Tour Guide or Tourist?

Kirsten King is studying abroad with API in Madrid, Spain and is a regular contributor to our Tumblr blog.

When I decided I wanted to study abroad in Madrid, one of the most exciting aspects of this city was the fact that it held an enormous international airport. I felt like the world was at my fingertips, and just one inexpensive flight away. So many of my friends that have studied in Europe have talked about their exciting travels to other countries. However, as time has passed I found myself wanting to travel less, and wanting to be in “my city” more.

The amazing part about study abroad is you are not just “on vacation” in a different country; you are truly living there. You become completely immersed in the language, food, and every day life of that place you are living. I find such satisfaction in feeling so at home in my daily routines like taking the metro, or doing my homework in a local coffee shop. And don’t even get me started on how excited I get when people ask ME for directions.

For Thanksgiving, my parents came to Madrid to visit me and explore the city. The two weekends before their visit I stayed in Madrid. I began taking long walks and exploring new neighborhoods and places. I was nervous for my parents to come; I wanted to make sure I took them to all the most important and exciting places this city has to offer. I wanted to be a tour guide rather than a tourist.

When they got here, it felt like the ultimate test. My parents don’t speak a word of Spanish, and though parts of Madrid can very touristy, many people do not speak any English. I took on the role of translator, tour guide, and food connoisseur. I felt confident in my speech and happy that I knew exactly where I wanted to take them and what I wanted to show them. One afternoon, I brought them to my host mom’s apartment where she had generously prepared a large traditional Spanish meal. My host mom doesn’t speak a word of English, so I was responsible for relaying what she wanted to say to them and vis versa. Of course there were a couple of times I stumbled on pronunciation or words, but it was amazing to be able to bridge the language gaps of two groups of people from completely different cultural backgrounds. We talked about the differences in our cultures, politics, every day life and about the things we shared in common. It was a great feeling having my family meet my host mom, someone who now feels like an extended part of my family.

I feel like if I had spent almost every weekend traveling, which was my original intention when coming to Europe, the weekend I spent with my family I would have gone very differently. I would have felt like just another tourist, and not a tour guide. It is definitely important to travel and discover new places and cultures when studying abroad, just try not to forget about your “home” country, too. I have a month left in this amazing city, and I wouldn’t trade a second spent in a coffee shop, on the metro, or at local museum for a moment spent in another county. If you are a person who is from Madrid you are deemed a “madrileño” or madrileña, for girls. Though I know I am not technically “from” Madrid, and I’ll always be a Boston girl, Madrid will always feel like home in a way now. I’d like to think part of me has become a madrileña.

A lesson on being where your feet are…

My father is the type of person that used an Atlas map as his primary means for navigation over a GPS until about a year ago. He’s the type of person that keeps that same Atlas map in the backseat of his car in the off chance that the GPS tries to drive us into the Atlantic Ocean. I remember as a child whenever we drove to a new place I would sit in the back with an Atlas map that was bigger than me, shouting out what I thought was the most direct route to our intended destination. I always thought my father to be somewhat old-fashioned. When I first arrived to Spain I laughed at his confusion as he held his iPad up to his nose and rivaled in the fact that we were talking “face-to-face” (or in my case, nose-to-face), while I was on a different continent. However, as the time has passed in Spain, I have begun to realize that perhaps my father is less old-fashioned, and wiser than I realized. Before I left for Spain, I was self-admittedly addicted to technology. I had all the gadgets: iphone, MacBook, iPod; and all the social media: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr, Pintrest, Gmail. You name it and I probably had it. Being in a foreign country, unless you are willing to spend thousands a month on phone-bills (which I’m not), you have to break this technological addiction, and put down your phone.

I have been pleasantly surprised with how little I have missed mobile technology. Of course there has been a few times where having Google maps would have been immensely helpful. But instead of relying on my phone, I have been forced to have conversations with Spanish people to ask for directions. Sure, there have been a few mishaps; for example: asking where “Tierra” was in Spanish, and later realizing that Tierra is not only a burrito restaurant in Madrid, but also means “earth” in Spanish (which explains why some people pointed to the ground). Despite a little confusion, not having my phone has encouraged me to interact with the world and people around me. When I want to go to a new place, my map of Madrid and Metro map are my best friends. It brings me back to the long car rides with my Dad, trying to find the most direct route and making an adventure of the trip instead of the destination. Being abroad has truly helped me to learn how to “be where my feet are”. By this, I mean I feel like while I am out and about here, I am disconnected from the distractions of technology, and focused on the present and what I am experiencing at the moment. I feel like I can stand in Parque del Retiro in Madrid, and feel content where I am, and enjoy the company I stand with.

