Author: kstenson

Though I’ve only been in Madrid for a week and a half, I’ve greatly enjoyed getting to explore the city and experience Spanish culture. I’ve learned a bit about the government thanks to Sunday’s regional elections, tried tortilla de patata, and (finally) overcome the 9-hour jet lag. 

Madrid has a rather extensive Metro system, which I use each morning to get from my student residence to the school. This in and of itself was rather new to me, as my home city of Los Angeles is not exactly known for its public transportation. However, on my first morning of classes, I was made even more uncomfortable by the feeling that several people were looking me up and down as I got on. I immediately became nervous, wondering if my clothes were somehow inappropriate or I had committed some behavioral faux pas that marked me as a foreigner. 

A couple days later, one of my teachers happened to mention that in Spain, it’s not really considered rude to look at strangers the way it is in the United States. When I told her about my experience on the Metro, she said that was rather normal, especially considering that I have red hair and light-colored eyes (I think I have yet to see another redhead here). Hearing that helped me a lot, and now I think the experience is a funny story, despite how insecure and out of place I felt in the moment.

Although the incident was rather uncomfortable, I think it was an interesting way to learn about a cultural difference in terms of societal norms or expectations. In the U.S., I’m used to a general understanding that you shouldn’t usually look strangers up and down (so when it does happen, there’s probably something out of the ordinary). Also, I don’t think I was expecting to stand out physically so much – it’s been a while since I’ve felt like my hair was so unusual. Using the onion metaphor of culture, I think this encounter reflects a belief or attitude from a middle layer that influences outward behavior (something I could perceive immediately). Now, I not only understand another subtle aspect of Spanish culture, but also feel more confident in my ability to handle these kinds of situations. Though I recognize how much I still have to learn, I’m realizing that experience – even when a bit uncomfortable – is sometimes the best teacher.

As my departure for Madrid draws closer, I feel both excited and nervous. As a naturally more introverted person, I’m admittedly a bit apprehensive about jumping into an entirely unfamiliar situation all by myself. My only real experience abroad is from one family trip to Ireland five years ago, so I now find myself wondering about everything from currency exchanges to outlet adapters. 

However, I’m also very excited to immerse myself in a new culture and have the opportunity to try new activities, sample new foods, and meet new friends. I’m eager to take advantage of what I know will be a once in a lifetime experience. Though I grew up in the suburbs of Los Angeles, where my schools were relatively diverse and many different cultural groups surrounded me, I’ve rarely ventured far beyond my comfort zone (and especially the country) to truly put myself in a situation where I am the cultural outsider, experiencing something completely unfamiliar. Despite my nerves, I am excited to not only pursue Spanish language fluency, but also experience the beauty, history, art, and lifestyle of Spain. 

I hope to come to a better awareness of the differences between my own culture and those I come in contact with and the ways they influence people’s beliefs, values, and customs. Though I often tend to focus more on the common principles that span across cultures, I think that appreciating intercultural differences with an open mind and positive attitude can be valuable in understanding both my own and others’ worldviews.

I hope to push myself to fully engage both with the local community and my international classmates, who will provide the opportunity to learn about other cultures in addition to the one I’ll be living in. I would like to grow my confidence and competence not only for international experiences, but also for any new and unfamiliar challenges and opportunities that might come my way. I am excited to embrace all that this experience has to offer and aim to enter it with an open mind for whatever it might bring, even the unexpected.