Diego Magana

What are you up to these days? Have you graduated? Are you working? How did your experience in Barcelona have an impact on your life?

I work back home at an after-school program under my local school district, having a class of about 20 students where our schedule is similar to their day schedule. We have lessons, enrichment, homework time, lunch, recess, all that good stuff. Barcelona though helped me keep an open mind about everything going on in life and also helped me not stress so much about things, where the motto out here seems to be NO PASA NADA.

If you were to sum up your Barcelona experience in one to two words, what would you say? My Barcelona Experience is…

SPOTTIEOTTIEDOPALISCIOUS

Explain why you chose those words.

I just had a fantastic time in Barcelona, both as a student and an intern. There’s no way to sum up my experience in a few words because Barcelona gave me so much knowledge and wisdom that I’ll never be able to repay it. On top of that, the food and drinks are ridiculously cheap, people are awesome, and everyone just wants to have fun. All that makes for a good time.

What was your favorite tour, day trip, or cultural activity? Why?

My favorite has to be the Costa Brava trip because on top of having a hotel room to myself, there was so much exploring to do along the coast of it’s many beaches. I went inside old castle buildings, climbed rocks, and partied with some locals.

What was something you were surprised to learn about Barcelona or Spain? Or what aspect of the country or city were you least expecting?

I was surprised to learn how super chill people are in Barcelona. I feel like no one judges and instead accepts all the cultural differences the world has to offer. Nobody cares about the brand of your shoes, or who made your dress, or how ridiculous your hair might look one day. It’s all love in Barcelona and I can’t get enough of it.

What is one piece of advice that you have for future students coming to Barcelona?

I really want to encourage all those home bodies and the “eh I’ll just stay in” people to break out of their normal routines and become someone completely new. All those home routines like binge watching Game of Thrones on Netflix or staying in to “chill” should go out the window the second you step foot on this country. You should be able to go back home to your people with something new to show them. Like hey I’m a master Salsa dancer, or I know how to cook now, or I learned some spanish, or look how buff my calf muscles are from walking everywhere. I just don’t want anybody to go back home with any regrets and instead a list of new contacts from all the friends they made. THE EXPERIENCE IS WHAT YOU MAKE IT.