I've traveled a lot in recent years, but I've always called Arkansas home. While I've had some incredible experiences, they've all been relatively short, and they're all referent to my 19 years in the Natural State. And if I'm being honest with myself, maybe that's the reason I decided to come here, to leave everything behind (at least for a little while) and discover a life I could never live at home. I chose to walk down this road and take advantage of an opportunity many people never get to have. And, after two months here, I know that I'll never be the same Philip that I was in December.
With that in mind, I told myself that when I stepped off the plane in Madrid, I would be ready and willing to soak in as much as possible. And my goodness, has it paid off. Most of my friends here are other international students, but very few are actually from the USA. I think that's a real advantage for me because I've gotten to talk American politics with Europeans (especially my German friend, Laura). I'm amazed by the understanding and awareness that they have for what's going on in our political world--sometimes more than I do myself. It's also really interesting to hear the European perspective on our politics over the past several years (the War in Iraq, George Bush in general, Obama's term, the upcoming election, etc.)
I love the opportunities that I get to talk to Spaniards about anything and everything (it's surprisingly rare--at least for me.). Not only do I get the chance to use my Spanish, but I also learn about Spanish culture while sharing a little bit of my own background. It's probably one of my favorite parts of this experience. There's always something to learn, always something to share. And as I get closer to people from all all parts of the world, it just reaffirms my belief that all of us are essentially the same. Despite all of our cultural differences (and honestly, those seem pretty insignificant to me now), we can all come together and become really good friends.
I tell you all this because I think that, so far, keeping an open mind has kept me from feeling an overwhelming sense of the dreaded Culture Shock. As a matter of fact, I think readjusting to the USA will be harder than it was coming here. I have become accustomed to a new way of living--a world of massive networks of public transportation, afternoon siestas that close down entire towns (but not Madrid, mind you), and the metric system--and I don't know how easy it will be to leave it behind. I guess it won't really be left behind though. This a journey that's shaping the way I see the world, and I will carry it with me forever.
--Philip
If you enjoyed this post, you can find more of my experiences on my own blog.
