As I enter my third week living in Oviedo, I feel that I’m finally beginning to gain my footing, much as a child does when learning to take its first steps. I have always adored language learning and cultural immersion for that reason. It is incontestable: when immersing yourself in something new, whether prepared or not, you must essentially revert to the state of your inner child. It’s a beautiful thing to be wide-eyed with wonder, humbled by your ignorance, and forced to rely on questions, open-mindedness, and human connection to navigate through your days. This past week, I’ve relished in the excitement of aiming to maintain a constant state of eagerness, but not without moments of self-doubt and unease.
My sister, who travels full time as a musician, has told me that one of her favorite ways to meet locals in any new country is to have an appointment of some kind: to drop by the salon, schedule a dentist appointment, or so on and so forth. She urged me to do something of the sort in Oviedo, to which I shrugged and said that I probably wouldn’t really need any appointments. (I’m trying to grow my hair out, am not due for a checkup of any sort, and err on the side of [ok, I admit that it’s extreme] frugality when it comes to nonessential expenses…) Go figure, within my first week in Oviedo, an issue arose with an orthodontics apparatus that I’ve had for 5 years. I decided, with reluctance, that I couldn’t avoid getting it fixed. I’m all for new experiences, but sorting this out in another country just seemed like a hassle. Why couldn’t it have happened just 3 weeks sooner…?
Luckily, anyone studying in Oviedo through Temple must have an International SOS card, which supplies access to medical services and support. Although my situation wasn’t “medical” by definition, I was able to quell my anxieties and employ the help of SOS to schedule an appointment.
Well aware of my lack of orthodontic vocabulary and knowledge of dental procedures in general, I set about researching my problem both in English and Spanish and making a list of all the words I might need to have up my sleeve. Although I probably won’t use the words “central incisors” or “enamel” in Spanish again anytime soon , it was empowering to feel prepared for the conversations I would be having. I couldn’t help but laugh at how childish I felt, looking up words that I’ve known in English for what feels like my entire life. Another thing I knew I had to keep in mind is that equipment and methods always vary from country to country, so I prepared to accept the fact that their procedure and replacement might be different than what I was accustomed to.
All went well during the appointment, and as my sister claimed, it was a completely unique way to experience meeting a local in Oviedo. Despite having studied the vocabulary I would need, I still felt quite like a child going to their first dentist appointment—nervous, endlessly inquisitive, and quite inexperienced. I had my fair share of moments misinterpreting the attendants’ directions, shutting my mouth when told to open it larger, or biting down when told to release… It amazes me how the simplest of things, when experienced in a new language, convert to rich learning experiences. In hindsight, I’m glad that I had the chance to navigate the issue in Spanish, and like most of my experiences here, it’s opening my eyes to just how much I have yet to learn. And what’s there to lose? Maybe I’ll even schedule a hair trim.
Until next week! For now, I’m going to enjoy the sun… a rarity here in Oviedo. We’ve been very lucky to have about 16 degree Celsius (or 60 degree Fahrenheit) weather here the past few days!
