Language Proves No Barrier for Student
Aug. 25, 2023
Isabella Desio-Dorian , at idesiodorian@una.edu
Seventh in a Series
Studying abroad was always something I wanted to do in college. It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience to be able to immerse yourself into a different culture the way studying abroad allows you to do.
When I came to the 鶹, studying in Spain, in particular, was not something I had planned on doing. I am majoring in Biology and minoring in Psychology, and I hope to enroll into a physician’s assistant program when I graduate in May of 2025. Spain simply wasn’t on my radar. However, as an employee at the North Alabama Shoals Hospital and saw firsthand the number of Spanish-speaking patients, my interest piqued.
Growing up in Olive Branch, Miss., I was not exposed to any new cultures, so I had hoped to gain insight into a culture I was vastly unfamiliar with and begin learning the language many of my patients use. In retrospect, I gained that and more.
Going into this trip, I did not know what to expect. I was only beginning to learn the language and was nervous that I was not going to succeed or that it would be too far out of my comfort zone. I was worried about living with a host family and how their opinions of me might be affected based on my lack of knowledge surrounding the culture and language. Now, I can confidently say my worries were unfounded.
Living with a host family was a highlight of this experience, and it allowed me to see what day-to-day living means in Spain. I was able to see the cultural differences in a home setting to contrast what I am comfortable with in the United States. The home-cooked meals, the routine, and the lack of air conditioning were just the beginning of things I had to become used to. There was a language barrier, but, as time went on, my host mom and I were able to communicate despite it. My host mom played a great deal into my newfound appreciation for the Spanish culture, and I am incredibly grateful that she welcomed me into her home with loving arms.
Living in Salamanca made me realize what a treasure Spain is. I fell in love with the sights, whether that be the plaza at night or the incredible views from atop the beautiful architecture. Outside of Salamanca, I was able to see many different cities on our weekend excursions. I enjoyed being able to see different cities throughout the country, my favorite of which was Bilbao.
Bilbao truly had it all. From a geographical aspect, this city has everything I could want. The beaches and mountains were something I had previously only dreamed of seeing. I was mesmerized by the liveliness of the culture and the uniqueness of the art and buildings.
While the sights were a highlight of the experience for me, another major aspect of this study-abroad experience was the schooling. Admittedly, I was overwhelmed by being taught in Spanish, along with the workload of the University classes. Although, as the trip went on, I adjusted and was able to learn more than I previously deemed possible.
Looking back on this trip, the word that summarizes it all is “grateful.” I am overwhelmed by gratitude that I was able to experience Spain through the lens I was given. It pushed me out of my comfort zone in a way that has left me in awe of what I was able to accomplish and see while being there. I am excited to continue to pursue the feeling as I continue my language journey, and I hope that I will be back one day to experience the country as a fluent Spanish speaker as well as becoming a source of comfort for my Spanish-speaking patients.
About The 鶹
The 鶹 is an accredited, comprehensive regional state university offering undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degree programs through the colleges of Arts, Sciences, and Engineering; the Sanders College of Business and Technology; Education and Human Sciences; and the Anderson College of Nursing and Health Professions. Occupying a 130-acre campus in a residential section of Florence, Alabama, UNA is located within a four-city area that also includes Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, and Tuscumbia. UNA Athletics, a renowned collegiate athletics program with seven (7) Division II National Championships, is now a proud member of NCAA Division I as part of the Atlantic Sun and United Athletic conferences. The 鶹 is an equal opportunity institution and does not discriminate in the admission policy on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, disability, age, or national origin. For more: una.edu and una.edu/unaworks/.