Q&A with Rosalie Peyton

A Summer 2016 Alumna

Interview by Kayla Waltson

Why did you choose to study abroad in Valencia?

Before studying abroad in Valencia, I studied with FSU in London for a broad curriculum program. I had greatly enjoyed that experience. I then heard about the [editing,writing, and media] program that FSU offered in Valencia. Being an English major who also loved traveling and studying abroad, this seemed like the perfect experience for me. I had also traveled to Spain with my high school after my senior year, and I was feeling the pull to return.

How has this experience influenced your life?

I recently spent 10 months living in Madrid, as a teaching assistant in a bilingual school. Studying in Valencia definitely opened me up to that idea. It helps to have had some extended time in a country before completely jumping into living there for almost a year. I think it also made the transition of living in Spain a lot easier for me. I was able to adjust faster to the Spanish culture than I perhaps would have otherwise.

What advice do you have for students planning to study in Valencia or students who are already here?

Don’t be afraid to explore while you are there. Put yourself out there in order to get the most out of your experience. Sometimes you may be a little uncomfortable, but I think that can be a good thing. Within the discomfort there is growth.

How has living in Spain affected your view of the U.S.?

I have spent a lot of time in Spain. It keeps managing to pull me back somehow. I have traveled there, I have studied there, and I have worked there. In all that time, I have found that it has a different sort of flow than the U.S. does. People in America tend to focus a lot more on their career. Everyone is always asking you what you do or what you plan to do next. Being someone who has never been too career oriented or had any idea what I’m going to do with my life, that sort of goal-orientated mindset has always stressed me out. Perhaps that is why I have found so much comfort in the more life-orientated Spain. Family and happiness seem to be more at the forefront in Spain.

How well did you speak Spanish before coming to Valencia, and how did living in Valencia affect your Spanish?

I had taken some Spanish classes before, but with the acquisition of languages not being a strong suit of mine, my Spanish level was very low. I didn’t take any Spanish classes while in Valencia, so I wouldn’t say that my proficiency improved much. I did grow more comfortable attempting to actually converse with people in Spanish, something that I never had to do in the U.S.

What have you learned about yourself? What effect has this experience had on your life goals?

I have learned to be more open to new experiences or opportunities that may seem intimidating at first. With both of my experiences studying abroad (in London and in Valencia), I had some anxieties beforehand. However, they both ended up being some of the best times of my life. I know now that I can adapt to new places and find my space wherever I am.