On January 21st, 2025, I departed from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and began my four month study abroad journey in Sevilla, Spain. I knew since the beginning of my college career that I was going to study abroad, but I wasn’t aware of the life changing impacts that would come along with it. Going into this experience, I was eager to learn about and live in a new culture, travel to new countries, practice and improve my Spanish proficiency, and make new friends. I had never traveled to Europe before studying abroad in Spain, so I was also excited to explore a part of the world I was unfamiliar with. Little did I know all of the exciting memories and experiences that awaited me. 

 

I distinctly remember my first few moments in Sevilla. I remember meeting some of the other students in my program, exchanging numbers, and talking about how excited yet nervous we were to begin this new chapter in our lives. I remember traveling by bus into the city, passing by busy sidewalks lined with beautiful orange trees. And I remember unpacking my suitcases in the dorm room I would be calling home for the next four months. The first week did come with a lot of nerves and cultural adjustments. I had to adapt to a new Spanish dialect, learn to navigate public transportation, and embrace a different culinary culture. One of the first main cultural differences that I noticed was late meal times. What would normally be a 6 p.m. dinner here in the US was around a 10 p.m. dinner in Spain. This revealed a much slower pace of life, where people were never in a rush. Instead, they were simply enjoying life. This experience broadened my understanding of what it means to appreciate and live in every moment. 

 

I also gained a new perspective of Spanish culture in a health related context. In addition to the two classes I was taking through my program, I interned at Clinica Santa Isabel, a private hospital in Sevilla. During my time in the clinic, I shadowed multiple nurses and physicians practicing in a variety of different specialties. One unit that stuck out to me the most was the Curas unit. This was a separate wing of the hospital that specialized in wound care and blood draws. What I appreciated the most about this unit was the continuity of care that was provided. It was evident that the nurses had built such strong relationships with their patients and genuinely cared about their health and well-being. Several patients in Curas would be scheduled to have multiple appointments throughout the week, and it was incredible to witness their healing process with the consistent follow-up care that the nurses provided. This inspired me to reflect on the quality of care that I intend to provide to my future patients as a physician assistant. 

 

My time at Clinica Santa Isabel was beyond rewarding and impactful, but also very challenging at times. Although I had already taken a Spanish healthcare course prior to studying abroad, there were still a lot of Spanish medical terminology and health concepts that I was unfamiliar with. With the combination of a new dialect and specialized vocabulary, I found it difficult to understand everything that the nurses and physicians were teaching me. However, to overcome this challenge, I showed up at the hospital every day, asked questions when I was confused, and remained fully engaged with the patient-provider interactions that I had the opportunity to observe. This experience strengthened not only my Spanish proficiency, but also fostered personal growth. 

 

Studying abroad taught me important lessons on cross-cultural communication, open-mindedness, and self-confidence. Through my experiences in Spain and in other countries, I deepened my appreciation for diversity and the value of intercultural exchange. I hope to incorporate this new perspective into my future work in the healthcare field, creating an environment rooted in compassion, empathy, and respect. 

 

My four months spent in Spain provided me with a completely new perspective on life. I learned that stepping outside of my comfort zone might be uncomfortable at times, but that is where the most growth happens. I also gained a new perspective on international health and the ways in which culture can influence medical practices. I will be forever grateful for the opportunities I was given and the memories I made in Sevilla, and I look forward to carrying all of the lessons I have learned into the next chapter of my life.