A Friendship That Built a Foundation

Ponme una de papa y una de rueda!” My chocolate-stained notebook pages flutter in the breeze as I write this reflection from my favorite churros stand on the banks of the Guadalquivir in Sevilla, Spain. It’s been eight years since I’ve been back to this place my heart calls home, and although the city has modernized and changed, it’s as if not even a day has passed since the last time I sat in the Andalucian sunshine at the end of this bridge.

When I first came to Sevilla as a student in 2009, I knew I wanted to make local friends, and it wasn’t long until I jumped on the opportunity to sign up for an intercambio, a Spanish-language buddy who wanted to practice their English. My school coordinator handed me a small slip of paper with the name “Fernando” and a phone number and wished me luck, so off I went, trying to formulate my best text message in Spanish. Erasing several attempts, I finally pressed send and waited anxiously for a reply. By that evening, Fernando and I were chatting back and forth via text and landed on a meeting spot for our first hangout the following day.

Sitting on the steps of the Torre del Oro, I searched the faces of each college-age passerby. That guy looks in a bad mood…I hope that’s not him. Oh, maybe that guy!...Nope. My American punctuality meant that I was still getting used to the rhythm of what being “on time” (i.e., 20 minutes late) in Sevilla meant, and after an extra half hour on pins and needles, I finally heard a warm “Holaaaaa” and looked up to find Fernando approaching me. My anxiety melted away throughout the afternoon as we walked around the city center for hours, getting to know each other, practicing our respective languages, and eating ice cream to fend off the unrelenting September heat. It was clear we had become fast friends, and I looked forward to our next outing, planned for that weekend when he would introduce me to some of his friends.

The Hope of Intercultural Exchange

For the rest of the semester, we were nearly inseparable, meeting up whenever we could with Raquel, Julia, María del Pilar, and Marta. Their friendship and eagerness to share their lives and their city with me became a defining point in my young adulthood. Along the way, Fernando and his friends taught me what it means to embrace someone with warmth, to eagerly share your life with people, to bask in the joy of the moment, and to see the world through a new cultural lens. I met so many incredible people during my semester, and when I returned to Sevilla to work in my first study abroad role a few years later, those people were a big reason for taking the job.

Along the way, Fernando and his friends taught me what it means to embrace someone with warmth, to eagerly share your life with people, to bask in the joy of the moment, and to see the world through a new cultural lens.

I can’t say for certain that deciding to sign up for an intercambio and meeting Fernando that day changed the trajectory of my career and pointed me to international education. There were, of course, many factors that led to my work in study abroad. However, I can say that our friendship has and continues to teach me about the hope of intercultural exchange and shapes my understanding of how to extend a spirit of embracing warmth and welcome to those around me. Now, as midcareer adults with professional aspirations, partners, and a different set of life responsibilities, Fernando, our other friends, and I continue to build on the foundation of the friendship we created all those years ago.

The Power of Connections

As I think about where to look next in my own professional growth and the hopes that I have for the field of international education, the world feels very different than it did when I started in the field. We’ve lived through what feels like 100 years of “unprecedented” and “once-in-a-lifetime” events in just over a decade, and the work we dedicate ourselves to feels more important and high stakes than ever. However, at the core of our mission, the human connection of intercultural exchange and education is what inspires me most.

As more professionals join our field, I hope they realize the importance of surrounding themselves with a network of friends and mentors that bring them joy, push them forward, and open their eyes to new perspectives. It is a privilege to have people in my life like Fernando, and over the years, I’ve joyfully added many more spectacular individuals to my circle. May we not only gather those supporters around us, but may we also be them to our colleagues and others in our lives, sharing our warmth, our compassion, our experiences, and lessons learned.

At the core of our mission, the human connection of intercultural exchange and education is what inspires me most.

I think the Katie that sat on the steps of the Torre del Oro in 2009 waiting for Fernando would be delighted to see herself here enjoying churros this morning, all these years later, messaging with Fernando to meet up later in the day. As I close this reflection, I am reminded of the words of the great Spanish poet Antonio Machado: "Caminante, no hay camino, se hace camino al andar." (Traveler, there is no path, the path is made by walking.) I believe that this is a fitting metaphor for our journey in life and in the field of international education. We may not always know where the path will lead, but we must step forward with courage, curiosity, and a willingness to embrace the unknown. And, along the way, let us make a point to connect with others, share our stories, and learn from different perspectives. For it is through these connections that we will make the most profound impact on the world—and the world upon us.  •

Katie Wiggins-Gawlik is the university relations manager for the Midwest and Northeast United States for ISEP Study Abroad. She is also on NAFSA's education abroad Consular Affairs Liaison Subcommittee and serves as Spain country coordinator.