The beginning of February marked my first full month abroad in Alicante, Spain. And genuinely, I do not think these photos and small paragraphs will be able to capture the raw beauty and life-changing experiences my time here has already brought me.

The first photo I’ve included in my blog post is not one that captures the country’s natural beauty, but one that documents the diversity of Alicante and the international experiences I’ve had thus far. Upon arrival, my peers and I began a month-long intensive Spanish course. I was the only Mizzou student to arrive in Spain without a lick of Spanish, hence, I was placed in a small, beginners-only A1 level class. We had five students: Lisa and Daniel, a couple from Kazakhstan; Ayoub, from Marruecos; Luna, from China; and me, from the United States. While none of us could communicate with each other, we spent 15 hours a week pouring over Spanish textbooks and learning how to introduce ourselves. And interestingly enough, I learned how few words are needed to make friends. I can say with certainty that this was my first eye-opening international experience.

Growing up in Missouri without having traveled, I rarely encountered a language barrier, especially with individuals my own age. Yet, within this classroom, I had access to a plethora of new languages and cultures, all held by college students I would soon call my friends. And again, while we all struggled to communicate, we bonded over our determination to learn, and as the class drew to an end, our broken Spanish became the lingua franca that connected us all. Lisa, with who I have grown closest, is in my second language intensive course, A1+. Naturally, we spend our school days absorbing Spanish lectures and on breaks, we share coffee and peanut M&Ms — all while gossiping about cute Spanish boys in our broken, beginner-level lingua franca. I look forward to many more friendships like this during my time abroad; not only do they challenge me to learn about new languages and cultures, but they offer me an international perspective on life through friendship. Because no matter what language you speak or where you come from, everyone understands a smile.

The second photo I’ve chosen to share is one that you had to see coming. I’m incredibly thankful to have been selected to study in the beautiful country of Spain, but the idea became almost unreal when I realized I’m not just anywhere in Spain; I’m on the coast of one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. A frequent tourist destination, Alicante’s natural beauty is breathtaking. A quick 15-minute walk and I’m on a white sand beach, with Mediterranean water lapping at my toes. Now, I have never been one for nature, and I’ve always proudly worn my “city girl” label. However, I don’t think I ever realized how important nature was for my mental and physical health. I’ve found solace in long walks on the beach, and the hikes with my friends on neighboring mountains bring me joy through exercise.

In Missouri, going out into nature consisted of driving to a nearby trail to walk along a beaten gravel road crowded with runners, to look at the never ending and sprawling Midwestern hills. Hills that, growing up in Columbia, I had seen every day of my life. Here, I have access to new beaches, mountains, watering holes and natural crevices so beautiful it takes my breath away. I simply cannot get enough of the outdoors.

In the U.S, I lived in a dirty, mold-filled basement apartment, with two windows I couldn’t even open. Now, my bedroom window stays open daily, and every morning, I watch the sunrise over the ocean water on my TRAM ride to school. I look forward to going outside and breathing salty ocean air while exploring Spain’s natural wonders. Keeping my head clear and my body active has been a gift I didn’t see coming, and it’s all because of the beauty that is Alicante.