Moore, Gabriella

Gabriella Moore

Why did you choose to study abroad and how did you select your program?
- I chose to study abroad because I have always wanted to travel the world and immerse myself in another culture. One of my academic goals abroad was to improve my Spanish because one day I would like to be able to speak to my patients without having to call an interpreter. I selected my program because I wanted a diverse array of Spanish elective courses that I could choose from while being there. One of my courses there allowed me to teach local primary school students English each week, which is something that I have always wanted to do. I also took courses about the Gastronomy of Spain, and the history of Spain, and I was also able to take a painting course, which counted as one of my General Education requirements. Many of the professors at the University of Sevilla also paired American students with Local students, so we could each practice our respective foreign languages (this was called an intercambios). This provided me the opportunity to get to know some locals who were my age, which was also very beneficial and fun. I originally wanted to stay in a host family but decided to stay in a residencia with other Spanish-speaking students. This experience was eye-opening and taught me a lot about the student culture in Spain. Everyone has a different preference, but having more freedom in a residencia allowed me to accomplish certain goals that I had for abroad. I wanted to meet new people from all over the U.S. when going abroad, and I was able to do that through API. I could not recommend this enough. Although not knowing anyone going into my program was scary it was the most beneficial choice that I could have made. 

What did you learn about yourself?
I learned numerous things about myself abroad. One is that going out of my comfort zone is when I grow the most, and that traveling is the best form of therapy for me. I also learned how to live, which sounds ridiculous, but if there is anything the Spaniards know how to do is to have a work-life balance. Two major lessons that I learned are that it is never too late to start over, and that money will come back but experiences won't. 

What is one of your favorite memories from your program?
My favorite memory is traveling to Morocco with all of my friends. It happened to be during Ramadan, so we were able to see everything that this entails as we traveled from city to city. To get there, we took a 2-hour bus ride from Sevilla to Gibraltar, then took the ferry across the straight of Gibraltar at sunrise, and then a few days later took the ferry back at sunset. Being between two continents was a surreal experience, and I couldn't stop smiling; I was in awe. Traveling here opened my eyes to the strong arab influence in the South of Spain and how it still impacts Southern Spain to this day. 

What advice do you have for future study abroad students?
The best advice that I could give someone struggling abroad is to take it day by day and focus on the little things. Ask yourself what you can do to put yourself at ease, whether that is going to the park and reading each day, sending postcards home, or buying yourself gelato. I would also tell a person to remind themselves why they decided to go abroad. Keeping yourself grounded and surrounding yourself with wonderful people are key components to feeling secure, and comfortable, and being able to adjust while abroad. 

How do you identify?
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Could you share any experiences where your identity played a role in your time abroad?
My identity influenced the experiences that I chose to participate in and the trips that I was able to plan. I think that one of the first learning curves abroad is accepting the fact that you are looked down upon because you are American, however I think accepting yourself for who you are and being proud of who you are, are key components to traveling the world. This made me want to immerse myself in the countries that I traveled to more and made me want to learn more languages in the future. 

Is there any advice you would give to other students who share your identity?
I would tell students that it is never too late to start over and try something new. As a previous student-athlete, I was extremely lost after leaving my sport. I thought that I would never be able to find myself again and little did I know that less than a year later I would be the happiest I have ever been traveling the world with incredible new friends. I would also tell pre-health students to take advantage of this opportunity because although school and studying are important life is so much more than that. Studying abroad taught me that it is okay to take your path and it is so important to travel and immerse yourself in cultures around the world because you will learn more than you will ever learn in a classroom.

Memories