Jamie Ackerman-Harvie studied abroad in Oviedo during the 2004-2005 academic year. Here is a testimonial of her experience and the way it impacted her life.
Jamie and her husband will soon the the proud parents of their first child, yet another life changing event! This picture and the innocence and sweetness it portrays is one of our most treasured images of the students that have studied abroad with us!
“When I left for Oviedo, I only knew that I wanted to learn Spanish and to live overseas. Little did I know how much the AHA program would impact the course of my life!
The intensive language program appealed to me because I’d always been a poor Spanish student, shy to speak and embarrassed to use it outside the classroom. I figured that landing myself in the middle of a Spanish-speaking community would give me no choice but to practice and learn!
It turns out I was right. From the moment I arrived in Madrid, I actually wanted to use the language and became more confident every time someone understood (hey, this actually works!). My nine-month experience was a series of exciting jumps and frustrating plateaus, but by the time I left I could think in Spanish even when I first woke up or when I was tired. I felt that the new language was “really in there” – a permanent part of my brain.
I very much recommend a full year program. For me, sticking with it over many months (including dealing with the homesickness) was instrumental in getting as far as I did. Though I’ve only used my Spanish somewhat infrequently since leaving Oviedo, I still feel comfortable and confident with it.
Staying for a longer period of time also saw Oviedo became like home. Carmen and the others in the AHA office were a constant supportive presence, and became less like advisors and more like real friends as time went on – ah, look at our little students; they’ve learned so much and become so independent!
I chose to live in an apartment with two Spanish girls during the second part of the year. It turned out to be an intense experience! There was no mutual acknowledgement of cultural differences, no speaking slowly for those learning Spanish. But it was also the single most helpful push for my language skills and cultural self-awareness, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
And what happened after the program was over? Well, I married an Australian guy I met in Oviedo! (He chose to study on Spain’s north coast because of its world-class surf.) We’ve since split our lives between Adelaide, Australia and Portland, Oregon and had a great time traveling the world as much as we can. He became a Spanish teacher and now takes students on excursions back to Spain, much to my jealousy.
I’ve used my skills in a less direct way. Living in Oviedo helped me define who I was, feel more confident and become a better communicator. I’ve gone on to a career in writing and marketing for community-based projects. I’ve been successful in this field because I feel comfortable talking with people from different backgrounds and eager to jump into challenging situations. Both of these traits I can trace back to my time living abroad.
Living inOviedo is one of the most treasured experiences of my life. There are a thousand more stories I could tell, but instead I’ll just recommend studying abroad to anyone wanting to their broaden horizons. You may not know how it will change your life, but it certainly will.