Megan Johnson

Overall Experience

My overall experience in Spain will be one I will never forget. I was able to meet some amazing classmates and natives of Valencia! For six weeks, I lived in an apartment with a family. I would commute to the university every day on public transport, and through that experience I was able to experience a different type of everyday life. The beaches in Valencia are absolutely stunning and a fantastic way to end your long week of classes. Not only that, the city has a wide range of parks, museums, and walking paths to enjoy the gorgeous weather. I’m so grateful I had the opportunity to experience Spain and would highly recommend this trip!

Learning experience

My trip to Spain had many learning experiences, but the most valuable included the importance of rest and socialization. For many people in the United States, working long hours and sometimes more than five days a week is a requirement to participate in society. However, in Spain it is very common for businesses to shut down between 2 pm and 5 pm, or known as 'siesta', so workers and business owners can have lunch or take a nap. Along with that, most of the meals are centered around catching up with friends and usually last hours at a time. It was a fun change of pace compared to the fast-paced culture of the United States. Through these different cultural experiences, I learned just how important it is to rest and socialize for a healthy life. I learned that life does not need to be centered solely on your job, and it is crucial to find time to do what you want to do.

Memorable experience

There were many memorable experiences from traveling to Spain, but the most memorable would be sharing different aspects of Spain's culture and the United States' culture. The professors would share aspects of Spanish culture that you would not have known from news articles, like how the floods in 2025 affected the people. Similarly, we were able to share aspects of the United States that Spaniards would not have known from movies or the news, like that there are more pigs than people in Iowa. This experience of sharing cultures felt like a special type of insider information and a look into the actual lives of both cultures rather than reading an article.

What did you not expect?

One aspect that surprised me about Spain was the time classes and businesses start. One of the main differences between the United States and Spain was that most businesses did not open until 9 am or 10 am. This was a huge shock since most businesses open by 8 am every day. Additionally, workers would not have to wake up until 7 am or 8 am since businesses open later. Again, this completely shocked me since most people have to wake up between 5 am and 6 am to get to work. This difference in culture will be carried with me throughout my teaching career by opening my mind to some students' backgrounds that may not be the same as mine. This experience has allowed me to open my mind to more differences that students might be experiencing while immigrating the United States and how that shift could be very shocking.

What advice would you give?

My first piece of advice is that if you're unsure about going abroad, just do it. Whether you are scared or nervous or have never been out of the country, just do it. You won't regret it. Another piece of advice I have is to always remember that the culture is different from yours, and that is okay! It will seem hard to get used to at first, but the whole reason you are there is to experience a life different from your own. So embrace it and have patience; Iowa will be waiting for you when you get back. My last piece of advice is to go on as many side quest adventures as you can while abroad. There are many opportunities to travel to different parts of Europe or other famous historical sites that you may not have a chance to go back to.

How has this experience impacted your life?

As a future Spanish teacher, Spain offered so many experiences that have left major impacts on my personal and educational goals. One reason I went to Spain was to improve my confidence when speaking to native Spanish speakers. By living in Spain for six weeks, I had ample opportunities to practice my conversation skills. Additionally, I wanted to learn as much information about the culture, history, and people of Spain so I could take that information back to my future students. By spending six weeks in Spain, I was able to take photos and learn about all these different aspects of Spain that I can then work into my future classroom. Traveling to Spain allowed me to gain as much accurate and interesting information so that my future students will have a fuller education.

How did you learn about this experience?

I learned about this program through my professors and the study abroad fair.

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