was the first time I truly felt independent from my parents. Although the college I attended was a little over an hour away, it never felt as if I was too far for them to come visit regularly or for me to go home for the weekend.
In Madrid, I had no choice but to try and make things happen; from learning how to cook, to figuring out public transport, to ironing clothes. I was exposed to things people are use to doing everyday for the first time. It taught me to be self-reliant and comprehend things through trial and error. The feeling of independence is like no other. No one holding you back. No one telling you what to do or how to do it. It allows you to make the decisions you want, and whether they are right or wrong, you can’t blame anyone but yourself. If they’re wrong though, you take it as a lesson and keep moving forward.
My time abroad taught me to be curious. To ask questions, to understand why things are done differently in parts of the world. It allowed me to appreciate and recognize that every culture is different and has their own unique characteristics. It allowed me to appreciate the things we take for granted while at home, grounded and safe. I grew a certain inquisitiveness to adventure. I wanted to explore different parts of the city. I wanted to eat like a local, understand why business shut down during “siesta” time, figure out why they don’t normally “tip”. Overall, I wanted to cultivate my curiosity into lessons and knowledge that I could take with me throughout the rest of my life. Madrid did that for me. I became an addict for adventure and a devotee to the continuous search for experiences.
