by Paige Fisher| Strategic Communications and Professional Writing | Class of 2024
Academic Term of Essay Subject: Spring Semester 2022
I knew that I wanted to study abroad ever since I could remember. Experiencing and living in a different culture, I wanted to immerse myself and take advantage of this incredible opportunity. I arrived in Sevilla, Spain, not knowing what to expect. I looked all around, and it was very different than I could have imagined. On the way to school every day, I walked across a bridge built in 1852, I passed people taking pictures and admiring the view, and it was at that moment I realized I wanted to learn more about what it is like to be a local. On the far side of the bridge sat a man selling his homemade candied nuts. Every day, I would pass and not see any customers. It would just be him making candied nuts.
Every day, I gave him a quick wave as I walked by. He would look up and smile. After about a month, he greeted me with a friendly “hola” every time I saw him. I had never purchased any nuts because I was not confident in my Spanish speaking skills. I finally got the courage to buy some nuts. My speaking was not good at all, and he spoke no English. I realized that this language barrier prevented me from fully immersing myself in the culture, even though it was the most basic act of purchasing nuts. That day, I committed to persevering through these awkward interactions. From that day on, I continued having these conversations almost every day. Each interaction slowly increased, and I saw my confidence in my Spanish speaking abilities slowly emerge. We talked about my day at school, and he would share information about his life, local customs, and activities happening around us. He also told me to study hard because he did not go to college and had been running the stand for the past fourteen years.
The day before I left Sevilla, I walked across the bridge and did not see the stand. I had come to expect, anticipate and enjoy my interactions and felt disappointed if I could not say goodbye. It was evident at that moment that the cultural immersion that I had been hoping for had become a reality. I stopped by later that day, and he still was not there. On my last day, I walked across the bridge, scanning the other side, hoping to see the nut stand. I saw it as I crossed the bridge, and I can still remember the relief I felt. We shared our last conversation, a brief hug, and a photo. What had begun as merely passing by had developed into a cherished daily moment.
*First prize, Transformative Cultural Experiences at Miami, Abroad, or Away