Studying abroad - the year that changed the course of my life.

In 2008 I went to study overseas for one academic year as part of the Erasmus programme, at the University of Salamanca, in Spain. 

Little did I know at the time, but this year would change the entire course of my life.

I must say, I was incredibly apprehensive about the whole thing leading up to the day of departure. I had gone through the first couple years of university life without honestly giving it much thought. That in the third year of my degree studying law and Spanish, I would be given the opportunity to study for one whole academic year at a Spanish university of my choice. I'd gone through the various options and, after a quick Google search, settled on Salamanca primarily because it seemed like a 'university town', and being one of the oldest universities in Europe, also looked absolutely stunning. 

Quick aside - if you haven't seen Salamanca's 'plaza mayor' (main square), I'd encourage you to do a quick search now. It's breathtaking, and one of the finest squares of its kind anywhere in the world.

Living and studying in such a rich cultural environment at a relatively young age, for a significant period of time had a profound impact on how I see the world today

I'd done the odd bit of work experience at an international study abroad firm when I was younger, so I kind of understand the impact that travelling, studying, and living overseas might have on a young person's personal development, but it's another thing entirely when you get to experience it for yourself.

So I set off with absolutely no idea what to expect...

Day of departure. I was keen to make it a real travel experience, so instead of flying to Madrid and then catching a train to Salamanca, I made the whole journey by train, catching the first of many from my home town of Bath in the South West of England. The first week or so, pretty much set the tone for the rest of my experience there, encountering students my own age from all over Europe, and opening my eyes to an entirely new depth of cultural exchange, ideas, and influence that would change my mindset from then on.

I quickly became friends with people from a variety of countries all over Europe including France, Spain, Holland, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Norway, and many more. Living and studying in such a rich cultural environment at a relatively young age, for a significant period of time had a profound impact on how I see the world today, including my own position within it. 

I was able to study a variety of unique subjects which were fascinating in themselves; we would go to concerts, university dinner events with diverse speakers and guests, I would spend time sketching different parts of the city immersed in my own world and imagination, and we would while away the time chatting and socialising in some of our favourite coffee spots the city had to offer. A group of us also hired a van and travelled through the entire breadth of Spain, encountering further incredible and unique experiences along the way. My mind was well and truly opened...

All these experiences ignited a spark which led me to pursue further immersive experiences overseas (both personal and professional), and I now very much consider myself a global citizen, and many of the friends I've made along the way are still friends to this today. My own personal development also accelerated hugely while studying overseas - it enhanced my social skills, inner confidence, language ability, broadened my perspectives, I became much more self-reliant, and it also gave me a cultural awareness and sensitivity that I would not have been able to foster in quite the same way otherwise. These are all skills and experiences that have been influential in helping me get to where I am today. 

I probably wouldn't have had the inspiration, energy, or perhaps indeed the desire, to follow my curiosity in the way I did in my 20's had it not been for that one, very special year in Salamanca

After returning for my final year at Swansea University in Wales, I then went back to Spain to teach English for a further 2-3 years, which also really helped improve my Spanish language skills. I then found myself hungry for more cultural experiences further afield. This eventually led me to the vibrant city of Hong Kong where I spent a further four years working and travelling around the entire region - an absolute whirlwind of an experience which I may write more about in future articles. 

I probably wouldn't have had the inspiration, energy, or perhaps indeed the desire, to follow my curiosity in the way I did in my 20's had it not been for that one, very special year in Salamanca. I suppose my message in this piece is to highlight the importance of exposing students and young adults to different cultural contexts, and the influence this can have on their development and personal growth. Intercultural experiences that I feel are needed now more than ever, especially given our current social and cultural climate.

I would love to hear from educators, education leaders, and education providers that are working to help offer students culturally immersive experiences, so please feel free to drop a comment and share your insights below!