Alejandra is an undergraduate student studying law at University of Murica in Spain. She participated in ISEP Exchange in Fall 2020 at Virginia Tech. In our recent chat with her, Alejandra shared her rewarding journey of leaning into discomfort and fostering new connections.
Alejandra’s love for traveling and joy of meeting new people motivated her to be independent and study abroad. To truly do so, she picked a destination outside of Europe and set out alone. However, being in a foreign country, let alone studying there, comes with challenges. Being independent entailed self-advocacy, which Alejandra found daunting at first. “It was scary. But you have to do it, and you’ll learn.” She followed through with this motto and went on to create one of the best memories in her college experience.
Alejandra was nervous about being the only Spanish student that semester and was very conscious of her accent. She would find that her accent was not a barrier, but instead served as a bridge to connect with others. Her college was in a small town, so everyone she met was eager to learn more about Spain from her. “Every time someone noticed I was not American, they became very interested,” Alejandra recalls, “They would go, ‘Oh where are you from? Wow, that’s amazing!’ My accent got me to meet so many new people.”
At Virginia Tech, Alejandra spent her time differently than she did in Spain. “I kept up with my work, but it was not always the main thing,” Alejandra says. She spent her free time engaging with the community. She would hit the gym with her workout buddy, go on a hike with her friends in the Appalachians, or attend the vibrant sports scene at the university.
Alejandra found her “home away from home” with her South American friends. They spoke the same language, shared cultural commonalities, and had similar personalities. While she felt comfortable with the group, Alejandra did not want to “stay in a comfortable place all the time.” She says, “I knew I would be in the United States for only six months, so I also wanted to hang out with American friends and speak English.” Her courage to branch out boosted her confidence in having conversations in English. “Last year, I wouldn’t even imagine having an interview in English. I would be freaking out. Now I can chat just fine even though it’s been half a year since my exchange program.”
After the Fall semester, Alejandra went on a 2-week road trip with fellow exchange students. They had an exciting journey and connected with locals and other groups of international students who were also traveling. “I wouldn’t have traveled to these places if I hadn’t studied abroad,” Alejandra says.
Alejandra encourages others to study abroad, especially at a destination outside of their region. Her advice is to take advantage of opportunities that you do not have at home and step out of your comfort zone. “If you’re afraid to speak or do activities, just do it. No one really judges you, and you are only there for a period of time,” she says, “If you are struggling, reach out to others. Everyone is kinder than you think.”
*Story written by Mai Kasemsawade, ISEP Princetern
