Lauren's Post Trip Reflection

I had such a wonderful, life changing experience on this trip. Not only was I able to immerse myself in the culture of Salamanca, Spain, take interesting classes completely in Spanish, and enhance my Spanish skills, but I also strengthened my friendship with my fellow Ursuline sisters and made new friendships in Salamanca, extending the borders of the United States.Going on fun excursions (such as paddle boating), learning new things outside of the university (the cooking class), and experiencing "normal" Spanish social culture (hanging out at the plaza and eating ice cream) truly opened my eyes to how different the world is outside of the U.S., and instead of categorizing these differences as "weird," "funny," or "strange," we should embrace it and celebrate our similarities instead. I felt so immersed into the Spanish culture that even after returning home, I found myself continuing the habits I had picked up in Spain from my host mother, such as wearing socks/shoes indoors at all times, taking a nap around 2:30 (the normal siesta time), and eating a larger lunch than dinner.I am so grateful for everything that I have learned. After this experience, I feel more culturally aware and eager to understand other customs and cultures as well! I am so glad I went!