It’s been five months since I came back to the U.S. after a semester in Spain. My journal is full of reflections on how the experience changed me for the better; I discovered more things about myself and the world while abroad than I can count. Besides the personal revelations, I also developed some healthy habits. Here are just a few everyday customs I picked up in Seville.

As I boarded the plane last year at my connection in Munich on the way to my study abroad location in Seville, Spain, I squinted suspiciously at the crowd around me. My stomach threatening to flip inside out, I committed myself to the task of examining my fellow passengers, many of whom were around my age and laden with bulging carry-ons like mine. How many of them were study abroad students? Would any of them be in my program? And most importantly, did they seem nice?

Hobbies and interests. I puzzled over the words on the CEA housing questionnaire. They were intended as a way to pair me up with another student with similar inclinations for my future homestay, not a philosophical dilemma. But as I typed my answer in the box (writing, video editing, hiking, piano, singing, cooking), I felt like a poser.

I couldn’t help but roll my eyes when I learned I’d be required to take a language or culture elective through CEA during my semester in Seville, Spain. After a solid 10 minutes of grumbling about how it wouldn’t count for my major, I begrudgingly signed up for the one that looked the most interesting: The Culture of Food & Wine in Spain. I fully expected it to be one of those classes you can just blow off: easy and fun, but ultimately a waste of time.

I’d planned on spending a semester abroad since middle school. What I hadn’t planned on was being in a serious relationship when the time came to pack my bags and go. But that’s where I found myself last fall. A quick look at my search history testifies to my inner turmoil at the time. “Dating while studying abroad.” “Long distance dating tips.” “Can you study abroad with a boyfriend?”

Seville is a beautiful city. From the grandeur of the Plaza de España to the breathtaking views from Las Setas, it boasts countless Instagram-worthy places. But the best memories of my semester haven’t been in any of these spots. They’ve been under harsh fluorescent lights, gathered around plates of patatas bravas on sticky metal tables at the bar downstairs with my little friend group. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.