While I do not regret the decision to apply for Fulbright and embrace all that Spain has to offer, integrating into my host-country’s community has definitely had its ups and downs. Two areas in particular that posed unique challenges to me and have helped me strengthen my adaptability skills are that of race and family and friends.
The topic of race is a particular cultural difference that has affected me during my integration into the community here. As I have learned here in Spain, people of color, like myself, are often times exoticized. Individuals may address a person of color by calling them “mulata,” “morena,” or “negra,” rather than their name. There is also less community consensus that the “N-word” is unacceptable to say, even if it is in a song.
Back home, I am a racial minority and have experienced all that being a racial minority bears. While no method is always successful, opening a dialogue has proven more useful to me than responding aggressively. In some situations, I might try to manage my emotions if the person seems apologetic or embarrassed. In others, I might simply permit another to treat me differently based on my race.
