I’m back home now! It truly is bittersweet in the sense that towards the end I was quite accustomed to London and other places in Europe, but my desire to be home was that much stronger than my familiarity with my temporary home. I couldn’t wait to return to all the loved ones I missed so dearly. This week has allowed me to reflect on my entire school semester and journey throughout Europe and I am so incredibly happy to have done this study abroad experience.
Before leaving for London we were asked to identify ourselves and I outlined the identities that I claim as son, brother, student and Hispanic. I still feel this way after the myriad of experiences overseas. But now, it seems more focused and targeted plus I have many instances in Europe where I can point out how I strengthened my spectrum of social justice, or measuring the experiences of others in relation to my own.
Now that you have spent a full semester abroad in a different culture, and looking back at your original thoughts, have you changed your position at all?
I feel that my position on my own personal identities hasn’t changed too much but the actual intensity and pride in my nationality, heritage and ancestry has flourished. For instance, I was able to say I was American and my roots are in Colombia and that would spark conversation about the upcoming World Cup as the English are cheeky about their Three Lions national team. I still identify as the same things but I feel proud that I was able to do well in my classes and become a better student. Also, I feel proud that I was able to strengthen my relationship with my immediate family, my girlfriend and certain close friends.
Do you feel your identity has more or less influence on your experience of the world?
I believe it has more influence on how I see the world. I like to think that I am generally culturally aware in many foreign places now thanks, not only to my travels, but also to the many people I met and international friends I made. It’s made me change how I travel and how I approach speaking to anyone. I certainly bring along my identity and previous personal experiences but at the same time I love getting to a new place and striving to understand what the locals do, their attitudes and the culture that already exists. Studying abroad truly gives you the opportunity to broaden your horizons not necessarily by going far away from home but mostly from meeting other people whose experiences have been different from your own.
Do you think people who have very different identities than you experience the world differently?
I think at times yes, but mostly no. I met many people and I always asked the same questions. My questions were never aimed to be touristy but intentional. I intended on learning about where these people have their fun and what they thought about growing up where they grew up. I almost always found a connection and stuck to it. At that point, it didn’t matter that we weren’t both speaking perfect Italian, French, German, Dutch or English for that matter. What mattered was that all parties involved truly wanted to understand the others’ culture.
In what specific ways did identity (yours and others’) influence your interactions with people while abroad and your perspectives of the host country?
My identity of being an American-Colombian student in England allowed me to be more than just an American (with no disrespect to someone who is not multicultural). It allowed me to seek out the good Colombian part of town and even go farther than that and seek great areas for specific nationalities like Chinatown and Elephants & Castle and seek out anyone and everyone. Others’ identities with me allowed me to use Spanish as a bridge not just in the host country but also in Italy and France and that was super helpful. My perspectives of the host country has truly strengthened for the better and I’m incredibly appreciative of International Programs’ for sponsoring me to attend school in London. It was an experience I will cherish for a lifetime!