Being flung into Segovia, an ancient labyrinth of history, shortly after landing in Madrid was overwhelming to say the least. Segovia was different than any city I'd ever experienced. Through the bus window, the city welcomed me with its famous castle, the aqueduct, gorgeous plazas, and diverse neighborhoods I'd spend much of my time wandering around throughout my six-week stay.

After a whirlwind of meeting my host mom Julia at the bus station, I was happy to find that we had no problem communicating in Spanish.

At a lull in the conversation, a million different questions started running through my head: where is the school, what was my routine going to be like, will I make friends here?

Julia saw I was getting overwhelmed, and said the words I would repeat constantly through my time in Spain, "No pasa nada, guapa, tranquila," meaning, "relax, no worries," and sent me to my room for siesta.

I got to my bed and took a nap, as I would almost every day for the next six weeks. When I woke up, I felt a wave of tranquility wash over me; I was exactly where I was supposed to be.

Siesta ended up becoming one of my favorite things about Spain. Every day after eating lunch with my new family, I'd go to my room and write in my journal, read my Spanish politics and paintings textbooks, take a nap, or relax in the sun with my friends at the community pool.

After siesta, we'd get tapas or café con leche and enjoy each other's company while practicing our Spanish. Spanish culture taught me to slow down every day to reflect and unwind.

The "no pasa nada" mentality seeped into every aspect of how I lived in Spain. In my free time, I would take walks in the beautiful gardens, explore the Jewish and Arabic neighborhoods, and people-watch while drinking café con leche at outdoor cafes. I made it a point to soak in every drop of Spain that I could.  

My classes had a relaxed vibe as well. In my "Spain's role in the European Union" class, we would frequently go on adventures around town, learning about Segovia's rich cultural history past what was illustrated in the architecture. 

By the end of the program, I couldn't walk down a street without subconsciously naming what era each different kind of wall was from. I couldn't pass a church without the architecture silently telling me a story of its Arabic, Jewish or Catholic past.

Eleana, my Spanish art teacher, was one of my favorite people I met in Spain, and one of the best teachers I have ever had. She showed us around castles and museums and told us amazing stories of her years at art school.

I appreciated Eleana's relaxed nature, passion for life, quirky personality and immense knowledge of Spanish art and history. At the end of the program, Eleana took us to La Reina Sofia and El Prado, two very important art museums in Madrid, to see all of the art we had learned about. I've never been so thrilled in a museum!

Though it was just last summer that I was in Spain, it already feels like a lifetime ago. I lived every moment of my Spanish summer to the fullest, and the memories I have still pull me into Spaniard daydreams. All I have to do is close my eyes and remind myself, "No pasa nada, tranquila" and I'm there.

Photo by Maureen Stephan

By Nicole Burdiss

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