Two Americans step off a plane in Madrid, Spain and contemplate their first impressions of a foreign land. One person thinks to himself how confusing the signs are compared to back home. He tries to scope out a vendor selling hamburgers, as he curses the European food served on the plane. The other inhales the new air while admiring the structure and creativity of the architecture. He notices the habits of the natives as they avoid eye contact and communicate quietly in as few words as possible. Tourists are bias in what they encounter, limiting how much they consume of a new place, while travelers are open to new ideas and traditions. Travelers make vacationing worthwhile; tourists give Americans a bad name. I was fortunate enough to know the difference between the two, and took on all five weeks with my eyes and ears open.
I made it my personal goal to pick up on any ordinary maneuvers that seemed foreign to a sheltered American. This new fascination supported my academic appeal in human psychology. I was truly overwhelmed by how people are so heavily shaped by their particular living conditions. I learned that Americans speak much louder than Spaniards. While eating in a restaurant, the Spanish people did not laugh out loud or call for their waiter across the room. Twirling pasta was unheard-of and a 15% tip was a lucky day. Many nights I sat back and observed those in a city square, not knowing a person, only admiring our differences. As a psychology major, I would have the chance to discover and understand the differences in peoples lives based on their backgrounds. Attending UT, I will gain the chance to learn about various ideas and interests fr
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