Solo in Spain: A Summer Series
By: Chloe Bloom
Hola! Have I done an introduction already? I suppose, but mostly on my research. Now I will provide more insight into who I am as a researcher. What is my background, what does my community look like, and why do I have an interest in the topic of multilingualism? I grew up in South Florida raised by my Cuban mom and American dad along with my Puerto Rican-American dad when my mom remarried. I feel so lucky to have had these amazing role models around to shape me into the person I am today.
My mom and abuela (grandma) came to the U.S. when my mom was just eight years old. When they arrived, my mom went to a school with a trilingual education system where she learned English as well as French in addition to Spanish. Although I wish I had learned Spanish at a younger age, I am extremely grateful for my upbringing. Honestly, at this stage in my life I would not change a thing. I believe that everything happens for a reason and who knows, maybe if I had learned Spanish at a young age, I would’ve never had the inspiration for this research. I began learning the language when I had the opportunity to take my first Spanish class in middle school at thirteen years old. I loved Spanish class. It came relatively easy to me, it felt natural and it was fun to learn. Of course, until I got to past tense and future grammar, yikes! But, in all seriousness, practice makes perfect, so I’m told. Therefore, continuing to speak and make mistakes will be my method of advancement.
During this summer experience as I mentioned in my previous blog post, a goal of mine is to have conversations with the locals. Practicing my Spanish will benefit me personally by improving my overall conversational skills, and it will also help propel my project forward by allowing me to conduct valuable interviews leading to more detailed findings!
Self-sufficiency is another skill that I’m developing more. Traveling solo is definitely thrilling, but at times can get frustrating or be uncomfortable. There was a bit of a learning curve at first, maps can be stressful, at least for me! But now I feel a lot better about getting around and it definitely feels rewarding to figure things out independently. I feel capable of having any experience with my own company and I’m genuinely thriving. Leaning into uncomfortability leads to growth!
I am also working on remaining unbiased in interviews, especially when asking follow-up questions. As I dive deeper into a topic being discussed and deviate from my structured questions I have to remember to stay neutral. The outcome of the interview must be entirely based on the opinions of the parent without influence of my own. Nonetheless, I am ready to take on interviews and implement this skill now so that I can use this in my practices as an aspiring researcher at the graduate level in the near future. I feel so fortunate to have participants that are willing to share their personal narratives with me contributing to my meaningful collection of viewpoints.
Another component of traveling for me as a self-proclaimed foodie, is of course the variety of dishes a destination has to offer. This is a huge aspect of culture as well. Spanish cuisine consists of endless delicious and unique foods. Olive varieties, paella, hams, cheeses, patatas bravas, classic toast with tomato spread, and in my opinion, the best, crema catalana. Anyone who knows me, knows that I have a sweet tooth and crema catalana is a dessert that does not disappoint. It is very specific to the region and Catalans take pride in this dessert, rightfully so!
While in Spain, I am also drawn to exploring my surroundings. I’m taking this a step further by going outside of Barcelona to return to Valencia (gosh, I miss it), where I studied abroad two summers ago! After Valencia, my plan is to visit Sevilla and Madrid both for the first time! I actually have an interview lined up in Sevilla that I’m looking forward to and my trip to Madrid is simply for adventure and curiosity for what the capital has to offer. I will keep you posted on the journey ahead, look out for upcoming blogs!
“The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning.” –Morrie Schwartz
My mom recently read and then gave “Tuesdays with Morrie” by Mitch Albom to me so that I could have something to read while traveling. While getting through the pages on the plane, the metro, and while sitting at restaurants, I am soaking up lots of valuable lessons centered on being present and living life to the fullest. This quote in particular resonates with me, because I am grateful for the love and support of my family, friends and community at Florida State. I would not be where I am without them. Ultimately, I am here to pursue research that aligns with my passion and what I believe to be my purpose, and it makes me feel so alive.
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