IZABELLA ROMERO RAINEY
During the spring semester of 2025, I had the opportunity to study abroad in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. Entering this experience, I hoped to strengthen my Spanish language skills, gain a deeper understanding of Spanish culture, and challenge myself to live confidently in a new environment. While I anticipated that studying abroad would be rewarding, I did not fully realize how transformative this experience would become. Through daily immersion, meaningful relationships with my host family, and extensive travel across Europe and North Africa, my time abroad reshaped not only my academic goals but also my worldview and sense of identity.
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One of the most influential aspects of my experience was living with a host family in Santiago de Compostela. I lived with a warm and welcoming family consisting of a mother, her son, and her daughter. From the very beginning, they made me feel like part of their household rather than a temporary guest. Living with a host family required constant communication in Spanish and offered insight into daily life that could not be learned in a classroom. Meals were shared slowly and intentionally, often turning into long conversations about family, current events, and cultural traditions. Through these interactions, I learned that language fluency extends beyond vocabulary and grammar; it also involves understanding tone, humor, values, and unspoken social norms. My host family played a vital role in helping me develop cultural fluency and confidence in my ability to navigate unfamiliar environments.​ Santiago de Compostela itself provided a unique cultural backdrop for my semester abroad. As a historic pilgrimage city and the capital of Galicia, it blends tradition, spirituality, and modern student life. I quickly noticed that Galician culture carries its own distinct identity within Spain, including regional pride, traditions, and linguistic influence. Being immersed in this environment helped me better understand the diversity that exists even within a single country. This realization became increasingly important as I traveled to other regions and countries throughout the semester, reinforcing the idea that culture is never monolithic.
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Travel was a central component of my study abroad experience and played a significant role in shaping my perspective. During the semester, I traveled to the Canary Islands, England, France, Morocco, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Hungary, Switzerland, Portugal, and the Netherlands. Each destination offered new insights into how history, geography, and culture influence daily life. Even traveling to different destinations within Spain, I learned that regional cultures, accents, and lifestyles can be entirely distinct despite being part of the same country. This experience challenged my assumptions and encouraged me to think more critically about national identity and regional diversity.​ Traveling outside of Spain further expanded my understanding of cultural interaction on a global scale. Visiting such a variety of countries exposed me to a wide range of languages, social norms, and historical contexts. In cities like London and Paris, I observed fast-paced urban lifestyles shaped by global influence, while places such as Prague and Budapest reflected deep historical roots and resilience. My time in Morocco was especially eye-opening, as it introduced me to cultural practices, religious traditions, and social structures that differed greatly from those I was accustomed to in Europe and the United States. These experiences taught me how interconnected the world is while simultaneously highlighting the importance of cultural sensitivity and adaptability.
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Academically, studying abroad enriched my learning in ways that would not have been possible at my home university alone. Being surrounded by Spanish both inside and outside the classroom pushed me to engage more actively with the language. I became more comfortable expressing complex ideas, asking questions, and participating in discussions. Beyond language acquisition, my coursework and lived experiences helped me develop a deeper understanding of European culture, regional identity, and global interconnectedness. I began to shift my learning goals from simply achieving fluency toward developing cultural awareness and cross-cultural communication skills. I learned that effective communication requires listening carefully, observing context, and being open to perspectives different from my own.
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Like many study abroad students, I faced challenges during my adjustment period. Navigating daily life in a new language, adapting to different schedules, and learning unfamiliar social norms required patience and resilience. However, these challenges became some of the most valuable aspects of my experience. I learned to be comfortable with discomfort, to ask questions without fear, and to trust my ability to adapt. Over time, I gained confidence not only in my language skills but also in my independence and problem-solving abilities.
By the end of the semester, I could clearly see how much I had grown both personally and academically. Studying abroad in Santiago de Compostela allowed me to slow down, become more present, and appreciate the importance of relationships, culture, and shared experiences. It deepened my curiosity about the world and strengthened my desire to continue engaging with international communities in my future academic and professional pursuits.​ My study abroad experience in Spain was truly transformative. Through immersion in spanish culture, meaningful connections with my host family, and travel across diverse regions, I gained a broader perspective on identity, communication, and global interconnectedness. This experience has left a lasting impact on me, shaping the way I approach learning, relationships, and my place in the world. I will always carry the lessons I learned during the spring of 2025 with me, and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to have studied abroad in a place that challenged, inspired, and changed me.
