I wanted to share some photos with a bit of context, which will hopefully make people realize that what glitters isn't always gold. While on my study abroad experience I’ve had some amazing times, but photos don’t always show the other side of this experience - that just like at home, some days are hard!
Related to this first photo, I spent 20€, four hours painting, and a week of waiting (so it could be fired) on this mug for my "Seven Wonders of Spain" final exam, just for me to knock it off my desk while I was packing and have it shatter. Luckily it was after I presented it for class, but it didn't make it any less disappointing.
This second photo is from my first little weekend getaway, and I went to Paris about four weeks into the program. This photo was taken during my first few hours in Paris, so there was a lot going on from getting on my flight to arriving to my hostel. And since this was really my first time taking a solo trip, I wanted everything to go right so I didn’t bring my Airpods. For some reason that meant “out of sight, out of mind” for me. I didn’t notice that I didn't have my Airpods until I was at the Louvre trying to set the scene with some music to make me feel like the main character in a romcom. I checked the tracking just to see that they were back in Terminal 1 of the Barcelona airport - and no, unfortunately I was not able to get them back.
And here some other photos from my semester abroad. There were so many people involved to make this experience great and I really appreciate everyone who helped me along the way! Barcelona offered endless cultural experiences from tapas to the castellers (human towers). My School for International Studies (SIS) courses like Intercultural Communications deepened my global perspective. Living in such an active environment taught me independence, adaptability, and the joy of slowing down to embrace life’s moments. The friendships I built and the rich Catalan culture made this experience unforgettable. Barcelona truly has something for everyone - especially if you're in to any form of art!
