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Study abroad
Earlier this school year, I had to write a paper in my English class about one of my fears. I finally thought of a fear that had been haunting me for several months. The thought of flying to Spain unaccompanied by my parents had been worrying me ever since the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. Even before the tragedy occurred, I worried about getting lost in an airport and getting stranded in a strange country.
After the Sept. 11 attacks, I´m sure that many other kids asked the same questions: To travel or not to travel? Are the planes safe? And what about the worries of being homesick, leaving your loved ones behind and having to be responsible for yourself?
But my trip had been planned for several months. And you know what? I made it to Spain! Yeah, I cried at the airport while saying goodbye to my parents, I’ll admit. But many airlines offer services for unaccompanied minors (mine did). They walked me to my next flight and made sure that I didn’t get lost, which definitely helped put my mind at ease. (I don’t know about you, but getting lost in a huge airport in a foreign country is not my idea of fun.)
Living in Spain (or in any foreign country, I’m sure) is so incredibly different than living in the United States. I had never been out of the U.S. for more than a week, so living in Spain totally opened my eyes and my mind to other ways of life.
First of all, Spain was gorgeous.
Everywhere you look, there are reddish mountains looming in the distance and never-ending blue skies. I lived with a family that owns a lemon farm on a mountain (fondly called “El Limonar”) right outside the city of Murcia in southeastern Spain. Family is very important to Spaniards. The family I lived with had at times four generations living in one house!
Good home cooking is also a staple of Spanish life. Although McDonalds, Burger King and Pizza Hut have snuck their way into Spanish culture, they play limited roles. Every day, the family comes home from work or school to eat “la comida” together around 2 or 3 in the afternoon. The food is delicious: paella, gazpacho and tortilla were some of my favorites. Meals, unlike how they are commonly in the United States, are not simply to refill your energy so you can rush off to the next activity. Meals are activities in themselves. The family talks about their day, the news, their lives...Meals can go on for hours!
My favorite part of Spanish life is EL BAILE!! (That’s Spanish for gettin’ your groove on!) I took salsa-dancing lessons at a pub in Murcia while I was there, and it was some of the most fun I’ve ever had in my life. Did I mention that the lessons started at 12 o’clock? And I don’t mean in the afternoon—I mean at midnight. Because Spanish culture has a built-in nap time in the middle of the afternoon, Spaniards (especially on the weekends) usually don’t go to bed until 2 or 3 in the morning.
I’ve also fallen in love with Spanish music. Although the music is new, popular music, it incorporates age-old Spanish salsa and flamenco beats and rhythms. Spanish people love to dance, and they do it quite well. Hopefully I’ve picked up some of the cool and tricky moves!
Traveling to a foreign country is the experience of a lifetime. Through these experiences, you can learn a new language, experience a new culture and make memories that you will never forget. It opens your eyes to the world.
Living with a family in a foreign country is the best way to do it, in my opinion. Your hosts are the experts about where they live, so who better to show you around? Sure, it might seem a little scary. But if you are lucky enough to get the chance to travel by yourself to a foreign country, take the opportunity! Trust me, it will teach you something about the world and growing up.
Katie Macpherson is an intern for The Next Step Magazine. Article provided by 
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