During the first month of my sophomore year, I must have said the word “Spain” thousands of times in conversations, class discussions and even school projects. But my deep appreciation for Spain and its rich culture didn’t originate from typical tourist activities. It came from staying with a host family and conversing in their native language.
Many describe me as a people person. I love to talk. Talking is my way of connecting with people. I’ll talk to anyone and everyone about anything, especially about travel. The many conversations I’ve had about travel led me to realize it isn’t about picking “cool” destinations or the photos you post to Instagram afterward. Traveling is about experiencing new cultures and traditions firsthand, like when I helped make paella and tortilla de patatas in Madrid.
For weeks leading up to my trip, I was extremely nervous about having to communicate with a family that spoke almost no English. But days later, strolling through the Museo Nacional del Prado with a tour guide, Pablo, who only spoke Spanish, the value in my exchange student experience was evident. Asking Pablo questions about his culture taught me just as much, if not more than the history in the museum. Listening to tours and speaking only Spanish for two weeks was no easy task. But the challenge forced me to discover a greater appreciation for language learning, Spanish culture and connecting with individuals like Pablo.
Conversations are able to lead to new connections that help us better understand the world around us. Wherever my family and I go, we almost always start a conversation with our restaurant servers. While the servers are working, they always take the time to talk about their backstories, which helps us to better understand them as people.
Traveling is about making connections with people in new places, whether you create a lasting friendship or never see them again. When I arrived in Spain to stay with a host family I barely knew, I had no idea what to expect. Two weeks later I stood in the Madrid-Barajas Airport uncontrollably bawling my eyes out, unable to accept the fact that I had to leave my newfound happy place.
My time in Spain allowed me to connect with María, a girl remarkably similar to me despite living so far away. María and I chatted daily and compared our cultures, schools and friends. Through our conversations, María taught me more about the Spanish language and life than any Spanish class I have ever taken.
Visiting museums and walking by monuments can help people learn about new cultures, but I highly encourage making a connection and meeting someone new wherever the world takes you. A simple conversation can lead to deeper knowledge of another culture and growing connections. A tour guide can teach anyone about their country, but when you ask the guide about their life and family traditions, you can find out what makes them truly proud of their heritage.