On a June day, I was waiting in line at Charlotte Douglas International airport with my heart racing and my palms sweating as I approached the TSA checkpoint. I had never been on a plane, and there I was, getting closer to traveling across the Atlantic to Spain with each step I took.  

I was alone; my family had said goodbye to me moments before, and the vacuum their absence left was filled with my anxiety. And yet, I had been preparing for this very moment for months. So, my stomach was a mixture of nerves—of excitement and of fear. 

I had learned of the Semester in Spain program the August prior to my trip from a student who had received the Gilman Scholarship, which provided the financial aid he needed to take advantage of studying abroad. His inspiring experience and the hope of a scholarship compelled me to imagine myself studying abroad in Spain and believe that it could really be possible.  

I have always been passionate about learning Spanish since my first class at eleven years old. As a young sixth grader, the idea that languages are merely sophisticated systems of sounds to which we assign meaning fascinated me. It was not until sophomore year at Anderson University, however, that my interest and proficiency in Spanish began to grow. Through the wonderful professors Dr. Arlette de Jesús and Dr. Krissie Butler, my love and knowledge of the language reached new heights. 

Studying abroad seemed a distant, unrealistic dream to me—something I would never be able to afford to do. Once the resources and opportunities available to me were illuminated, my determination was ignited. I had my doubts, of course. What if I did not receive the scholarship? Is my Spanish advanced enough to navigate through Spain as a student?  

But the experience studying abroad, from beginning to end, has taught me that reward cannot be reaped if a risk is not taken.  

So, I immediately started researching the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, the Semester in Spain (SIS) program, and setting up a meeting with the Center for Global Engagement. Dr. Ann-Margaret Themistocleous and others in the Center for Global Engagement office informed me of available financial aid and advised me on how to maximize my chances of receiving the Gilman Scholarship. Dr. Butler assured me that after taking Spanish 212, my foundational skills were enough to aid me in speaking and listening in Spain. Their encouragement kept me motivated along the way. 

After receiving the wonderful news that I had received the Gilman Scholarship and was accepted into the SIS program, the next challenge was obtaining a passport and plane tickets. And after that came the true challenge: trying to pack only a carry-on and book bag for my month-long trip.  

Moving up in line, these steps of the last few months were teeming in my mind. The anticipation leading up to my departure from the US was soon going to give way to the very experience I had been preparing for. There was nothing else to do but trust in the Lord and enjoy every minute of this wonderful experience.  

After over twelve hours of traveling, I landed in Sevilla, España. Taking a taxi from the airport to my host mom’s apartment, I conversed with the driver, unable to wait to begin practicing my Spanish. He was kind and friendly, telling me of the best places to visit in Sevilla, and exposing me to the genuine hospitality that many other Spaniards would extend to me throughout the next month. 

The immediate warm welcome from my host mom upon arrival made me feel at home. The first day or two, my comprehension skills were rusty, and the speed and accent of the Andalusians did not help. Day after day, however, I noticed my comfortability in the language growing, in both speaking and listening.  

The company surrounding me was unlike any other. From my sweet roommate to the other students in my cohort and the faculty at Trinity Christian College in Sevilla, my want for connection and support was never unmet.  

It is easy to cognitively understand that people all around the world live different lives than your own, but it is quite another to immerse yourself in another culture and perspective. There are personal, spiritual, academic, and professional benefits to living as a local in another country. Living with a host family provided me with this privilege—eating traditional food, admiring the historical architecture, and having meaningful conversations with others in Spanish.  

The SIS program included excursions to cities like Cádiz, as well as class trips to monumental places in Sevilla. The weekends also provided time to travel within or outside of Spain with other students in the program. With my newfound friends, I traveled to Madrid and Granada in Spain, and to Lagos, Portugal. Other students even took trips to Switzerland and France! 

The people I met, the sites I saw, and the history I learned exceeded what I could describe in this short blog. So many precious memories were created during my time in Spain, but there were moments of hardship as well. But I would not have changed my experience for anything (except perhaps to extend my stay much longer).  

The Student Ministries Coordinate, Sylvia Santoro, was one of the staff members who greatly enriched my experience in Spain. Before we left Sevilla, her message at the last worship night we held was bittersweet. She explained that although we may leave with a sad heart, we also leave changed for the better. Comparing us to houseplants, she explained that the pot we were rooted in when we arrived must be replaced by a larger one when we leave, for our roots have grown too large for the environment we were once in.  

On our last day in Sevilla, each of us listed the intangible things we would be bringing in our suitcase back to the US, something we had been thinking about since Sylvia’s message. And when I returned, I had packed the amazing friendships, culture, and knowledge in the suitcase of my heart. The only thing left to do is continue to unpack it for those around me.  

My plane touched down in Charlotte, North Carolina on a July day. I returned to the US as a different person, with more independence, confidence, experience, and thirst for adventure and knowledge. 

So, if you have ever wanted to study abroad, I would urge you to go for it—don’t hesitate. You would be surprised what is possible when you have the courage to take the first step. 

 

About the Gilman Scholarship 

The Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship is an international scholarship program run by the U.S. Department of State that enables students of limited financial means to study or intern abroad. Students must be receiving Federal Pell Grant at the time of application.
Scholarships up to $5,000 are awarded based on need, merit and program costs of recipients.  

To learn more, visit the Gilman Scholarship website.  

If you want to reach out to Rachel Morgan about her experience and advice for Gilman Scholarship applicants, you can email her at rmorgan103@andersonuniversity.  

Get connected with the AU Center for Global Engagement 

The Anderson University Center for Global Engagement directs short-term programs, mission trips, faculty-led experiential learning programs and semester-long programs. Anderson University has cooperative agreements so students can take part in semester-long programs in such countries as: Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, the Netherlands and Uganda.   

For more information, contact the Center for Global Engagement at studyabroad@andersonuniversity.edu or (864) 231-2141.