People, Perspectives, Me

By Sofia Tascon

This summer, I’m excited that I decided to take the time during my global experience studying abroad to interview locals in the Valencia, Spain community about their attitudes toward the government.  

I hope to act as an advocate as my aim in this project is to create a platform where citizens’ voices are amplified. I will accomplish this by taking certain responses from the interviews conducted and publishing them on the Florida State University Nomadic Noles Maganize. This will increase the awareness of how Spain’s regime works, its benefits, issues, for both Spanish/American citizens to learn. Through my research of how the monarchy and prime minister work, I have gained a surface level understanding of the facts surrounding the process. However, citizens opinions on how they can have an individual impact is not a perspective accounted for until I conduct these interviews. The interesting part about my study is it will serve similar to a survey, obtaining authentic citizens’ perspectives that aren’t sugar coated or sponsored. 

Although I won’t be in the country long, I hope to use my Editing, Writing, Media internship opportunity to shine a light on this topic that brings me great interest as a Political Science major as well. The connection I have to this issue is also stronger as I am of Spanish descent myself, with my dad being born and raised in Spain. The culture has always been present in my life, thus my curiosity has increased of how their society functions. I believe with this in mind, my perspective gives me greater motivation towards working hard to write all of the information I discover. I will also be treating this project with greater care because of my background. 

I also have not been to Spain since I was about 8 years old so I am very excited to witness the many different landmarks and take on new experiences that I might not have appreciated as much as a child. I am also excited to write about what I observe as a student studying abroad, which is more of a unique perspective than the typical adult research team. I will be able to note how participants react to questions as well as write great descriptions of what I see on the everyday in Valencia, outside of the interviews.  

I have included a picture of a Spain flag I just saw in a market this past weekend while I was in South Florida! It was an amazing environment.