By Marley Vawter
During the most amazing summer of my life, I got to live in Granada, Spain and do things I never dreamed of. Although I learned a lot of Spanish, how to navigate a foreign city and more, I learned that no matter where you go, public relations skills can get you anywhere. There were so many times that I was confused and out of my comfort zone. However, what I realized was that no matter where you go, people are people.
You must try.
I will always remember the first weekend that I was in Granada, laying on my bed crying because I felt like I was never going to be able to keep up with my host family. I would listen to them and comprehend maybe one word of the conversation, if I was lucky. I decided to call my parents, who told me what I already knew: “You have to try, fail, and try again.” That’s exactly what I did. Even though there were many moments where my host mom had no idea what I was saying and vice versa, we figured it out.
While I learned how to communicate better in Spanish, I also learned that if I wanted to do something, I just had to do it. Often I stop myself because I don’t know where to start or I’m scared to fail. The best thing I did for myself in Spain was put my pride away. I had to accept that I wasn’t going to be able to master my Spanish skills overnight.
Kindness Goes a Long Way
People always talk about how important it is to be kind to people. It’s one of those phrases you hear growing up like “brush your teeth, say thank you and eat your vegetables.” Until I studied abroad, I didn’t realize just how much kindness could affect your life. I had the best experience traveling and I owe it all to the people that I met along the way. It truly taught me how much my actions affect others. From being nice enough to give directions, to helping someone communicate in a foreign language and even smiling at a stranger, kindness is something people remember. One of my favorite quotes from Maya Angelou is, “People won’t remember what you said or did, they will remember how you made them feel.” This rings true no matter if you’re studying abroad or practicing PR at an agency.
Change the Way You Think
Learning about a culture different than the American culture I was used to taught me how to think outside my comfort zone. Some things took a while, like why does everyone walk so slowly, why does the waiter never come back to the table and does anyone in Spain sleep? Eventually though, I began to see the benefits in the Spanish lifestyle like walking slow and enjoying the scenery, waiters leave you alone to appreciate your company and Spaniards sleep during their daily “siesta.” Sarah Han of the Department of International Cooperation at the Korean Council for University Education says, “long-term experience in other cultures has a tendency to help one think objectively about oneself and one’s home country, tolerate differences, and recognize and appreciate diversity.” Those are very important skills for any PR student to have.
Overall, I think about my time abroad every day. As cheesy as it sounds, it changed my life. I think it’s important to note that you don’t have to study abroad to get out of your comfort zone and to grow as a person. Volunteer for things you are scared of, ask questions when you’re confused and above all remember to try. It can take you to some amazing places.
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