What Can We Learn?

When I set out to interview students who were currently studying abroad or had studied abroad at some point in their time here at William & Mary, I didn’t know what to expect. Maybe a common thread, a theme that could bring each one of their experiences together, illuminating the “study abroad experience” for students seeking guidance or those like me, who had their own doubts. What I encountered was far more special. Not only was every experience unique, but each story I was told, each anecdote that was shared, gave me a sense of elation and wonder that I had never heard expressed before. Each student that I had the pleasure of talking to made it clear that their experience was something they will take with them forever. Maybe that’s the common thread I was looking for. Here are their stories.

Katie Badagliacco ‘22 traveled to Seville, Spain the spring semester of her sophomore year. Growing up in a household where multiple cultures were celebrated, appreciation for travel and international education was never doubted. Interests in International Relations and Hispanic Studies led Katie to appreciate the history that Seville carried, with the added benefit of a natural immersion into the Spanish language. History was the first thing that truly connected Katie and Seville. She mentioned how the city included layers and layers of history, with artifacts dating back to the Roman Empire. She was able to see the impacts of colonization and years of new cultural immersion right in front of her eyes, rather than just reading about them in a textbook. This is a trait special to Seville, and it was the first thing that Katie can remember genuinely affecting her. The community was the second. She vividly explained the comfort she found in seeing the same groups of people frequent the same coffee shops and markets each morning. Not only were they always there, they were also engaged in each other’s company. The community worked for each other in a way that Katie had never before experienced. They weren’t occupied with homework, reading, or any kind of individual task. It was the conversation, the interaction, and the community that mattered above all. This was what made her feel the most comforted as a student in a foreign place: this emphasis on community allowed her to feel welcome, to feel at home.

Source: Hand Luggage Only Music has a special place in the culture of Seville, with the classic Flamenco (both music and dance) as its shining star. Music and dance enhance this love of community, bringing the city closer together and inviting foreigners to join. This cultural appreciation of music allowed Katie to experience authentic Flamenco performances every once in a while. Occasionally she would encounter an American song, usually including hits from the early 2010s (Think “Party Rock Anthem”). She was later told by another student abroad that Spain is about seven years behind when it comes to American music, allowing Katie to experience just the smallest bit of nostalgia, even 4,000 miles from home. Her host family introduced her to forms of latin pop and reggaeton that she still listens to, even two years later. Every once in a while, they will show up when she’s walking to class, going to the gym, or hanging around her house. Small musical reminders of an unforgettable experience that she can relive within a second.

Jillian Gray ‘23 understands the feeling of culture shock. In her psychology program in Florence, Italy, she joins other students in solving the problem of eliminating culture shock before it has the chance to cultivate. Her final project while abroad will surround creating a program at the local university for students to learn the cultural norms of Florence as they are studying there. Jillain believes that culture shock, as we commonly know it, is cyclical. It is impossible to expect to know everything right away, but not impossible to learn. However, as soon as you get a hold on the norms of the area, you are once again met with something you don’t know. This cycle is never-ending, but the program aims to make students more comfortable. It allows them to build a camaraderie with the other students experiencing these new and exciting patterns.

Photo by: Jodi Nasser Some of these patterns include mundane, day-to-day activities like buying from a market every one to two days rather than once for the week, hanging out wet laundry outside when there is no working machine, expecting a meal with friends to take four hours instead of the usual one and a half, and quieting down conversations promptly at eleven, for fear of the neighbors complaining. Some things are more substantial, like bumping into a museum every block or so, fabulous marble sculptures in every piazza, and world-famous architecture right outside your window. It takes repeated experience to make these wonders seem “normal.” This approach has helped Jillian discover new aspects of herself. Normal inhibitions are tossed out the window when you are dealing with all of this newness, and she has found that it has changed her for the better. She feels less afraid to communicate with teachers and local Florentines, gaining the independence that taking control of her education has allowed her. And the best part of it is, she is met with no judgment. Every individual expresses a wish for her to succeed and find her place in the community. Whether learning the language, experiencing the history, or educating others, there is a sense that she will be met halfway, given the tools she needs to create her own form of exploration.

When Noa Zielinski ‘23 chose “the Paris of South America” to study International Relations, the politics that surrounded the area immediately drew her in. Seeing the results of American colonization and the implementation of a corrupt government became a larger part of her trip than expected. Living with a more conservative host family allowed her a ground-level look at the political differences between the US and Argentina, in some ways allowing for a new perspective of the way that the United States government is viewed by society, even within the community of William & Mary students. She described somewhat of a generational divide, with the older parents supporting the military government and the silencing of social uprisings, with the younger children somewhat chastising the parents for these views. The political history of Argentina is undeniable, but a large portion of the population seems to write off these instances of violence and social justice as relatively insignificant. These views don’t hinder Noa’s enjoyment, however, and she even recommended to me that staying with a host family brings you so much closer to the smaller aspects of the culture. The “day-to-day” experiences

that may be often taken for granted. She is grateful for these experiences of closeness, mainly for helping with the learning of language, but also with experiencing the more domestic instances of cultural norms. The young people in this family helped introduce Noa to the music that is most popular in their age group, opening the floodgates of musical talent that Buenos Aires can offer.

What she valued was the history that came with the music, a sense of heritage that she felt was missing from most of the music she encountered in the United States.

