"Through my involvement in the CWCTP and the Global Engineering Residential Academic Program, I decided that having a knowledge of another language increases a student鈥檚 basic understanding for culture, mental framework, and multi-cultural interactions. As an individual who has enjoyed traveling and discussing cultural variations through politics and philosophy, I searched for a way to study Spanish through an emersion setting. I used the Work Away website to find a Family in North Western Spain with whom I could trade work on their flower farm for room andboard.
For six weeks from July to mid-August I lived in Castrillos De Cepeda, a small Village of around 400 people. The nearest town 15 km away of, famous for its chocolate and as a stop on the Camino De Santiago (the Way of Saint James), was 15 km away. This small-town life style allowed for a very relaxed, and slow lifestyle somewhat archetypal of Spain. The flowers we cut were sold for bouquets at local markets, though, my job was only ever to maintain the flowers and greenhouses in the village.
I had the privilege to live with another girl who was also helping on the farm from Switzerland, Mel, who is studying law in Bern. Bel茅n (my host sister), Mel, and I were all able to have extensive conversations on politics, philosophy, and culture within our given back-rounds. I was able to encounter many conversations like these especially with young people (whowere more likely to speak English) when we would go to the nearby cities for tapas or cortos (short drinks) which furthered by understanding of European politics.
In my evaluations of what I learned since I鈥檝e returned (not just in language) but in cultural understanding, is contrary to what one might expect. Although I learned a large amount about Spanish culture, there was a cultivation of understanding of the United States鈥� culture and interactions internationally, if not an emphasis on the importance of understanding the U.S.A.鈥檚 role in international politics. I greatly enjoyed being able to see how others see us, in a context which had not been available to me before. I am far more interested in the implications of our foundations which sponsor our actions across the globe, as well as within our own Nation. I want to thank the center for its generosity and values for supporting my summer endeavors which I believe will help shape the citizen I will become in furthering my education."
-Laura Murray
CWCTP Undergraduate Fellow