Tag: mtejan

By mtejan

With my time abroad coming to a close, I am able to reflect back on my semester in Madrid. I think I was extremely idealistic at the beginning of the semester, particularly in terms of my Spanish-speaking level. I have learned so much, and definitely have improved more in this semester than in the past 10 years of studying Spanish. With that being said, however, I do not think it is possible to be fluent in a language after only 4 months of complete immersion. Whenever I am speaking to a waiter or a store worker or even someone on the street, I start by warning them that Spanish is not my first language. I am a conversational level, and my host family tells me I am too hard on myself but I think I am just so anxious to be fluent!

...continue reading "2 More Weeks"

By mtejan

I place a lot of my cultural roots in food. It is how I feel connected to my family and my heritage but also how I can learn about a new culture. I am half Sierra Leonean and half Irish and mealtime is extremely important in both cultures. Sitting down and having meals is one of the best times to learn about someone else’s triumphs and struggles. My host family sits down for dinner as a family every night at 10pm. I note the time because of how late Spaniards eat dinner. That timing of meals has definitely been something to get used to but it also helps you understand the set up of Spanish culture. Lunch is late, around 2 or 3pm and followed by a siesta. Lunch is the largest meal of the day, usually a meat and vegetable dish. After siesta, people go back to work and after work might get tapas or something small to eat then return home by 10pm for dinner which is a much lighter meal. I love the Spanish eating culture and hopefully I can continue it when I get back to the US. ...continue reading "Culture Through Food"

By mtejan

Catholicism is a huge part of the culture in Spain! This photo shows a major church is Madrid but also shows how much refugee crisis is all of Europe. The sign that states “Refugees Welcome” has gone viral and shows the church’s stance on the issue.

GW Madrid this semester is comprised of 7 girls. We take all of our classes together and go on GW excursions as a group! Here we are at El Escorial, a historical palace, monastery, and burial ground for Spanish royalty. ...continue reading "My GW Madrid Community"

By mtejan

I am Texan but I was born in Kentucky. I am Texan but I am not a republican. But still, I am a Texan. I am not apart of many of the stereotypes associated with Texas. I was born in Kentucky but I was raised in Dallas, TX. Texans are people with immense pride in their state, their culture, and their history. Although I am not a born Texan, I absolutely consider myself one of them. It is interesting how being from Texas impacts so many aspects of my life, however, I suppose one’s hometown always has a heavy weight on their life. My experiences growing up have shaped who I am today and I was raised to always have pride in where I come from. Many people have preconceived notions about what Texans are like and I love to be the person who proves them wrong. Not all Texans carry guns, ride horses, or live in small towns. I love Tex-Mex, the state fair, and the Texas flag.
I am an American. I was born and raised in the United States. I sing the national anthem and say the pledge of allegiance. However, my mother is an Irish immigrant and my father is a Sierra Leonean immigrant and I am a citizen of the two nations. People are always so surprised when I tell them about my background but I wear my culture with pride. I do not think my mixed culture makes me any less American. The United States is a nation built on immigrants of course. I do think though that input of the two cultures has given me a unique perspective on American life.  I am so incredibly grateful to live in the US but also to have been able to travel to both Ireland and Sierra Leone and see where I come from. I can understand more about myself and my history which has helped me feel more comfortable in my own skin. I think being mixed with three diverse cultures has also fueled my academic endeavors in International Affairs and given me a curiosity about different cultures. ...continue reading "Little Old Me"