Una gringa en España

It's my last night here in Barcelona and I wanted to reflect on all of the lessons i've learned in my experiences the past month. First of all, I am very thankful for the opportunities God has placed before me and the doors that have opened for me. Secondly, thank you to my coaches who approved this trip, and Shannon and the UTA Athletic Department for all that y'all did in order to help me get on this trip and the support y'all brought me.

So, a little bit about prior to the trip.. In the Fall I was taking ECON (not my forté) and the wonderful Dr. Wunder came in my class and shouted, “WHO LOVES TO TRAVEL? AND WHO LOVES TO TRAVEL FOR FREE?” Hoolllldddd up homie *raises hand* yuh. The sign up sheets were passed out after he talked about a study abroad experience for a month in Spain with a major scholarship attached. I don’t even think I put my name because I assumed I couldn’t go due to being on the basketball team. I mentioned to my academic advisor, Shannon (the woman who helped make all of this happen) about the trip and said, “it’s too bad I can’t go.” Shannon said, “Why not? Let’s make it happen.” And this lady did.

Fast forward, due to practice I couldn’t go to most (ok all) of the info meetings about the trip, so Shannon went for me. I had all of my info filled out and after 6:30 AM weights sprinted to the COBA building to be one of the first 25 students to sign up. I made it. HAAAA, I cut some people, but I made it (sorrynotsorry). Then I got kicked off the trip because I had to technically declare a business major BEFORE Spring, and I couldn’t declare a business major til AFTER Spring. SO, in order to get back on the waiting list and on the trip, I had to declare as a communication major. One morning, I got an email from Dr. Wunder that I was back on the trip. I cried tears of joy, blessings were harvesting in my life. THANK YOU JESUS.

Prior to this trip to Europe, I had gone out of the country to Honduras twice, two parts of Mexico twice (all for mission trips), and the Bahamas (for a basketball tourney). During one of my mission trips I felt a call to evangelize for a living. Those experiences definitely shaped my perspective of the world, my compassion for people, and my interest in other cultures. Being in Spain to study for three weeks was a different experience than those trips. I was challenged to live day to day on my own (I had my classmates to help me out) and pretty much become a local for the month. One thing about traveling to foreign places is, you have to be open and accepting to their ways of life. Do I consider pineapple a dessert? Nope, but it is here apparently. Is having 3-4 packets of sugar in your coffee normal in Spain? Nope, in fact I was made fun of by several baristas (lol my b). Is having lemon in your coca cola a culture shock moment? Yes, but it’s wonderful and I am sticking with it. I realized about myself that I adapt well to understand others, I love change, and I love new people. Having the ability to compromise and be flexible, tolerate differences, be open to new experiences and activities, and to be aware and respect for beliefs of others is magnified by traveling.

2. You have to be willing to take risks.

I booked a flight to Paris without knowing where i’d stay and how i’d get from the airport to wherever i’d stay. Pretty cool, yeah? Ikr. Then I booked a flight to Rome with 20 other people, not knowing any of them. I also ate snail, clam muscles (I think idek), and bought a gym membership from some random gym in Barcelona. I have found strength in handling unpredictable and unfamiliar situations. This is something that will help enhance my skills in life and basketball. Failure is bound to happen, heck I don’t even know what to say past “(Upside down ?)como estás?” Yet I managed to still order food and make it alive. Through the failures, I learned and gained experience, because I tried. Being open, not being defensive, and having a sense of humor about the failure and awkwardness is something that helps in the learning process. It’s all about the positive attitude and the energy you have in the experience.

3. Traveling expands confidence.

I feel more confident in establishing relationships with people from different cultures. The coolest thing about this experience was seeing people the way Jesus sees them. I couldn’t help but think of the smiles of these people who lived half way across the world from me, their laughs, and their joy, and just think, God loves you sooooo freaking much. You are beautiful. These people are so beautiful. In Italy a boy asked our table for money and was hiding some bread he had stolen under his shirt. I asked him a few times what he was hiding and after we helped him out, he sprinted away. I saw people sleeping on the streets on the way to the metro every day. I couldn’t help but wonder what they had gone through in their lives. Do you ever feel so small and helpless because theres only so much you can do? Here’s the thing, let’s be quick to act on love and diminish the judgment. Some of the stories I heard from the vendors who harassed us Americans to buy their mini Eiffel Tower key chains, their selfie sticks, and fake Yeezys were urgent in selling because they had families to feed back at home. They could have easily been lying about their baby girl at home or sick wife or whatever else, but what good does it do to assume the worst in people and wave them off? They’re people, they matter. Now, if they are kissing your hand, calling you beautiful in different languages, and putting a light up ring on your wedding finger, just say no gracias. Seeing people from this perspective has brought me confidence in my ability to fellowship with others. Learning about the best way to love another has helped me learn the best way to love myself and to be loved by others. I am confident to do the unknown and I am confident that I can do things by myself and not have to depend on someone else to be there.

4. It’s ok to just be.

You know, in Ecclesiastes (book in the Bible about seasons of life), it talks about how there is a time for everything. In the U.S. we live a very fast-paced, busy life. As a D1 athlete, “ball is life” and “the grind never stops” and “while you sleep I work” right? Yeah, not in Spain. “No pasa nada” Go with the flowwww if it happens it happens. (Kind of hoping my coach skips over this part if she reads this). But seriously, I am very big on quality time and undivided attention (it’s my love language.. S/O to my Spain group who took the “love quiz”). I could talk to people for hours and lose track of time, I am known for that, but it’s seen as a bad thing in the States most times. I hate being with people who are in a rush TO DO NOTHING. In Spain, a lunch is AT LEAST an hour and a half to two hours. We talk and get to know each other. We live like we don’t have an agenda, because here they care more about relationships than work. This past year I felt that God’s word for me was to be still. This experience in Europe of “being still” and four months of sitting out of basketball due to an injury and literally having to “be still” has taught me patience and what is truly important. Work ethic is something that I highly value, but to let it take over my life and lose focus of loving others is something I don’t want to happen.

5. Maintaining the growth.

The hardest part for me in the past after getting back from an amazing trip out of the country, has been coming back. In the past i’ve been in bad moods and very bitter. For multiple reasons. The culture of the States is different, I didn’t want to leave, I felt misunderstood, etc. I think the biggest challenge for me out of this whole experience will be arriving to Houston at 10 PM, getting to Frisco (my house) around 3 AM and having to wake up the next morning to drive an hour to school for weights and then somehow managing to study and take a Spanish test online that I have yet to study for. I think the chapter is about music or something about apartments, idk. Prayers appreciated. No se nada. Although the first week adjusting to time and life in the busy world will be incredibly hard, I am ready to be back and have an influence on my teammates and atmosphere around me. I have this sense of adventure now, because it’s so fun. If you’re reading this you should befriend me, bc I am planning some adventurous things to try around DFW. To continue to grow in soaking up the sun and walking outdoors, keeping up with Spanish, journaling about my experiences, volunteering to talk about these experiences and encouraging others to travel, will help me stay connected to the culture that my heart feels closer to and to continue what I have learned.

This has been the COOLEST experience and I miss my teammates, coaches, friends, and family SOO much. I feel changed and new, but in the best way. I am so excited for what all God has in store for me and the friendships I have made on this trip. God planted some seeds, I got to harvest some blessings, and I grew closer in my relationship with Him. I learned something new about God and myself through this trip. God is so good and so crazy!! Up next: Costa Rica with my teammies for our first International Tour LESSGOOOO babyyyy!!! MAV UP