Jason Reid, Spring 2012
“Home is Where Your Rump Rests”
An attempt at the philosophy of being abroad
Por Jay Reid
Calendars can be very deceiving. Time seems to sneak away laughing right when you need her the most. After countless days, weeks, and months of staring at pictures of Spain on google images and watching the same episode of Anthony Bourdain’s “No Reservations” in which he visits Spain and immerses himself in its culture, I realized that when go-time was around the corner, I had barely done any research at all, and was far from prepared. Now, although I like to think of myself as a well-adaptable, Jason Bourne-like super spy with the ability to pick up and leave in minutes with just a backpack- that’s hardly the case. After literally scrambling to finish packing as my ride approached my house, I thought to myself “here we go again…”
To fly ‘stand-by’ is a lot like gambling, and involves hoping that someone who has the same travel plans as you gets a flat tire on their way to the airport, or passes out in the cocktail lounge after one too many martinis and misses check-in. Flying ‘stand-by’ is basically nabbing an empty seat at the last minute for a sometimes discounted price. It’s a risky business, but it’s a business that I’m familiar with, and, half of the time, it pays off well. In this case, I hit the jack-pot. Until the last minute, I had no idea whether or not I was leaving for Spain, and I know that I probably drove the International Studies Abroad (ISA) coordinator Tiffany Simpson bonkers with my flakey travel plans. However, as I boarded US Airways flight 740 non-stop to Madrid and took my ridiculously discounted seat in first class, I knew that my risk taking had paid off, and that it would be a great birthday for me.
That’s right; I celebrated my 27th birthday in mid-air as we changed time zones. As I paged through my magazine and some birthday cards from friends and family, I looked back at the prior year and beyond with nostalgia, but then looked forward with as much anticipation and wonder as one of those little hobbits before their grand adventure in the Lord of the Rings. “I will name this trip The Walkabout,” I said to myself.
The infamous philosopher of the television show “Lost,” John Locke, defines the word walkabout as a period of self-discovery. I’m setting out to not only learn a new language and learn about a foreign place, but I’m adventuring into the strange, somewhat unstable yet always entertaining mind of myself. I, like all people, have strengths, weaknesses, and demons to be conquered. It is important to keep a holistic view of your motive while going abroad. If your goal is to master a language, speak that language. If it is to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro, wear comfortable shoes and train in high altitude. If it is to re-invent yourself, let your guard down, and let people in. And if it is to find love…well, sorry I can’t help you but good luck with that. The point is, stay the course young grasshopper.
It’s never fun leaving family and friends behind, but what leaving family and friends does, is almost immediately reminds you of how lucky you are to have them in your life. The first time I left my family and friends was when I joined the military several years ago. And after all the times I have left my loved ones behind, it has never gotten easier. I wonder how nice we would be to each other and how much more we would appreciate each other if we had the short-term memory of a dog, because when you leave your dog for 5 minutes, you are attacked with scratches and licks as if you had been away for one-hundred years. Don’t feel bad about leaving your loved ones behind, even if they are of ill health or enduring some other type of problem. You can be assured that the last thing they want you to do is miss out on an opportunity of a lifetime on their account. Fact: your time abroad will fly by, so don’t worry about it. Give them the gift of missing you, and it shall be returned to you, and your relationship will be better for it.
As much as I did not want the constant flow of hot towels, shrimp cocktail, crab cakes, Ben and Jerry’s ice cream and an unlimited supply of birthday champagne to end, I was ready to step foot in a new land. It certainly helped that I speak and read fairly good Spanish, so it was certainly easier than navigating the Narita airport in Tokyo before my year-long deployment there. When you arrive, look, listen, and pay attention to detail. But if you really want to feel good about yourself, just sit back, grab a glass of wine, and enjoy the real-time comedy show that is “foreigners arriving at the airport.” I wonder if the Native Americans enjoyed the same type of humor as they watched from their tree-forts with their peace pipes as the pilgrims tripped over their impractical clothing as they navigated the forest. Regardless, don’t worry about how silly you might look or sound in the airport, because you can bet your bottom dollar that there are 50 others within shouting distance who make you look as smooth as James Bond.
Believe it or not, there are strange, un-educated cavemen/women out there who don’t speak American. I know, it’s a sobering thought, but it is the truth. Don’t worry about their lack of speech ability or insight; just remember that you’re an American, and that they are there to serve you. Sarcasm is fun. Respect the house you just walked into. You’re not going to fit in very well, especially if you arrive in Spain looking like the red-headed Scotsman that I am. Smile and wave boys and girls, you’d be surprised how far nice gestures go.
¡No toques la fruta! I don’t know about you, but I like to inspect the fruit that I buy, and leave behind those inferior apples and oranges for the flies. Well, here in the stunningly beautiful city of Granada, Spain, you are not allowed to do such a thing, and you will get yelled at for doing so. Lesson learned; monkey see, monkey do. Watch and learn, and read signs when you can. But don’t worry, I played the James Bond card, and with a smile and a wink, I think the girl behind the counter forgave me. Or not.
You will be amazed at how quickly you fall into the rhythm of daily life in your respective study abroad country. They say that’s a good thing. I, however, somewhat disagree with that, and here’s why. Human beings, as weak, fleshy, and susceptible to germs as we are, are also very adaptable organisms. You will memorize your way home from classes through the narrow European roads or through the jungle or wherever you are, without even noticing it. Your pallet will get used to local food and drinks very quickly. You will get used to the Spanish siesta and their extremely nocturnal ways of going out at night. You will get used to looking for traffic coming from the opposite side of the street that you’re used to. I argue that you should try not to get too accustomed to daily life. Remind yourself every day that you are wherever you are. Try to feel culture shock every day. Eat and drink slowly while trying to enjoy every moment. Find your home away from home, but use it as a staging point to explore. Get lost. Many will tell you to keep a map on you at all times, and as smart as that may be, a map might prevent you from stumbling upon a hidden treasure that you normally wouldn’t have found.
You are about to embark upon a great crusade- physical, mental, and spiritual. Embrace the adventure. Embrace the longing for your girlfriend/boyfriend/family/dog. Skype has shrunken the size of the world, so you’ll almost always be inches away from their faces when you need them. But don’t spend your study abroad experience sitting in front of your computer, talking about the events of every day. Where has the lost art of storytelling gone? Isn’t it fun to catch up with someone after a long time and exaggerate your stories with them?
I’m thirsty and a glass of red wine from the Spanish Rioja region is screaming my name. So while I do that, take my thoughts for what they are. If you are thinking about studying abroad, stop. Stop thinking about it and sign up as soon as possible. If you are already abroad, remind yourself why you are there at least once a day, because it’s already today. And tomorrow is only hours away. Enjoy that you traveled to a distant land in a flying metal tube and are living amongst strange tribes that speak a different language. Man, travel is a beautiful thing.
Good luck to you, and as Keanu Reeves said in my favorite movie Point Break… “Vaya con Dios.”