I had the most amazing experience studying abroad in Barcelona for 3.5 months. The people were welcoming, the culture was vibrant, the food was mouth watering, the beaches were beautiful, the mountains ripped through the sky, and the architecture painted a tale of history. I made lifelong friends and have unforgettable memories. I can truly say it was a transformative experience. Below are three aspects of Barcelona that I found myself missing when I returned back to the United States.
Food
The food in Barcelona is absolutely incredible. One thing that may be surprising to many is the vast variety of quality international cuisines. Barcelona is becoming more culturally diverse every day, with lots of people moving to the city and calling it home. This has caused a boom in different types of restaurants - Italian, Chinese, Indian, Moroccan, and many more!
Of course, the food from Spain or Catalonia, the larger region surrounding Barcelona, is the best though. My personal favorite dish was patatas bravas. They are lightly fried potato cubes topped with a spicy alioli sauce. Alioli directly translates to "garlic and olive oil", which gives you a good indication of its flavor. In my opinion, patatas bravas are like french fries but 10 times better. I also loved the jamón ibérico, which is a type of cured ham and is known to be the highest quality in the world. You can find it all over Spain.
I also observed the food as a whole to be much cheaper than in the United States, while also being made with better quality ingredients.
Architecture
Barcelona is known for its incredible architecture, with lots of different influences from across the world, and its truly beautiful. The Gothic Quarter is the oldest part of the city and is filled with a lot of Gothic architecture including the famous Cathedral of Barcelona, which dates back to around the 14th century. There is also Roman architecture throughout the city, as well as more modern styles.
Of course, one of the city's main attractions is La Sagrada Familia, which is a basilica. It is ginormous and in my opinion it looks like a drip sand castle that you make at the beach. Upon seeing it, I was stunned and stared at it for the longest time. I took part in a guided tour of the interior and I learned that every single piece is an intentional detail with lots of thought behind it and/or religious significance.
Quality of Life
Spain is known for having a great quality of life. Compared to the U.S., everything operates at a much more relaxed and friendly pace. In addition, the beaches, mountains, and overall geography are a pleasure to the eye. I have felt that it's easy to get caught up in a rush in America and get stressed. However, Barcelona seems to discourage that and is more about enjoying the present moment. To give an example, you can feel this when going out to eat. In Spain, they'll never ask you if you want the check because they don’t want to rush you. It is generally on you to let them know that you are ready to pay and leave. This makes for great long lunches or dinners with friends.
I can personally say that in the neighborhood I lived in, everything I needed was a stone’s throw away. From talking to other students, I found that everyone felt this way. I loved leaving my apartment and leisurely walking less than 100 feet to great restaurants, grocery stores, and pharmacies.
Although I miss all of these things, it has been enjoyable to return to the U.S. as well. Immersing myself in another culture made me more conscious of my surroundings, and I found myself being more appreciative of all of the great things that the U.S. also has to offer. Overall, my eyes were opened in Barcelona to all of the wonders of life, and I made sure to cherish it all. There’s definitely something special in the air there.
Nicholas Karapelou
Nick is a Biology major at the University of Miami. He studied abroad with Barcelona SAE at the School for International Studies (SIS) for the Spring 2024 semester. Nick is serving as a Barcelona SAE Alumni Ambassador through the Fall 2024 semester.
