My Affinity for Spanish
I’ve been studying Spanish for as long as I can remember. At first it started out as just a class that I was forced into, but it quickly became much, much more; and it didn’t take long for me to realize that I was very good at this thing called “foreign languages” which was all but a foreign concept to me. But it wasn’t until high school that I realized that I could actually do something with Spanish. I found out about this thing called IU Honors, or IUHPFL, which is best described as this two-month immersive study abroad program (literally the stuff of fantasies). I made it my goal, my dream, to do this. So, a long two years later, I find myself dead set on applying to this program (because you had to be at least 16 to go). I go through the application process, which is more rigorous than applying to most colleges, and every step along the way, I get more and more excited; but also more and more nervous because the stakes are so high. Finally, the day comes where I hear back about my results, and I was pretty confident I got it, I just didn’t know where. I open the email, and it says “Congratulations! You have been accepted to study in Oviedo, Spain this summer.” There we go, the end of the beginning. What the hell is an Oviedo? Nevertheless, I am excited because this will have been the first time I had ever been out of the country; nothing could stop me from enjoying this.
Orientation Day.
This is exactly what the first day of High School felt like, the nervous excitement of finding out who I am going to spend two whole months with, and I get a brother?? I couldn’t contain myself. We walk into orientation and it’s this big lecture hall filled with IU Honors students who are going to places like France, Mexico, Chile, China, Germany, and Oviedo. Finally the moment I had been waiting for for over two months. We get to meet our groups and it is full of 34 of my soon-to-be best friends for the next two months. Our professors, or “profes” as we affectionately call them, introduce themselves, but to my surprise as well as many others, we are going to only be speaking Spanish for the next four hours! It was about as big of a train-wreck as you could imagine, but then again, it was supposed to be. I was taught a vital lesson today: I am capable of stumbling my way through Spanish, and this is the best way to improve. I also caught a glimpse of the personality of everyone I would call my best best friends.
The Flight.
So tomorrow is the big day, the one I have been counting down for every day since Orientation. My body was flooding with all sorts of emotions: excitement for what’s ahead, but also nervousness and sadness for what I’m leaving behind; yet I know this will be the single most defining experience of my life, and that is what keeps me moving forward. I don’t sleep a wink that night, and my family drives me to the airport to give me a grand farewell. I have all but forgotten what my profes and fellow adventurers looked like, but it’s not an issue because we are all wearing the same unforgettable green-blue shirt with big white letters that say “IUHPFL” all across the chest. I look around and see 33 people with the faces clearly suggesting the same mixed emotions that I had.
We say long good-byes to our families, whom we will not see for 2 whole months. You can tell that most of us probably hadn’t spent more than a week at a time away from our family; this was the ultimate test. If you knew me at all, you would know that I absolutely abhorred to be away from my family; I once left a 3 day camping outing 2 days early because I missed my parents.
And so we went, through security and towards are gate, catching a brief glimpse of our families along the way. As soon as we were out of sight, the worries fleeted in an instant. We started getting to know each other as quickly as we could because as soon as we landed in Madrid, it was no more English for two months. Why did we need to have a 2 hour layover in Dallas? I just wanted to get there already.
We take off from Indy, and land in Dallas. One step closer to the sacred Spanish soil. Our layover is only two hours, so we make the best of it. Two hours later, two more hours; and then another three. The droning layover that will never end; the only benefit: we get more time to speak English. Finally, we board our flight and we say good-bye to America. The most exhilarating, yet difficult, flight of my life; 9 hours of pure energy. I was anxious because I noticed that I wasn’t sitting next to any of my new friends, but that’s okay, that’s what the next two months are for.
Finally we did it. We’re here. Estamos aquí. No puedo más. Adiós inglés.
One Comment
susan
Loved this post on your blog. You really provided wonderful insight into your thoughts and feelings. As I read this, this was the real beginning of your travel adventures which are not subsiding soon! I look forward to hearing about some of your travel experience details too! Thanks!