Skills in Spain & beyond FSU Valencia alumna Kamille Catala gained experiences abroad that continue to benefit her personally and professionally
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amille Catala is thinly slicing fresh parsley and evenly sprinkling the herb over the bubbling mix in the large, cast-iron pan, adding the finishing touch to her paella. She is learning to perfect this dish in a culinary class during the summer of 2017, when she studied abroad in Valencia, Spain. Surrounded by smiling faces of other students, she is reminded of her experiences in Puerto Rico with her grandfather, when she first made the wellknown traditional Valencian meal. Catala, who graduated from Florida State University in the spring of 2019 with bachelor’s degrees in English and communication, has always desired new and exciting adventures—from unique dishes to destinations, she takes the challenges head-on. Therefore, the decision to study abroad in Valencia was an easy one for her to make. Before she filled out the paperwork and made the commitment to join other FSU students in Spain, however, she
to cultivate her knowledge of Spanish culture, connect with her own family ties, and fine-tune her language skills. “Discovering that a significant part of my heritage is from Spain opened up a different culture that I hadn’t had too much direct contact with,” Catala says. “By being able to study abroad in Valencia I got to see and experience the Span-
By Kayla Walston
“I think Valencia is a lot nicer and a lot more developed than people would assume since many don’t even know about the city,” Catala says. Valencia is a hidden gem on the Mediterranean coast of Spain, where Catala spent those five weeks of studying abroad immersing herself in all the city has to offer. Most of the activities and destinations in Valencia are unique and offer visitors a much-needed break from the hustle and bustle of those bigger cities, she adds. The city center is well-known for its Gothic architecture. While strolling past the iconic Torres de Serranos every morning on her way to class, Catala says she admired its beauty along with the mouth-watering aromas of the food from the local restaurants. She lived in FSU’s Gold dorm, steps away Kamille Catala paragliding in Switzerland from a few of the most popular parts of the city, which alish way of life. I wanted to get closer to lowed her to explore often. my heritage and learn where I’m from When her morning class ended around and this experience brought me closer noon, Catala would always opt for a to that.” salmon and cheese croquette from Pan When people consider traveling to de Queso, the locally owned restaurant Spain, they directly across from the Gold study centypically de- ter, as a quick and cheap alternative to cide to vis- a typical lunch. Her interactions with the it Madrid or staff and the locals at Pan de Queso alB a r c e l o n a . lowed her to practice her Spanish while Although Va- enjoying the fresh and local cuisine. lencia is not a “I’m always a very indecisive person —Kamille Catala huge tourist and the [Pan de Queso] staff members did a bit of personal research. Sorting destination, the city has a lot to offer its were always there ready to help me through her family ancestry, she dis- visitors. The scenic sandy beaches and decide,” Catala says. “They would also covered that a significant part of her jaw-dropping architecture in the city’s have such genuine conversations with heritage is rooted in Spain. Catala was central plazas are a small sample of the me that would help me practice even thrilled she would have an opportunity many attractions. more on my Spanish.”
Traveling enhances people and the world.
24 Nomadic Noles // Summer 2019
