Has My YA Changed Me?

After being home from the first part of my YA in Spain, I reflected on if my time abroad has changed me before I head off again to France in a month or so.

Before my year abroad started I heard and read of so many people saying that your year abroad completely changes you and you come back a different person with different interests and now find yourself bored with the things that used to interest you.

While thinking about this at first I thought I hadn't changed much at all. I mean I still like the same things I did, I still act like I did and I still have the same hopes as I did. However, when I started thinking about it I guess I have changed more than I would have thought. 

Before my YA I'd never flown alone, never travelled alone, never had to deal with bureaucracy alone, never lived anywhere that wasn't my family home and certainly never taught a bunch of teenagers. 

This year has seen my fly alone and deal with trains and public transport as well as travelling to different cities solo. These things at first were hard but during the 9 months it has become much easier and things I don't really think about before doing any more. I've always been shy and always had someone to ask for things for me. However, this year I've not only had to do this myself but I've had to do it in Spanish. So in theory if I can do it in Spanish, I should have no problem in England where I don't have to think about how to ask the question in another language first. 

Another thing I've had to deal with is Spanish bureaucracy in getting my NIE and setting up a bank account. This is particularly hard in a country that shuts up in the early afternoon, where they have no idea what urgency is and see absolutely no need to rush anything. These experiences have not only tested my patience but made me vow to appreciate the British way of doing things. 

I've definitely become more confident and independent which after dealing with teenagers everyday was probably inevitable. I trust my instincts more and do more things that I never had to do back home. I've learnt to cook new things and I've learnt how to use a washing machine and actually have to do washing. So I guess I have changed albeit not in obviously huge ways. I'm definitely the same person with regards to my interests but aspects of my personality have changed which I guess is inevitable after 9 months in a different country.