Postcard from Abroad
Dear Office of Study Abroad:
Perhaps the highlight of my time in Sevilla was when my real family came to visit and met my Spanish family. It was like bringing two completely different worlds together. My family and my 72-year-old grandmother had never been to Spain before, let alone sat down to dinner with a Spanish family. On the other hand, I was the first Indian (and vegetarian) my Spanish family had ever met, so meeting four more people like me was new for them too.
An outsider peeking in our conversation would have been entertained. When my Señora complimented my grandmother on her sari in Spanish, I had to translate it into English for my parents and sister, and then my mom subsequently had to translate it into Gujarati - our native Indian tongue - for my grandmother. I was completely exhausted and confused by the end, but being the bridge between these two worlds was extremely fulfilling and undoubtedly worth it.
My four months in Spain, especially with my Spanish family and my Spanish friends, was filled with these kinds of experiences where we shared parts of our different worlds. Through classes, nights out, flamenco lessons, weekends to the beach, concerts to see Spanish pop starts, traveling, and adventures, I made lasting friendships and fell in love with the beautiful city of Sevilla. These were four absolutely unforgettable months.
– Seema Kakad
Credit: Seema Kakad
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