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Contributor

HelloBeautiful

Jul 14, 2011

Name:
Arielle Loren

Alma Matter:
New York University

Where did you study abroad:
Sevilla, Spain

Why did you decide to travel to that location:
It was all a divine accident, really. I'd signed up to study abroad at NYU’s satellite campus in Madrid, and took a spontaneous weekend trip to Sevilla for fun. In Madrid, I felt like I was surrounded by too many American students, not speaking enough Spanish, and destined to have an “American experience” in Spain’s capital. When I visited Sevilla, I felt the exact opposite. I met students from all over the world, and our only common language was Spanish. I knew that my experience would be more authentic in Sevilla, so I made a tough decision to take a semester leave from NYU, attend the Universidad de Pablo Olavide, and pray that NYU would retroactively accept my credits. It was a huge risk, but thankfully, everything worked out seamlessly in the end.

Tell us about one of your favorite experiences while abroad:
There’s so much to love about Sevilla: the old architecture, small town feel, and hospitable locals. I’d have to say that chatting with my duena (landlord) about the Spanish government, French student activism, and American politics gave me the most joy. Born in Switzerland and educated in France, she’s a communist, fierce feminist, and adamant advocate for human rights. Our conversations were refreshing, and contrary to most political discussions occurring in mainstream America. Not to mention, I got a chance to practice my Spanish, as she spoke very little English.

What was your biggest challenge:
Speaking of language, I did something very crazy for a student that barely spoke at an intermediate Spanish level. I enrolled in regular classes, such as Psychology, Social Work, and Sociology, ordinarily for local Spaniards. Of course, all of these classes were taught in Spanish. The biggest challenge of my entire academic career was discussing the brain and capital punishment in a foreign language. It was sink or swim. And I was forced to choose the latter.

How did being black have an affect on your study abroad experience:
Yes, the rumor is true: Spanish men love black women. As tempting as it was, I chose to stay away from love affairs and hook-ups to focus more on my academics, traveling the country, and building platonic friendships. Truth be told, I had studied abroad in London the previous semester, so I had already experienced the fun of having a “local love.” On a wider note, I can’t say that I experienced any racism or prejudice in Spain. I simply became the subject of many locals’ curiosity in regards to my African-American identity. After explaining that my ancestors did not immigrate to the United States and, instead, were slaves, everyone understood my ethnic background and reason for identifying as American. Outside of the United States, it’s common to identify as your nationality before your race. In Spain, I was American before black, which definitely felt refreshing compared to home.

Any advice for fellow black travelers:
In the words of Chilean author Isabel Allende, “Write what should not be forgotten.” While you’re traveling, keep a journal or blog to document your experience for personal or public reflection. You may think that you’ll remember everything without putting pen to paper, but nothing compares to a description from the “moment.” Live abroad. Travel far and wide. Don’t let anyone crush your spirit for adventure. There’s always something to learn, new places to see, and people to meet!

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