Sun Shines onto the Barcelona Skyline: Me standing outside Estadi Olímpic de Montjuïc, overlooking an amazing view of Barcelona! 

The Beginning  

Studying abroad in Spain was my dream as a freshman in high school: an insecure girl waiting to spread her wings and soar across the Atlantic Ocean. As I began my college career, I wanted this dream to stay with me and enrich my lifelong education. As a college freshman, my dream opportunity arose quickly with a Spanish literature and linguistics program during the summer after my freshman year. 

As soon as I saw the brochure, my heart raced, and my mind swarmed with excitement and questions about whether I should go. Embarking on a five-week program in Spain after my first year felt daunting. I questioned if I was ready and whether my family would be supportive. When I decided to learn more by attending an information session, I was delighted to meet the professor and other students. Yet another insecurity rose in my mind: 

• I’m the only non-native speaker in this room—the only one with an Asian name and face and, most likely, a noticeable accent. 

• How will I feel a sense of belonging if I spend more than a month among people so different from me? 

I didn’t want this insecurity to keep me from pursuing my goal of studying abroad and becoming fluent in Spanish. The opportunity I dreamt of for over four years had presented itself, and after gaining my family’s reassurance, I didn’t want to miss it. In my application, I wrote about the insecurities I felt upon stepping into my dream. I was vulnerable, sharing my hesitation as an Asian American learner and demonstrating the courage I was summoning to break ethnic and national barriers. 

When I was accepted into the program, my heart raced with anxiety, eagerness, and determination. A few months later, I left my small home in San Jose, California, to enter my grand destination of España. Saying goodbye to my home was not just saying goodbye to my family—it was saying goodbye to the security I felt being surrounded by people with similar backgrounds, whether Vietnamese American, Asian American, or simply American. It was a step out of my comfort zone to a country where I was pushed to face my insecurities. 

The Peace of Rio Onyar, Girona: My excitement in visiting breathtaking places during our Spanish excursions often helped me lose my sense of self and dive into my surroundings.

Friendship 

The push was more gentle than I expected. Move-in was smooth, and I was joyful when I reunited with a friend I had met in my Spanish class the previous quarter. As an Indian American, she struggled with similar doubts as mine. I knew before embarking on my trip that sharing this experience with her would help me overcome my insecurities and warm up to my new environment. When we hugged, I knew it was a moment that would begin our journey of deepened friendship and empathy. 

Making friends in Spain was the highlight of my study abroad experience. My flatmates were kind, loving, and open. We laughed together and made plans to get coffee the moment we met! Although I was one of the only students with an Asian American appearance, I never felt judged by them. They taught me that language—including a desire to travel and learn about humanity—transcends ethnic barriers, just like friendship.  

First Day of Class: My flatmates and I savoring the moment before diving into our studies! Look at our smiles!  

Overcoming My Fears of Prejudice 

Before embarking on my journey in Spain, fearing that I wouldn’t feel a sense of belonging wasn’t my only source of anxiety. I also worried that I would be treated as an outsider, facing prejudice that people in a foreign country might hold toward Asian Americans. 

My fear of being alienated lingered when I entered Spain. I constantly compared my appearance to those around me, relieved when I saw an Asian grocery store or observed others of Asian descent speaking Spanish. I felt a curious sense of unity with them, as they assured me that I wasn’t a mismatched piece in the Spanish-speaking world.  

A Slice of Home: A Vietnamese restaurant reminding me of home. 

After my first week in Spain, this mental grouping started to fade. I pushed myself to use my years of Spanish study, choosing Spanish when asking questions to CEA CAPA staff or speaking with the coffee barista. 

More than gaining the ability to use Spanish comfortably, I found myself greeted with warmth and friendliness from locals. Whatever prejudices I imagined they might have; I didn’t feel them directed toward me. I made the heartwarming discovery that they opened up even more when I told them I was a study abroad student! 

“When you assume that others are judging you, you are judging them yourself.” 

This wisdom from my therapist resonates with me. In college, I’m learning not to judge people as much as I used to. Studying abroad brought this lesson into a new context. No matter where you go, humans are humans. We all share this planet and can work to bring happiness, faith, and empathy into each other’s lives. I received all these beautiful things while living in Spain, opening my eyes to the wonders of common humanity. 

A Journey to Be Continued 

Traveling across the Atlantic Ocean and exploring Spain taught me that, just as friendship and language transcend ethnic and national barriers, the label “Asian American” does not define my whole identity. While it shapes many of my experiences, it is only a small fraction of who I truly am. Just as I aspire to become a therapist while maintaining my literary studies, I can encompass many corners of the world and harness different passions in my pursuit of learning about people. 

A Dance of Colors [Montgat–Mallorquines]: Just like the different colors of the flags dance in unity to the coastal winds of Playa de Montgat, all people can come together to dance a beautiful dance of common humanity.