The Return

“Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving.” — Terry Pratchett

Now that I have returned to my hometown in Michigan after studying abroad in Granada, Spain for six weeks, it all seems to have passed in the blink of an eye. Despite everything happening so quickly, those six weeks I spent adjusting to a new culture, away from my family and familiar routines, taught me independence and how to navigate new types of situations on my own. By stepping outside of my comfort zone, I learned to embrace change rather than letting it frighten me.

In the first blog post I made prior to leaving the United States, I explained how I had grown up always fearing change. If I could travel back in time to May, I wonder if I would even recognize the restless ball of nerves I was while waiting for my plane to take off. Although accepting change can be challenging, for anyone travelling abroad, I can recommend the following: 

1. Spend time out in nature — During my study abroad in Spain, my first class did not start until noon, so I developed a habit of going for a morning walk around the city every day. This became a comfortable part of my daily routine that I always looked forward to, and it gave me the chance to explore Granada and appreciate the beauty of the city. There were two routes that I would frequently repeat: a hike up past the Alhambra where I could see beautiful views of the mountains, as well as a peaceful walk along the Genil River (one of the main rivers in Granada). Each time, I found myself daring to venture out further and follow routes that extended off into the unknown, each new trail filling me with a rush of excitement and adventure.
2. Check-in regularly with friends and family back home — Everyone misses certain aspects from their home, so it is important to keep in touch with the people you are closest to. My family always loved when I would send pictures of the city and places that I visited, and even though I was thousands of miles away from everything familiar, I still felt connected online through messaging and sharing photos.
3. Participate in group activities and social events — I had the opportunity to meet a lot of new people during my study abroad, and despite being an introverted person, I found comfort in being surrounded by other people my age who were also experiencing the same challenges of living in a new country for the first time. I was extremely grateful for the amount of group activities that IES Abroad organized for students outside of class, and it was wonderful to make so many new connections.

Whether traveling to another country for a couple weeks or a full semester or year, this chapter of life passes so much faster than anyone could ever imagine. My recommendation is to relax and enjoy the experience, and focus on one moment at a time while it is happening. It is true that my time in Spain was short-lived, but I am certain that my experiences and the memories I made there will last a lifetime.