Hey guys, my name is Leonardo
Miguel and I am Savannah Smith’s dragon. She, and I are currently studying in
Toledo, Spain which is right in the center of the country. Though not well
known, it was the religious capital of Spain for a while and was settled by the
Catholics, Jews, and Muslims at various times in its history. Where she goes, I
go (I even have my own special spot in her purse) and I have gotten to experience
so many adventures with her.
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| My spot in Savvy's purse. |
We’ve been to Madrid more times than I can count
and even traveled as far south as Malaga which is on the coast of Spain where
Savvy is studying. I’ve experienced long car trips, annoying plane rides, and
surprisingly short bus rides. I’ve seen her laugh so hard she cried, and cry so
hard that the only thing she could do was sleep. I’ve seen her so frustrated
that she almost threw her phone and so excited that if she could have flown,
she would be halfway to Australia. But my favorite thing I have seen is how
much she has grown. When she first came, she was a shy, quiet girl who had very
little confidence and didn’t think to highly of herself. Now, two months later,
she is like a new person. She has finally accepted that she is an introvert and
knows her limits but also knows how to fiesta. She is more confident than
I have ever seen her and is finally discovering what makes Savannah “Savvy” and
no one else. And I personally think it is all because she went to a country
that doesn’t speak English.
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| Climbing in Malaga |
I feel like people are afraid to go to a country that speaks
a language different than theirs because they will have to experience culture
shock AND language shock but I can tell you without a doubt that it’s worth it.
Why? Because I’ve seen it. Savvy couldn’t have predicted the changes that would
appear in her life from this study abroad experience. When she first got here,
she didn’t know if she could do it but now, she doesn’t know what life would be
like if she didn’t. Sure, the first few weeks are hard. But they were more than
worth it.
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| A Prince in a Castle in Malaga |
Here’s how she knew:
"Before I came to Spain, I created a benchmark
in my head that would say that I made it, that I was successful in Spain. My
benchmark was this: to sit around a table with friends from Spain just hanging
out and talking and while feeling completely accepted and at ease with them in
their stereotypically closed Spanish group. On Saturday February 21, 2015 my
dream became a reality. This night, though I was a sick as a dog and shouldn’t
have been out, period, I knew without a doubt that I made it, made it to Spain.
All it took was a month of confidence and patience to help my dreams become a
reality.
I have two amazing friends from
UNCG, one quirky classy gal from England, a slew of friends from Mexico, and
other countries from around the world. But I don’t only have international
friends, I have friends who have grown up in Spain and go to my University. I
finally found a group to call home who opened up and let me into their circle
of friends. I have a seat in class to call my own, a group to sit with before
class in the hall or the cafeteria, a group to text if I am bored and hear about
all the crazy drama going on in Spain. And the coolest thing for me is that I
feel comfortable with them. All it took was for me to be really extroverted and
put myself out there for them to take notice and let me in."
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| Lost in a Toledo Dream |
I hope that if you are considering studying in a country
that doesn’t speak your native language that you do and that this post
encourages you to follow your heart and chase your dreams. Savvy had a lot of
lessons to learn when she got here and the cool thing is that she is still
learning. Each day is an adventure full of possibilities of success or failure.
Don’t live life regretting things you didn’t do. Take a chance, make a mistake,
and LIVE.
Leonardo Miguel and Savannah Smith
UCLM Toledo
Toledo, Spain
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