Hi, my name is Katie LaBuda and I had the opportunity to live and study in Granada, Spain! Granada is a beautiful, colorful, and lively city in southern Spain, part of the autonomous community of Andalusia. The city is nestled in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, something that immediately caught my attention. I study environmental science here at the University of Montana and I initially chose Granada because I loved the idea of being in a city surrounded by nature. The Sierra Nevada even has a ski resort where, from the top, you can see the ocean. Meaning that you can ski and swim in the Mediterranean on the same day. One weekend, I did exactly that — climbing a snowy peak in bitter winds on Saturday, and then less than 24 hours later, spending a Sunday relaxing with my host family on the sunny beaches of southern Spain!

At first, it was the outdoors that drew me to Granada, but in the end, it’s the culture, traditions, and people of Andalusia that I’ll remember forever. They created the perfect atmosphere for me to dive into my global theme of culture and politics. Granada itself is full of vibrant culture. There was flamenco music and dance constantly filling the tiny quarters of the historic city sections. Art and intricate ceramic tiles filled homes and public spaces. Meals were a time to enjoy with friends and family, spanning for hours on end. It was a place where individuals truly took their time to live and enjoy. 

In addition to general culture, I specifically wanted to learn more about the Spanish language and dialects within the country. Learning a new language has been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember. So to prepare for this incredible experience I minored in Spanish here in Montana so that in Granada I could be fully immersed. I took all my courses in Spanish and opted into living with a host family, one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I had the goal of not only studying Spanish but living it. Through this, I was surrounded daily by the food, music and conversations that locals actually enjoy. On the flip side, I also got a real insight into the economical and political struggles that the country faces. I watched the news daily with my host mom and our conversations forced me to consider new perspectives and ideas. 

As for my global challenge, I focused on how dialects are changing within our modern world. While I still have so much to learn about this topic, I was able to hear many different dialects and accents throughout Spain as I traveled the country. Adjusting to each person’s accent was one of the most difficult yet rewarding parts of my time abroad. My host dad, for example, spoke with a very thick Andalusian accent, which I struggled to understand for much of my stay. Those conversations led to plenty of awkward moments, but just as many laughs. In addition, I took a course that explored the dialects of Spanish around the world, which gave me a deeper understanding of how and why regions within Spain speak so differently, even while sharing the same language.

This experience helped me grow not only as a student, but also as a person and a leader. I immersed myself in a completely new environment where nothing felt familiar, and instead of shying away, I leaned into the discomfort. As a result, I gained greater confidence in myself and in my ability to navigate the unknown. Now that I am back in a familiar environment, I feel optimistic and prepared to face any personal or professional challenges that come my way. I also know this will not be the last time I travel abroad, and for that, I am deeply grateful to GLI and to this life-changing experience.