Adjusting to Life in Oviedo: Week 1

On Monday, January 8^th, after 5 hours of cross-country travel through landscape ranging from sunlit fields to snow-capped mountains, we reached Oviedo. As our bus neared the stop, a throng of people waiting by the curb came into view—our eager and expectant host families. Within minutes we would meet them, and for me, the reality of this was only just setting in.

After a brief set of directions from Jaime, we scrambled from the bus to gather our bags and find our match. Before I knew it, I was in a taxi with my host mom, exchanging nervous banter and watching the city rush by.

The first evening was both exhilarating and exhausting. As I emptied my suitcase and settled into my new room, I couldn’t help but feel a little strange. This was all so bittersweet. My host mom seemed more than warmhearted, the apartment picturesque and artsy, and my room extremely cozy, but I instantly was flooded with a nostalgia for my own family and home.

Soon, it became clear that I wasn’t the only one feeling this sense of culture shock. That evening, our group’s Whatsapp message was going off nonstop. “I have 2 dogs at my house, but I’m allergic!!”—“Does anyone else live near the Burger King??”–“I have no idea how to use my shower!” We were all was checking in, sharing first impressions and feelings. It seemed that the juxtaposition of transitioning from a social hotel experience to an isolated home-stay was at least slightly jarring for everyone. We were all excited, but a little overwhelmed by our individual experiences.

After soaking in the comforts of the Whatsapp group chat, I decided to set technology aside so I could enjoy my first night and avoid comparing it to everyone else’s. I spent the night conversing and laughing with my new mom, eating lots of bread and olive oil, and touring the city. [Fun fact: I live right near a 16th Century Aqueduct! If you like history, this city is for you… there’s a piece of the past almost everywhere you turn!] After a 3-hour walk, I was grateful to retire to my room to process the day and get some rest.

Although the first day was intense, things have definitely been getting easier throughout the course of the first week. Reuniting with the group in classes on Tuesday morning was much needed, and everyone felt more at ease after conversing with friends about the new adjustments. It’s true that studying abroad should be an immersion experience, but it’s also great to have classmates to rely on when you need a little bit of grounding!

The more I have grown to know my host mom, the more comfortable I feel. One of the most ironic things that has happened this week was a dinner conversation we had a few days ago. She began to tell me of her obsession with a group called the Amish, to which I responded—”I’m from Lancaster, my neighbors are Amish!” This excited her to no end, and she asked me if I’d ever seen a movie called “El último testigo.” She said she had just watched it last week, and that it was one of her favorite Amish movies. The coincidence baffled me. This movie, called “Witness” in English, was filmed in Lancaster in 1985, and my parents served as extras. She was delighted when I had my dad text some pictures from the set!

My feelings of belonging and contentment were doubled when she revealed an upright piano and heaps of old music in one of the apartment’s rooms. With each little connection like this, I’m reminded that you can always find pieces of home wherever you travel.

There has been plenty to process here during my first week, and I look forward to updating the blog with all of my future adventures! Stay tuned!