I grew up in a family of travelers.

My dad spent six months after college traveling

around Mexico with his friends. As I was growing up, I heard many tales of restless nights
sleeping on the floors of moving trains. My mom, on the other hand, took a more organized
approach. When she was in the tenth grade, she lived with a host family in Galencia, and
again in college with a host family in Salamanca, Spain. Although I was always infatuated
with my dad's stories, I found my mom's journey to be a little more realistic for my future.

I always danced around the idea of traveling abroad to learn Spanish, as I saw it
almost like a rite of passage. I have experienced adventures abroad, but never alone. When I
was in the fourth grade, my family took a trip to Costa Rica and stayed in a small farmhouse
that was so rustic that we had to apply bug spray before going to bed. Although I learned
what it was like to live the Costa Rican lifestyle, I was unable to grow as a person. The only
Spanish I knew was how to count to ten, so I just listened and hoped that our host mother
would not ask me any questions.

In my freshman year of high school, I found the opportunity to live with a family in
Madrid and to work as an au pair for almost a month. I was terrified. I had never flown alone
in the US, so the idea of international travel alone was unfathomable. With the
encouragement of my mother, I worked up the courage to say yes. Tickets were purchased,
and a month later I was on a nine-hour plane ride to Madrid.

Upon arrival, I was greeted with an air kiss on both of my cheeks, and I met two very
well-dressed little boys, Nico (5) and Jacobo (3). The house was about a twenty-five-minute
drive from downtown Madrid. Every day I attended classes at the International House, where
people from all over the world came to learn Spanish. After class, I walked to the subway,
and then on the fourth stop got off to meet my host mother. At first, I was horrified by the
idea of the subway. I thought that was a sure way for me to get kidnapped in a foreign
country. However, by mastering the subway, I became very confident in my ability to travel
alone.

In my hometown, I have had plenty of babysitting experience, but nothing that can
compare to my time in Spain. Traditionally, I find myself trying to help young children find
the words they need to express themselves, but in Spain, it was the other way around. When I
took the boys to the neighborhood pool, Nico, the five-year-old, was always very proud to
show me off to his friends. He was the cool kid on the block with a real American girl staying
in his house. The children would whisper and giggle after talking to me because they thought
my elementary Spanish sounded silly with my Texas twang. Nico defended me and taught me
new words. I found myself frequently asking Nico for help, even when I didn’t need it, just so
I could see his excitement to help me learn.

My experience in Spain changed my life in ways I never imagined. I gained a level of

confidence I never knew I had. Alone, halfway across the world, I navigated the largest city
in Spain. I learned that I’m much more independent than I give myself credit for. I am more
confident in my future and my ability to thrive on my own in the real world. In my college
life, I will strive to be adventurous and to approach academics and new opportunities with a
“say yes” mentality.