Hello all! As this first month in Spain has flown by, it has become increasingly difficult for me to simply express in words the complexity of my experience thus far. So, I instead thought of 3 particular emotions that summarize why I consider studying abroad to be one of the highlights of my life.
Surprise:
As part of a Photography class in Seville, every Wednesday I get to tour the city and see it’s natural beauty. Everywhere we have gone, the views have been absolutely breathtaking. Getting to capture it in its essence on a weekly basis is one of the highlights of my experience thus far.
My favorite spot that I have visited is the Alcazar, which is a famous church/cathedral. If you ever visit Seville, this is one of the first places I would recommend to stop by. I actually took this picture while we were walking down a narrow street on our way to the church. The quality of the photo was much better than I had expected, as the palm trees happened to perfectly align with the buildings and I loved the tonal differences between the various colors. Even if you are not an avid photographer, I would suggest taking as many pictures as possible in this city, as the views are truly astounding.
Disappointment:
I have made some mistakes so far on this trip, but, in reality, I don’t regret any of them. In the moment, there would always be a hint of anxiety hidden in my brain, but when I needed it most, I just stopped thinking altogether. My eyes fixated on the trees, beaming with the sun’s radiant light and the rest of the beautiful scenery that surrounded me. It encouraged me to critically think about what had happened and how I can adapt to it.
Given the time to self-reflect on my current state of emotions, I realized that life itself will always be an uphill climb. And there may be moments when you feel disappointed in yourself and your decision-making. But without failure, how will one develop into a stronger and more competent individual?
Joy:
Finally, joy streams through my heart whenever I walk into my internship at a Spanish school and see the smiling faces of all the children eager to take on a new day. Every time I walk into the classroom, I am greeted with continuous shouts of hello from the students with a level of excitement that is beyond me. Even during class, they are fully engaged in the activities and motivated to learn new content, which I find scarce in America’s current education system. To see everyone stepping in and discussing issues with their peers makes me proud to be a part of this wonderful and welcoming community. It’s only been two weeks, but I already know that the professor cares about the needs of each individual student since all of the activities that have been performed thus far have encompassed various learning styles and intelligence. That is how I aspire to be as a future professor.
All this occurred in the span of a month! And I’m excited to say that I’m currently living my best life right now, as I have become a changed man who understands the importance of positivity more than ever. I’ve suddenly begun to see the world from a broader perspective, accepting that I can not take any of the little things for granted. If I do, then I lose the true purpose of my time here, to be happy that I am on the adventure of a lifetime.
Brandon Fink is a student from Roger Williams University and is an ISA Featured Blogger. He is studying with ISA in Seville, Spain.