Love in the Language Schools

I (Ben) was very much looking forward to continuing my Spanish studies at Middlebury Language Schools, but didn’t quite know what the Middlebury experience would bring. Something I was surprised to encounter were fellow students who were already native speakers of Spanish arriving from all around the globe. I suppose I was naïve to expect to be among only students like me, who spoke English as a first language and came in the hopes of perfecting their language skills.

Meanwhile, I (Paulina) came all the way from Ecuador to Vermont, already a native speaker, hoping that I would be challenged to learn more about my own language and worldwide culture. It was the first time I had traveled by myself to another country. The Middlebury campus seemed so big at first and the American traditions that I experienced were very different from those in my home country.   

In just the first few days, Paulina and I made a common friend (Owen) who encouraged each of us - on separate occasions - to meet up with some other first year students at the popular spot “Dos Hermanos” (Two Brothers Tavern) in the center of town.

As soon as I (Paulina) entered the room, I saw Ben from a distance. He had not yet noticed me, but everyone got together to meet one another while latin music played in the background. This is when I (with the help of a friend) gathered the courage to ask Ben to dance.

I (Ben) of course accepted, we started to dance, Paulina taught me some bachata and salsa steps, and we chatted about each other and the journeys that brought us to Middlebury.

It is interesting to look back on the fact that Ben and I didn’t share any classes during our first summer. However, because the community at the Spanish School is such a special, united, and friendly group, we were able to find countless opportunities to be together at different activities like movies, sports competitions, hiking trips to local lakes, dances, musical performances, and even presentations by our professors and classmates. During the rest of our free time, we enjoyed studying together at the library in Bi Hall and had the opportunity to learn about each other and talk about our lives, families, and faith. 

Doing all of this in Spanish (the language we both came to study) made the experience all the more special. After what might seem like a short 6 weeks to the outside world, it felt like we had known each other for a long time. 

It was difficult knowing that Ben was going to continue his studies with the Middlebury Spanish program in Spain while I (Paulina) was heading to back to Ecuador after just meeting each other, but we were able to overcome the distance and continue with our relationship knowing that the bond we had created was so strong. 

Since I had completed more of the program than Paulina after my studies in Spain, it was a blessing that we could study together in Argentina during my final summer of the Master’s program. I was even able to be at Middlebury (studying at the French school) this past summer to accompany Paulina during her last semester of the Spanish program. It only made sense that Middlebury, a place so special to us, would be the spot for me to ask Paulina to marry me!

Students in the Middlebury Spanish Graduate program have many options to complete their degree, including options in Vermont, Argentina, Madrid, and online. Note online options are only for the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) with a Secondary Teaching License (Modern Languages).