Erika TerLouw swapped the familiarity of her small hometown in Iowa for a semester in Granada, Spain

Harvest time is finally here again!   The wind is saturated with the smell of yielded beans and corn.  The leaves add their splashes of color around the now dry and brown fields.  Excitedly, I jump out of bed and throw on some clothes.  Downstairs my father is waiting with a fresh, home cooked omelet.  After the traditional Saturday morning breakfast, my family walks a quarter of a mile down the dirt road to my Grandfather’s house.   Several family members are already gathered to share in the Dutch tradition of coffee time and pastries.  After visiting and drinking several cups of coffee, my grandfather and father get up to head out to the fields. 

Almost every Saturday in the fall of my childhood resembles this scene.  Growing up in Pella, a small Dutch town in Iowa, my life looked a lot different than the lives of most people that I know today.  My child’s heart ran free and wild on the farm and throughout the woods surrounding our home.

I spent my entire childhood in this loving, hard-working, and familiar atmosphere.  I never switched schools, I never moved houses.  However, my family had a love of traveling.  Every summer, my mother spent hours pouring over travel magazines planning our next excursion.  The five of us would cram into our maroon van, and drove all over the United States.  This fed my love of travel and adventuresome spirit. 

When I graduated high school I knew I was ready to test my wings a bit and see what I could do.  I went to a small Christian College in Holland Michigan.  Granted the demographics were very similar to my small hometown, but I began testing the waters of my capabilities.  Growing up, I had always heard stories of college students studying abroad.  After two years at Hope, I knew it was time to really let my adventuresome spirit soar.  I completed the long application process, waited in anticipation to receive my acceptance, and was finally accepted.  I was going to Granada, Spain through a study abroad program for American students from all over the nation. 

About a month before I left, I moved back home to prepare.  Endless to-do lists occupied my time; what to pack, what not to pack.  One duffle bag for four months is easier said than done.  However, my excitement and anticipation got the best of me, and I ended up being completely packed and ready to leave a week before my departure.   I wandered aimlessly around the house, impatient to get started on my newest adventure.  Each day seemed to pass more slowly than the previous, and the goodbyes seemed endless.

August 31st 2008 finally arrived.  I will never forget how my family and I all stood in the kitchen, weighing my bag one last time before piling into the car.  Driving to the airport, I decided that all my upcoming adventures sound great…in theory.  My heart was beating fast, my head was going crazy, and my doubts were screaming.  “I don’t even know Spanish that well!”  “I have no idea where I’m going!”  “I don’t know the woman I will be living with for four months!  What if I don’t like her?”  “Am I old enough to be doing this?  I feel like I’m still ten years old sometimes!”  Soon the practical side of me came out and reminded me, “You already made the non-refundable down payment… no turning back now.  Charge through, girl!” 

So, with tears streaming down my face, I gave a last hug and rode the escalator up to security check-in desk.  Terrified.  Alone.  Excited.  And on the best adventure of my life thus far. 

After merely two days in Spain, all of those fears and worries were gone.  True, my Spanish wasn’t the greatest, but it was already improving quickly.  I fell in love with everything about Spain in no time.  Every moment I stepped outside of the apartment, I learned something new about the culture, the city, and the people.  My host mother, Sara, was just as eager to show me everything about her city as I was to learn.  She was an outgoing, kind-hearted, and loving woman.  I instantly felt at home and knew I was going to get an authentic experience of southern Spain. 

One of the best pieces of advice I received about studying abroad was to walk everywhere, and I did just that.  I adored walking and running through the streets.  There was always a new plaza, fountain, or gorgeous old building awaiting my discovery.  I loved sitting in plazas and observing the alive and busy streets.  This was all so different than anything I had known before.  In the U.S. we sit in our homes secluded.  But here, everything was “en la calle”, in the streets.  The Spanish know how to live in relation to those around them.  Descanso, a break, took place in the morning, siesta in the afternoon, and then they concluded the day with tapas and a glass of wine. 

Before I knew it, I easily slid into the new schedule and lifestyle.  “No pasa nada” also became my favorite phrase, meaning “it doesn’t matter” or “it’s no big deal.”  Granted, in particular situations I felt the phrase should not have been applied, but I soon adjusted and realized that this life motto was so freeing.  Life is meant to be lived, and southern Spain knows how. 

About a month after my arrival, the city felt like home.  I quickly made close friends in my program and we began frequenting our favorite cafes and restaurants, befriending our waiters along the way.  In addition to tapas and exploring the city every night, I spent a considerable amount of time with my host mother.  My Madre Española embraced me full-heartedly and we spent countless hours together.  Whether it was watching Spanish game shows, sharing a meal, or going for a walk, she helped me notice small things about Granada that I would not have seen otherwise. 

Throughout my stay in Granada I was also blessed to have the opportunity to travel extensively.  My travels began by visiting several different towns through southern Spain.  By the end of my semester, I had visited six countries other than Spain: Morocco, Italy, France, England, Ireland, and Portugal.  As I traced my way through Europe I continued to learn so much about myself.  I grew in practical ways such as learning how to use public transportation, communicate with a language barrier, and be culturally sensitive.  However, my lessons did not end there. 

I learned more intangible things, like how to be away from those I love.  I learned what I like about America, and what I don’t like.  But most importantly I learned what makes me come alive.  Traveling.  The unexpected.  People.  And a constant adventure. 

Erika TerLouw is a college senior at Hope College in Michigan. She is currently an intern at Hostelling International, Chicago