It was such a shock at first and it took me a couple of months to get accustomed to the way Spaniards think and act. Before I knew it, though, I was meeting people who think so differently than me, and yet we were always able to find something in common that would make us talk for hours. Now, I do not know how I am going to get used to a culture other than this one! The most important thing this journey has taught me, is that it is important to keep learning, and not get too comfortable or complacent.
Traveling around other countries, looking at and learning about their unique cultures and histories, I realized there is still so much work we need to do to improve society. For example, in Hungary, I was shocked to be told that talking about politics in the street can be punishable by jail time. I now look at both my homeland, which is experiencing one of its hardest periods in history, and at my own college-town and feel never been more motivated to offer my services to either of these places on my return. This might mean recycling a little bit more, or helping out in a homeless shelter; any ways, large or small, that I can make both of these places better is now really important to me in a way I could not see before my trip.
If you are wondering whether to travel abroad, or even study in another state or city, you should! Even if it's sometimes hard to be far from home, traveling is an investment that will pay off through the rest of your life. It makes you appreciate your own culture and roots, as well as the new ones you encounter. Thank you Madrid! And thank you, Breathitt County!
