I am naturally a very loud person and can’t help but to raise my voice with excitement and emotion when I communicate. However, I never knew how loud I really am until I came to study abroad in Barcelona. I was warned that a big stereotype abroad about Americans is that we are very loud and I am living proof of it everyday. My voice being the loudest one in a room or even outside on the street is still so crazy to me because back in the USA, I feel like everyone’s loud. It’s not something I’m embarrassed about either, it's just surprising because I think I am genuinely talking at a good volume. However, the weird stares I get from people or my friends asking me why I’m yelling, shocks me every time because I assume I’m talking normally. Talking a little lower has to be one of the biggest things I have been working on here and it’s a struggle because on top of being American, I am Dominican too, one of the loudest Latin American countries ever. Luckily, it’s not something I’m too worried about changing. In fact, this whole experience has made me embrace my loudness for what it is and so far it’s actually worked in my favor because I always tend to attract people into conversation. I’ve even met a lot of fantastic people because of it.
What surprises me the most about every interaction I have is that everyone I come across knows English! Every person I come across speaks English. I’m always prepared to talk in Spanish, and when they realize I’m American they whip out the “I know English too.” English is taught in schools from a young age, so most Spaniards really know it. Not only Spain, but most of Europe learns English. So far, I have visited Morocco, Rome, Amsterdam, Brussels, and Paris and the locals always talk to me in English. Since Europe consists of so many countries, all very close to one another, it is easy to pick up more than one language. However, English tends to be the main language that everyone knows next to their mother tongue, which is so impressive to me. It makes me wish I knew other languages besides Spanish and English too. I wish the states would encourage more languages in their schools. It also made me realize how much of a powerhouse the USA is! Everyone knows English because it’s one of the main languages for business, tourism, science, entertainment, and so much more. Even though English is the official language of 53 countries, I feel like the USA is such a huge influence on why the world knows it. Just looking at movies and music alone; the majority of what the world watches and listens to comes from the USA. I value where I come from a little more knowing how much we impact it and am motivated to learn a new language too!
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Author"I truly believe that everything happens for a reason. I don’t know if life is already planned out or if the butterfly effect really determines the future, but I am almost certain that the universe works to fulfill a purpose. Part of my purpose is to go to Spain. So many things could have stopped this trip, but yet I'm still here, writing about the trip that the universe could not stop..." Archives
November 2021
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