Argentina is most commonly known for tango, but clubs and bars will play anything from reggaeton to American pop. Noa describes a large cultural center in the middle of the city where local bands are invited to play, a great place to meet people and fall in love with the local music scene. As a fan of older R&B and hip hop, Noa appreciated a slight deviation from her regular taste- local indie, some folk inspiration, and even a slight nod to rock nationale, which emerged in Argentina in the 80s. What she valued was the history that came with the music, a sense of heritage that she felt was missing from most of the music she encountered in the United States. While it wasn’t music she found herself listening to in the past, it became a part of her environment that was impossible to ignore. She mentions a lovely story to me: Relatively soon after arriving in Buenos Aires, she was invited by a friend to see a music act in the city. Her friend knew the artist vaguely, as a part of a band she liked, but the allure of the solo performance’s intimacy pledged a new kind of experience. While at the show, which took place in an old jazz club, Noa and her friend were given pieces of paper on which they could write any feelings, thoughts, favorite lyrics, or anything that came to mind that impacted them throughout the show. Noa recalls her piece of paper being filled with a mixture of Spanish, English, and question marks. It felt nice to have a free expression of emotion, regardless of language or accuracy. At the end of the show, these papers were collected, and the pair of musicians turned these pieces into a spoken word free-style. Noa recalls the laughs and claps that came along when her submission was read aloud, feeling not an ounce of shame or embarrassment, but feelings of affirmation and safety. It turned out that almost every person in the room knew someone in the band.

Atiya Haque ‘22 will tell anyone who asks that she loved her time in Barcelona. She always knew that she was going to study abroad. Something about staying in one place for four years never felt right to her, and she arrived at William & Mary her freshman year with a semester abroad already on her mind. She went through a long process of deciding which area would be right for her. She knew she would ideally like to be in a Spanish-speaking country, given her wish to immerse herself better in the language. When the research narrowed down to the individual city, she knew that Barcelona would be the perfect fit. It matched her vibe, it was more of a city, and the classes within the program aligned with her interests. Within her first couple weeks in Barcelona, it felt almost like a normal city. The travel bans brought about by COVID-19 for tourists had not yet been lifted, so she was entering a community of locals and students. Learning the Spanish was the biggest hurdle, along with a careful eye on belongings (for fear of pickpockets). Atiya says that she still finds herself thinking this way months after returning from Spain. Similarly, her music taste felt the effects of her time in Barcelona. She had

always been a fan of Latin pop, but she knew more mainstream songs and artists. Living in Barcelona and often traveling to Madrid and other parts of Spain opened her eyes to an array of different Latin music. Music is everywhere in Barcelona; it’s on the streets, in clubs, on the subways. Just like many cities in the United States, performers are taking any opportunity they can to get exposure, to “make it big”, and Bareclona is the perfect city to set up shop. The everyday introductions caused a large shift in Atiya’s consumption of Spanish music. Rather than the typical Latin pop, she was hearing more mundane forms of music, songs that remind her of walking through the streets of Barcelona.

Things such as Spanish music and food have been so glamorized and stripped of their reality by American companies or American media, so much that to experience them in their authenticity was incredibly refreshing.

When I asked about how she thought these experiences reflected back on her view of American culture, we found ourselves in a conversation on what American culture really is. She explained that what she found the most interesting was experiencing Spain in such an authentic way that paled in comparison to the way it is presented in America. Things such as Spanish music and food have been so glamorized and stripped of their reality by American companies or American media, so much that to experience them in their authenticity was incredibly refreshing. This raw feeling of community and genuine connection that Atiya felt in Barcelona is one of the many reasons that she is going back as soon as she can. When Sophie Saliba ‘23 went on a trip to France the summer before her senior year of high school, she knew that she would one day want to travel abroad. It was one of the deciding factors in her decision to apply to William & Mary, given the esteem of the Joint Degree Program with St. Andrews. Scotland caught her eye, especially because of its landscape and rich history, which are things that she is currently getting to explore this semester. Sophie’s interest in International Relations also influenced her decision to travel, as she asserts that experiencing a country’s culture, lifestyles, and perspectives in person can teach you a lot beyond the confines of a classroom. The friendly atmosphere of St. Andrews caught Sophie pleasantly by surprise, while engaging in small but meaningful interactions with strangers or getting to know fellow students in pubs. She recalls a recent “hall ball” wherein her hall neighbors were all invited out to a pub for a meal and traditional folk dancing and fiddle music. Getting to partake in these historical customs and traditions has allowed Sophie to connect more with the area, and has made her appreciate Scotland as a country on the whole. She is even taking a course at St. Andrews on the History of Scottish Music–a process that, paired with her experiences out in the community, has made it one of her favorite things to enjoy.

Source: University of St. Andrews She tells me that she feels grateful that the pubs also play covers of some of her

and folk songs, including the works of Elton John, the Rolling Stones, the Beatles, and Fleetwood Mac. She goes to Molly Malones pub to hear a live singer cover her favorite classics. No matter what is playing, though, the locals always seem happy. No one’s taste is constrictive, they merely enjoy spending time together. She leaves me with one last thought that I think pulls together what I’ve learned over the course of these interviews: Taking the time to fully immerse yourself and acknowledge the culture around you is what makes any experience abroad an amazing one. It comes with a desire to learn, to experience, to be independent, to discover something new in each place you go. Once you are able to open your mind to the experiences of those around you, and find comfort in the unknown, you can find your place within any community. When we ask ourselves “What can we learn?” we open up a whole list of possibilities.

W&M students in Cadiz, Spain Photo by: Michelle Pillepich