Nina Gralewski-Goel, AIFS: Seville Spring 2025
I have had the opportunity to immerse myself in a new culture while studying abroad in Spain. One thing I’ve learned is that Spanish people are some of the most welcoming in the world. Despite my limited Spanish ability, I have always found that people are happy to help me improve. This openness has created an environment of kindness, making my experience in Sevilla incredibly educational.
One of the most rewarding aspects of my time abroad was participating in an “intercambio” or language exchange, with local Spanish students. This exchange was a two-way process. While the Spanish students practiced their English, they helped me improve my Spanish. Through these interactions, I realized that despite the differences in our native languages and cultures, we shared a lot. We not only enjoyed listening to the same music artists, but we also discovered our family relationships are similar. One girl had a brother the same age as mine, and we joked about how universally irritating brothers can be. It was a reminder that no matter where we are from, people are often more alike than they are different.
One of the small norms I grew to appreciate was the Spanish custom of greeting and saying goodbye to people in the elevators. This simple norm often led to further conversation, which gave me the perfect opportunity to practice my Spanish. I came to look forward to these brief interactions, as they allowed me to meet new people and improve my language skills.
While I was studying in Sevilla, I also had the chance to travel and stay in hostels, where I met people from all around the world. Most of the guests were from Eastern Europe, Asia, and Australia, with very few Americans present. Although everyone was kind and welcoming, I noticed that many people held strong stereotypes about Americans. Some of these stereotypes were harmful, and I found myself often answering questions about topics I was not qualified to discuss, such as tariffs, school shootings, and international conflicts. On one occasion, I was even told that I didn’t look American due to my tan skin tone. While I understood that these questions came from a place of curiosity, it highlighted the challenges of being seen through the lens of stereotypes. It also made me realize how easy it is to oversimplify the culture and norms of a country that is not your own.
Despite the occasional awkwardness of these conversations, my time in hostels was amazing. No matter where we came from, everyone was there to travel and have new experiences. I learned as much from the other travelers I met as I did from the cities I visited.
Adiós!
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