Of course I am not completely disconnected, as Internet allows me to keep in contact with my loved ones at home. While I’m in my homestay I have the beautiful ability to Skype my little brother, message my best friends, and share photos with loved ones thousands of miles away. I can already confirm that going abroad has been one of the best decisions I have made to-date. I have learned so much about myself, and one of the most important lessons is in being where my feet are. While I am walking on the beaches of Santander, I am not “liking” a status, or tweeting; I am walking on the beaches of Santander. When I am in the Prado learning about El Greco, I am relishing in the fact that I am standing in front of one of the greatest artist’s works, not re-pinning a post. I am where my feet are today.

Kirsten King is studying abroad with API in Madrid, Spain and is a regular contributor to our Tumblr blog.

My study abroad “moment”

It is my opinion that most people that study abroad have a “moment” before they leave. This hypothetical “moment” is the instance where you ask yourself what the heck you were thinking leaving everything and everyone you knew behind, to live in a completely foreign place without the comforts of your home. For some people it might happen when you’re packing your suitcase. (Note: Don’t over-pack! Wearing a shirt more than once is less embarrassing than your suitcase taking you out at baggage claim.) Other people might have the “moment” when they are driving to the airport, or saying goodbye to friends or family. For me, I didn’t think I would have this freak out “moment.” Before my departure date I had remained calm, cool, and collected. Then it happened.

I was about three hours into my flight to Madrid when my flight attendant stopped at my aisle with tray of food. She then asked me “prefieres bistec, o pollo?” (Translation: do you prefer steak or chicken?) My heart started to beat fast, and though I understood the question, I was immediately overwhelmed. “Uh..chicken…I mean, pollo.” I responded frantically. I started anxiously looking around at other people on my plane, expecting them to exchange understanding looks with the seemingly crazy and overtired girl staring at them. But instead I received in return only blank stares, and the soft snoring of the women next to me. How could she sleep at a time like this? I thought to myself bitterly. (Note: If possible get an aisle seat, there is nothing more awkward than trying to sneak past a sleeping person to get to the bathroom.)

Despite the mini panic attack on the plane, it was nothing some emergency chocolate and third eye blind couldn’t fix. Before I knew it, I was in Madrid, meeting my amazing API directors, and the friends I would be spending the next four months with. Everyone was in the same position as I was: nervous as ever and anxious to make friends. Now I sit in my beautiful homestay reminiscing on how ridiculously scared I was that first day, and I can’t help but smile. I have only been in Spain for about two weeks and I have already met some of the most interesting people, and experienced so many new things culturally. (I also might be three or four pounds heavier than two weeks ago; Spanish food is too good!)

I remember how terrified I felt leaving the people I had relied on for so long. While home, if I got lost or needed anything I could always just call my parents or friends. Part of the reason I chose to go abroad through a program and to a place where I didn’t know anyone was because I wanted to gain independence. I wanted to have the confidence and self-assurance to encounter a problem and solve it independently. There are so many things I could say about the people I have met, and the places I have gone. However, the most shocking thing I have noticed about myself is how self-reliant I have become. Going abroad is scary for many people; there isn’t really a way around that. Conquering that fear of the unknown and accepting that your not going to have all the answers has been the key to success for my abroad experience thus far. If you get lost in the metro and don’t have to be anywhere at a certain time, take a walk—explore a new neighborhood. If you have no clue what the food that’s sitting in front of you is, close your eyes and try it—you might just like it. If your worried about how ridiculous your Spanish accent is, keep trying—eventually you’ll be able to roll those r’s. And maybe you will make a few little mistakes, maybe even get lost a time or two; but I have found that in these imperfect situations come some of the most perfect moments.

Kirsten King is studying abroad with API in Madrid, Spain and is a regular contributor to our Tumblr blog.