Resumen.

Resumen.

Summary. 

There's been a lot of chat (and type) recently about years abroad; I've read 2 reflection style blog posts from others. I'm guessing this stems from our university assignment ( a 'web blog summary', what ever that actually means, which was apparently kept deliberately vague to inspire our creativity )to evaluate our year thus far. 

I still don't know if I would have done a year abroad if it wasn't a compulsory part of my degree, but I do doubt it. I also don't think that everyone should do one or that it's a great opportunity for everyone. 

It's hard to leave behind friends, family, the security of university life, the support of the university and its facilities and, in many cases, your native language. I'm missing seeing friends I've lived with for 2 years graduate, spending time with my family who aren't getting any younger, and as a joint honours student, I'm missing everything related to the other half my degree. At times it has been isolating, incredibly tiring (which, for my hypochondriac self, has been stressful and even more tiring), expensive and frustrating. I'll keep my examples brief, so's not to tire you. 

-Splitting time between 2 completely different schools and levels of teaching, where one school doesn't make any initial effort to inform you of events you could be involved in and whose teachers don't talk to you in the staff-room (gave up on that, I live in the computer room now, cosier) and who gave me a patronising response to my compulsory university report with a 2/5 for Spanish (the primary school gave me a 4) when no one even spoke to me, after which I was told to speak in English to everyone so they could practise.

-The pressure of doing, visiting and seeing it all in one year. Especially when all you see via social media is everyone else having an amazing, if not generally better time than you. This is NOT true, everyone looks good on facebook, even I do, but that's not to say it doesn't affect you. 

-Having group of English speaking auxiliares, which can be supportive and useful, however can become cliquey, leading to isolation.

-The expectation (from yourself and your university) to become fluent or fairly close in 8 months. It more than likely won't happen. If anything, I feel I have regressed, without having to speak and engage with the language for several hours per week and study/use detailed grammar points, with a tutor on hand to force me/support me.

-The frustration of foreign bureaucracy and university paperwork. You know, like that time the Spanish department only emailed half the students about the application for an extended essay (step down from a dissertation, ideal for joint honours students) in final year. Four of my friends abroad also didn't receive it. How hard is it to link an email with the folder containing 3rd year email addresses in?? Still no apology for a mistake they must have by now realised they've made.

You get out what you put in, it's true.I know I could have put more effort in this year, but that's easy to say with hindsight. I'm working for the same if not slightly more, hours than I would normally be in university, then preparing for my classes outside of that time, as well as generally living and navigating life in a foreign country. 

Having said all that, I would do again. I've learnt far more about Spanish culture than I've ever been taught, had a paid-for opportunity and time to travel, gained valuable work experience and met some lovely people. I feel more independent, even more headstrong and I value my friends more than ever now they're not as close.

Even if I do sound a little bitter sometimes...