Culture Shock

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Denisha George

<i>"Hello" in your host country's language:</i> Hola <i>Home Institution (your U.S. University/College):</i> Michigan State University <i>Expected graduation year:</i> 2023 <i>Destination city & country:</i> Valencia, Spain <i>Program provider:</i> Michigan State University <i>Major/minor:</i> History Education / Spanish Teaching <i>Demographics:</i> African American/Black <i>Future career aspirations:</i> I strive to become the best teacher I can be and travel the world with the people I love. <i>Top 3 goals for your time abroad:</i> 1. Better my Spanish 2. Create lifetime relationships and connections 3. Explore and get to know the rich history in Valencia

Whenever someone studies abroad, we often see the term โ€œculture shock.โ€ When my group arrived, we had a mandatory meeting to talk about culture shock. How there would be a honeymoon phase, followed by anxiety, followed by adjustment, before finally reaching acceptance. They told us how we might feel alone, isolated, frustrated, and more because weโ€™re experiencing so many new things at once. I assumed because this was my first time being more than a few hours away from all the people I know and love, culture shock would hit me like a ton of bricks. I would be second guessing my choice to study so far from home, and I would want to go home.

However, after two weeks here, I still donโ€™t necessarily feel any of those. Yes, it is a little frustrating not having the correct words I want to say, but overall, it has been an amazing experience, and I have gained so much in such a short period of time. Spain is such a beautiful country with so many things to do. As someone who is an introvert and often stays home, I have been adjusting to a life of waking up early and going out every single day.

Maybe after a few more weeks, Iโ€™ll understand just how hard it is to live in a country away from everything Iโ€™ve ever known. Perhaps Iโ€™m still in the honeymoon phase, and reality will come crashing in, but as of right now, I am truly very happy I chose to study abroad.

I am already aware that Spain is not a perfect country, and I would be lying if I said I was happy every single day here or that everything is perfect. I thought I would maybe want to move here after experiencing the culture, but I donโ€™t believe I ever would want to now. I love how everything you could ever need is within a few minutes. I live across the street from a tapas bar, around the corner from multiple restaurants, less than a minute away from two grocery stores, and thereโ€™s 4 or 5 bus stops within minutes of my apartment. Thereโ€™s even clothing and shoe stores that I can walk to, which is unheard of in the States. However, I have also learned that the economic situation here is rough, the education system isnโ€™t great, and it is not a very plus-size friendly country. I also am exhausted and often wonder how people here manage to just go, go, go.

As I spend more and more time here, I hope to continue to grow in my language usage and appreciation of Spanish culture in my classes and everyday life. I hope I can become more comfortable with my host family and the people I see every day. I cannot wait to see how I continue to learn and grow as I ride the wave that is culture shock.