Hm. I never thought I’d be sitting next to my mom buying a plane ticket with a minimum travel time of 14 hours. First time for everything I suppose. Speaking of firsts—this will be my first time overseas in Madrid, Spain, Europe; pretty much anywhere that is not the United States.
With less than 2 weeks left before the start of my trip, it’s starting to hit me just how different this experience is going to be. Sure, I’ve flown 6 hours from my hometown to Tuscaloosa, and I’ve dealt with a 2-hour time difference and culture-shock, but this trip seems like it will be a new level.
All of that to say…I’m nervous.
I will be spending the month of June in Madrid, Spain, where I’ll be taking 2 Spanish classes at the University of Nebrija! I absolutely love being in a classroom, so having the opportunity to take classes in a completely different country has me super excited. I am also so grateful for the practicality that comes with the classes I’m taking—Spanish classes in a Spanish-speaking country means that I will be able to understand the language of the country, andddd I’ll be able to practice my skills in the real world!
Taking the classes and dealing with the workload are not worries of mine, but instead everything outside of the classroom.
What happens if I get lost in the JFK airport? Will I be able to find my group once I land at the airport in Madrid? Will someone really try to slash my backpack straps and take my belongings? Will restaurants be offended if I ask for ice in my water? What if I say something wrong in Spanish? What if I overpack? What if I underpack? Is bringing a small camera a good idea? How much currency should I have with me? Does dinner really start that late? What will I do for breakfast? Could I bring my Birkenstocks? What if I get kidnapped?
What if I feel homesick?
My mind is constantly racing with these and more questions that I probably already know the answer to, but I find that I’m able to toss so many of my fears away when I see how excited my family is to see me exploring more of the world on my own. I remember that I am doing all of this not only for myself, but for my younger sisters so they know that they can do whatever they put their mind to too.
At the end of the day, I know that the chance to study abroad really is once in a lifetime, and so I can take that nervousness and slowly but surely replace it with anticipation and excitement as I buy a new carry-on, lay out my outfits, discover a new sun hat at Costco, watch those travel vlogs on TikTok, search for soccer game tickets, scroll for hours on Pinterest to find “the” outfit for a dinner that’s not planned yet, and begin planning scheduled times for when I can call home.
And finally—this trip would not have been possible without the financial aid I received through UA’s study abroad scholarships. If you’re reading this and worried about affording a study abroad experience: please, give it a chance. You might be surprised at the opportunities available to you.