For a long, long time before coming to Sevilla, I was a bit terrified of the prospect of not knowing anyone when I came here. I was the only one who came from my school, and that fact had worried me. For those of you who are scared to go on a semester aboard for fear of not finding connections and making friends, know that I see you. Making lasting connections in a different culture is one of the most difficult but rewarding experiences you can have.
The first thing that I would say is the most important, but also the most challenging is building community. For me, this started with a lot of prayer. I wanted to feel like I fit, and find connection an ocean away, and I’ve found people to build deep relationships. If you ask, the Lord will answer.
It continued with having courage. The first week I was there I went to a youth group meeting at the local church, Iglesia Evangélica de Hermanos “Betania” de Sevilla, or Betania for short. We had been in Sevilla for a little over a week when I decided to go, and I was terrified. However, it was one of the best decisions that I made. I attended consistently when they met, and I’ve loved it at Betania, I have had the wonderful opportunity to create lasting connections in the body of Christ, here in Sevilla.
Another opportunity to create lasting connections that I would recommend is to have a compañer@ de intercambio, which is basically a language exchange partner in which they want to learn one language and you want to learn another. In this case, English and Spanish. I met my compañera de intercambio, Eva, the second week I was here, and it was incredible. She and I connected well, and I got the opportunity to go to her house for lunch and went to her daughter’s gymnastics competition! The more time you spend with your intercambio the more you can improve your Spanish and create a wonderful friendship in the process.
The best way to create meaningful relationships is to spend time with people. Whether that be going on trips with other students from your program, spending time with the awesome staff at TCCSevilla, meeting other Americans from other programs or even simply creating friends as you experience Spanish culture (including your señoras!). The more you get out there and explore, the more likely you will be able to create deeper friendships. It just takes time, attention, and courage.
It may be difficult and frustrating at times, but through it all, you have a friend in Jesus, and through Him, you can make meaningful connections that can last a lifetime. For those of you who are nervous or on the fence about participating in Semester in Spain, please do, because you never know what incredible things that the Lord will do.
~Hannah Roelofs, Spring 2025
