Outcome

I learned a couple of things from my study aboard experience and I know for a fact that I’ll be able to use it again. One thing learn from my experience is the language of course. I basically came on this trip not knowing anything compared to the culture. When I first landed in Spain the language barrier had a pretty drastic gap from theirs and mine. I could tell that it was going to be difficult to speak to people in Valencia just buy listening to people and reading store names and billboards. While being here I learn a lot of new words that’s even different to American Spanish. When I get back to the US I know I can communicate with a different race in their language. Also, I know companies are really impressed with the employees knowing different languages for the company’s benefits. Another thing I picked up on is how to speak to the women out. Let’s say I want to communicate with a woman for company, its totally different then the US because I noticed that everyone love eye contact. You have to make eye contact with them in order to capture their attention to begin the mission of conversing. Trying that back at home can spark up a new form of getting anybody attention. Maybe some people wouldn’t think it’s weird and somewhat think it’s attractive. Third thing I learned is make sure you have every bit of information is right for anything such as bus, metro cards, and anything else. We struggled for weeks getting these transportation cards working for our usage. It seems like no one knew what we need because of miscommunication and lack of information.

My educational background did not help what so ever in this study aboard experience. The knowledge I obtained was nowhere close to the actual field work and equipment I was using. My educational background only helped with formulas and the unit system. The equipment was over my knowledge because the classes I taken wasn’t a high level courses. The impact was really intense and beyond my intelligent from classes. I felt so lost when the equipment arrived and my mentor was telling me about the equipment in use and how I was

going to use them. The first day was difficult because the learning of all this new technology and information was overwhelming. I knew from that day, I wasn’t skilled and prepared for the projects at hand. As my mentor talked on about the technology I began to panic thinking I wasn’t going to do well and not be able to contribute anything. Reading the manuals and articles helped out more than I expected and now have more knowledge to add. Everything I learned before the study aboard experience wasn’t able to help and prepare me.

I know my educational training is good but wasn’t prepared for the educational training I learned over the five weeks. I basically started from the bottom and climb my way up and over each challenge. Educational wise, a challenge I encounter was lack of knowledge on the technology and equipments. I haven’t seen or heard of any of the equipment I used or anyone else’s as well. I expected the job would be more out of the office and in the field to see what happens. I attend a couple of field trips which I seen my international mentor at work. I expected for the project would be more of a design based method. I thought the work experience would’ve been all work and no fun between the men-tees

and the mentors but I was wrong about that. A challenge I encounter was the language barrier between the international mentor and I. I know my mentor expected for me to know more Spanish than I actually knew. There were some phrases and words he could say in English or pronounce correctly but overall he was a great English speaker compared to most people.

Social Identity

I see this experience very beneficial for me in many ways. I’m kind of happy I got accepted and came for this study aboard internship for this experience. Everything here is so different from what I imagined and heard about Valencia. Then again when people talk about Spain they never really said a specific place they visit but I went along with believing they was discussing about Valencia because I was coming here. Everyone back at home had me thinking it was so beautiful, exciting, amazing place to go but when I landed I got different vibe from what they was saying. Some of the places in Valencia are very beautiful but I was expecting everything to be that way. I expected five star buildings with gorgeous flowers in the front, nice historical artifacts everywhere, beautiful scene of the city in every direction, more amazing houses and less apartments. I couldn’t wait to see things like that and try to get pictures of every sight. There are some places like I expected with beautiful flowers like the sidewalk by the mall and by the Ferris wheel towards the center of the city. Also, I noticed nice buildings in other locations of Valencia but only from a metro ride and far away distance. I expected to have cheaper prices for most things but it’s the opposite. The prices for most things are higher than the US if not the same price but certain things like candy, drinks, fruits and other necessities are very cheap to get. I thought everyone would be dressed up on the streets, very kind, and talkative with foreigners. I expected everyone to speak English more than what I’ve been hearing.  Majority of the citizens I ran into speak only Castilian and hard for them to understand me when speak Spanish. They speak so fast and with a lisp which makes it much harder for me to even keep up with every word. Honestly, in the area I stay at its smells really bad because everyone walking dogs which lead to waste is excreted on the sidewalk, streets, and poles. One day Toul, Abin and I were walking to search for a restaurant to comer their delicious sustenance. As we walk down the grey brick road searching for some food, all we did was sniff and look at each other with disgusted faces. The entire search for a restaurant we smelled nothing but dog excretion from the house to restaurant and back. It’s a lot of public display of affection and sexual
exposure here as well. I caught so many people, even the same sex making out hardcore. The beach is one of the main places where sexual exposure is noticed by everyone walking around topless but I’m not complaining. Also, I saw a couple of inappropriate cards for very inappropriate things but support safe sex too. 

It’s a lot differences but it’s a lot of similarities in culture too.

But right now I’m going to talk about the attitude.

Most of the people here are very rude.

Like one time some guy ran into me and I was like “dude.”

I really thought that was real crude.

That experience happened in Valencia and back home.

It happened by all people, especially ones on the phone.

I turn around to say something but they was already gone.

So I just brushed it off and left it alone.

Everywhere I go it seems like people do that.

Back at home they even do that and get an attitude back.

Taking they anger out on me and calling me a brat.

But I only think they do that because I’m black.

Let me talk about the other side, I don’t want to be neglectful.

But there are people that are very respectful.

In Valencia we ran into people that were actually helpful.

Like the time we the tram derailed and things started to get stressful.

But a man came alone and saved our mental.

Come to think about it, it was very coincidental.

The kindness is the same in the states.

Like my old advisor at school, her name is Mrs. Spates.

Without her I wouldn’t make it through the gates.

Or like being in Spain without Ariel to translate.

She went out her way to help me out.

We had to go through things that had me beyond doubts.

From the start to finish she went all out.

The difference in the attitude kind of drives me insane.

But from my view it’s basically the same.