Olivia Wilcox

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 graduated from Green River College in the Spring of 2015. Barcelona sparked and extended my love for travel…I will definitely see you SOON, Europe!

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

Inspiring and Life Changing

Explain why you chose those words.

Ever since I first set foot in Europe, I have been thinking ahead. What’s next? I’m now planning trips all over the place, as I saw so much in such a short amount of time. The short weekend trips through Barcelona SAE inspired me, and I’m going to continue to have that drive to travel and to learn.

Living in Barcelona has inspired me to LIVE. I have changed so much since my time abroad…I’ve now found myself, and I know what I want out of life. I may not know what I want to do for the rest of my life, but I know that traveling is something I’m always going to be drawn to…as each and every excursion shaped me and changed the way that I view life.

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

My favorite day trip was to Belchite. Going around and seeing all the glamorous, touristy areas, we often forget about all the hardships that have happened in this country. Seeing this abandoned town, post war, was incredible. I learned so much and felt so humbled by the experience. The area was left untouched, which isn’t common, since history is often covered up and forgotten about. Although I loved them all, my favorite day trip was definitely that one.

Is there a site in Barcelona that you would recommend to future students that may be a little more “off the beaten path”?

Just walk around the neighborhoods, take some time seeing how it is in everyday life, away from the tourists and the city. Find a little cafe, enjoy a coffee, chat with a local. It is really easy to get caught up in the idea that you have to be a tourist everyday, but there are little parks and little local cafès that can give you the best experience…all for the small price of a cafè con leche!

If you had one perfect day in Barcelona where would you go, and what would you do?

The perfect day in Barcelona would be a sunny one. I’d love to start off the day with un cafe y croissant, and then head to the beach. I’d walk around, window shop, and relax by the beach before venturing off to get lunch and chat with the locals. But since it isn’t always warm, heading to a cafe in the cold is always a good idea. You can’t go wrong with a coffee and just enjoying the presence of the locals.

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

Don’t waste days. You are in a new country, so walk around and look around. Don’t be scared to speak to people and order food in Spanish…and even if they respond in English, keep talking in Spanish. Eat a lot of gelato. Do the touristy stuff, but also do some local things. Check out the recommended restaurants.

Just live everyday.