Study Abroad Reflective Essay

        I was given the opportunity to study abroad in the spring semester of my sophomore year at Clemson (Spring 2023). I made the decision to study abroad in Seville, Spain. Seville is located in the Andalusia region of Spain. My education in Seville was through a third-party program called CEA CAPA Study Abroad that was affiliated with the University of New Haven. Initially, I was unsure of what to expect from the experience, but I was looking forward to the opportunity of learning and living in Seville. I went into the experience open minded, hoping to also gain cultural insight and life experiences. 

        After gaining my footing living in Seville, I was able to see and appreciate the cultural differences and similarities I was experiencing in comparison to back home. A major difference I encountered was the time of day meals happened. It was normal to have dinner around 9 pm which was something I had to get used to. As well as, the culture is more laid back and not in a rush. This I enjoyed, I feel like it taught me to be and live more in the present.  It was also normal at my internship for the hospital staff to take a breakfast break a few hours into the morning. This ended up being a special time because they welcomed us into their break room where we enjoyed pastries and café. Similarly to back home, there was a sense of community in the area and neighborhood I lived in. These new cultural norms I encountered allowed me to genuinely appreciate and respect differences. I learned that just because something is different doesn’t mean that it’s bad. Looking back it was a very refreshing experience, and I am glad I was able to immerse myself in a community that had many differences than the one back home I was used to.

        In Seville, I took four Spanish courses and worked around 150 hours at a local hospital, Clínica Santa Isabel. Having local professors and classes taught solely in Spanish helped me learn and become even more immersed. I learned a lot from my professors. They took us on local field trips and even to dinner. As for rotating through the departments at Clínica Santa Isabel, I acquired skills in a professional environment in addition to strengthening my cultural competency. These educational experiences were stepping stones for me to continue to be excited about pursuing a career in healthcare and continuing to want to broaden my horizons. 

        Overall, every aspect of my time in Seville and traveling to other areas and countries had a positive and large impact on me as a person. I learned how to be more independent, gained confidence, and gained a new level of trust within myself. I faced trivial trials like making new friends, being homesick, and the occasional feeling of not belonging, but all of those situations also brought me valuable lessons. Being able to study in Seville gave me a better appreciation for the idea that memories and experiences are priceless and experiencing the world can change your life.

        I will always think fondly of my time I got to spend in Seville. It’s a recurring thought of how much I would love to go back.  As I approach becoming a professional in healthcare and continuing to grow up, I will take with me all of the lessons I learned abroad.  The greater appreciation for other cultures, the knowledge I gained in my classes and at Clínica Santa Isabel, and the growth I had as an individual are all important things that will continue to accompany me.  Moving forward, I want to go through life and my career as open, wide eyed, and excited as I was getting onto the plane to go to Seville for the first time.