When I think of how to describe my experience studying abroad in Barcelona so far, humbling consistently comes to mind. The main reason I came was to level up my Spanish. After all the practice I had done back home, I felt that I had reached a plateau. I could easily express myself with natives and was doing well in my Spanish classes. Although I was fluent, I knew I still had weaknesses that could only be addressed through immersion.

The knowledge gaps that I used to get away with are constantly exposed in my daily life. Like when I navigate Mercadona and have to look up what different types of spices and foods are called. When I misuse words and belatedly realize my mistake. Having to ask people to repeat themselves, again and again. Not to be overly dramatic, but at the beginning, I felt like I had failed. I was too worried about what natives thought of my speaking abilities instead of just enjoying my time. This mindset was also counterproductive because it made me more nervous when approaching people. I shared my feelings with a friend, who encouraged me to give myself grace. 

My imperfect Spanish has allowed me to connect with so many interesting and open-minded people. I have been pleasantly surprised by how receptive local students have been, and incredibly grateful. Sometimes these connections have formed in unexpected ways. On the train, a few other exchange students and I were practicing our very rudimentary Catalan and caught the attention of a girl sitting beside us. She was pretty amused and interested in our backgrounds. Recently, we had lunch and shared more about our cultures and life stories. 

Two months in, I’m not nearly as discouraged by my mistakes. I’m more proud of my confidence and willingness to put myself out there, independent of my language skills. Years from now, my most fond memories won’t be about how I improved my Spanish, but who I was speaking with.