And just like that these past 4 months have come and gone!
These past 4 months have been quite an experience. During my time I was able to
really enjoy Europe to its fullest. I was able to go back to and visit familiar
places that truly left an impact on who I have become. I have been able to
spend an amazing time in Spain, where I was able to learn and expand my
knowledge of Spanish. As well as being able to practice my Italian and
Portuguese during my trips to Italy and Portugal. It allowed me to actually learning how to try and balance the different
languages. The friendships I have made, and remade are going to hold an
important place in my heart for the years to come. My knowledge of the
Spanish culture has been able to expand quite a bit! Especially learning
that things like Paella and Flamenco are not a typical Spanish thing in all
parts of Spain, though tapas still seems to be quite universal. I was able to
experience two very important holidays in Sevilla, and major parts of southern
Spain. These being Feira and Semana Santa. The opportunities I have been able
to partake in such as visiting special traditional activities, such as not only experiencing Feira of Sevilla but also that of Puerto and visiting a small town which is
famous for its grotto, but not a top place for foreigners to visit, have truly
been incredible experiences. All my travels I have partaken in also have been
quite incredible time, especially my trips back to Bologna, Italy and Lucern, Switzerland where
I was able to see friendly faces and visit revisit places that were quite an impact to me. Being allowed to stay with a host family and learning the culture
through their point of view has been quite a wonderful and eye opening
encounter. Especially in this last month, when I was able to visit and bond
with my host sister. This time has allowed me to have a stronger outlook on the
differences and even helped to get ideas on what I want to pursue after my graduation from University, although nothing is quite set in stone. This semester has held
challenges to overcome, such as taking classes in Spanish and learning how to
articulate my words in the best way possible language that I didn’t know quite
well. I have been able to create lasting bonds during this time too. Everyone I
met while in Spain has really formed an impact on me. Now that I am back from
Spain I can fully appreciate the time I spent while abroad even more. Currently
I have not really experienced any reverse culture shock, but rather just
feeling like I am visiting here for a little and soon will be going somewhere
new soon. My previous experiences have greatly helped me with dealing with the
readjusting, since I have had to struggle through reverse culture shock twice.
The next few months will be quite busy with working. In August I will be
returning back to my university for my last year of undergraduate. Hopefully in
December I will be returning to Brasil for a month to visit with my family and
friends. Nothing else is planned after that.
