Harvey Scholar Travels- Amanda G. in Spain

I spent my fall semester studying at the University of Oviedo in Spain. Oviedo is the capital of the Principality of Asturias, located 20 minutes from the coast. This area of Spain is known for it’s incredible natural features and geography. Oviedo itself is not a very international city. I was happy with this aspect because I was able to see authentic Spanish culture and also was forced to practice Spanish more often, as many adults that I encountered around the city spoke very little English. Despite difficulties with classes and getting adjusted, the semester turned out to be a great experience.

While the locals were mostly Spanish, the university had a large population of international students who were participating in their exchange program from all across the world. I was happy to find myself spending time with a very diverse group of students who brought new insights from many different cultures and backgrounds. Specifically, my two roommates were both from Italy. They taught me so much about their lifestyle and culture, and most importantly I realized how strong of a connection people can share despite language barriers and differences in nationalities.

One of the highlights of the semester was getting to try all the cuisine that the Principality of Asturias is known for. Two of my favorite things I tried were the cider and the fabada. The cider there is very distinct and unlike anything I had tasted, but I grew to love it. The best part of the cider is the tradition that surrounds it. A bottle of cider is shared amongst a group of people, with only a few glasses that are passed around. The bottle is held very high above the glass while it is being poured, in order to aerate the cider and give it some fizz as it splashes against the glass. With that, only a small bit of the glass is filled because whoever is next in line the drink is expected to finish the glass it all in one gulp. At first it was strange to see and didn’t make the most sense sanitation-wise, but the fun of the experience made it all worth it. Also, the fabada is a large type of bean and it’s typically served in a soup with chorizo and vegetables. The famous foods and drinks in Oviedo are not the typical Spanish ones that most would think of, but are very unique to the region and absolutely delicious.

Another very valuable experience was helping two young local girls practice their english. They were seven and nine years old and knew a good amount of English to begin with. So my job was to meet with them for two hours every week to simply speak with them, play word games, and teach them about American culture. It was very enjoyable work but also posed several challenges. I constantly had to show a high level of energy to keep their attention, and think of new games that were fun but also focused heavily on speaking and that helped them effectively learn new words. I am very grateful that I was able to help the girls improve their english and that I was able to have such a positive first experience teaching. The girls and their parents were all such lovely people and really made me feel welcomed into their home and family.

As well as my experiences in Oviedo, I was able to travel outside of the Principality of Asturias and see many other cities in Spain including Santiago de Compostela, Madrid, Barcelona, Léon, San Sebastián and more. A personal goal I met during this semester was running my first ever half marathon. I trained for about two and a half months and then ran it in the beautiful coastal city of San Sebastián. Throughout the semester I also had the pleasure of visiting a few other European countries. I visited Portugal, France, Switzerland, Belgium and the Netherlands. Each trip was filled with new experiences and gave me a better taste for the contrasting cultures among European countries. I really hope to return to Spain someday and also have the chance to adventure around Europe even more.

                                                                    San Sebastián                                              Lisbon, Portugal

                                                       A Coruña                       Amsterdam, Netherlands               Brussels, Belgium