Studying abroad in Barcelona was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I had the amazing opportunity to see the world, meet new people, learn Spanish from native speakers, and immerse myself in Spanish culture. Barcelona SAE gave me an amazing time abroad. I could talk about my experience all day, but I’ll give a few reasons why I think everyone should at least consider studying abroad.
The People You Meet
During my time in Barcelona (and studying at the University of Barcelona), I met people from all around the world. I had students in my classes from all over the world. The friendships that came from my courses are some that I will never forget. It was so cool to bond and spend time with individuals from all different cultures and backgrounds. They were some of the most interesting and fun people I’ve ever been around.
The Places You Visit
One thing I am thankful that Barcelona SAE helped us students with was truly immersing ourselves in the local culture. With the program, I explored different parts of Barcelona and was able to take part in an authentic Spanish cooking class, a flamenco dance class, language exchanges with local college students, and I even had the opportunity to stay in a homestay with a local family (which I highly recommend). We also traveled to different parts of Spain with the program, such as the Basque Country, Girona, and Sitges.
Also, Barcelona SAE organized the Moroccan Exchange trip, which was one of my favorite memories from the entire semester. We were able to live with Moroccan families for the weekend, spend time with local students there, and travel to different parts of the country. Being invited into someone’s home who treated us like family during our trip was an experience like no other. I met some of the kindest people I have ever known and I am so glad I decided to go.
The Lessons You Learn
I can never explain how much I learned in and outside of the classroom throughout my semester. Learning Spanish in Spain and from native Spanish speakers was one of the huge reasons I decided to study in Barcelona. As a Spanish minor, my goal is to be fluent in the language. Taking classes in Spanish and living in a homestay helped me improve my Spanish speaking and writing skills tremendously. I feel so much more confident when holding a conversation in Spanish, and know that I have an amazing foundation to continue improving.
Overall, I’ve grown so much in my ability to communicate with others and step out of my comfort zone. I’m so glad I went abroad. I hope others have the opportunity to experience some of the life changing moments I’ve been able to. GO ABROAD!
