Barcelona: The gateway to seeing the world

From the beaches to the mountains and everything in between, over the last four months I spent traveling, learning, exploring, and taking in every aspect of Barcelona and its culture. Although my trip started out rough; landing without luggage, knowing no one, jet-lagged, and classes starting the very next day, in no time at all, Barcelona became one of my absolute favorite places. Having the opportunity to live and learn abroad is one that I am always grateful for and so I strongly encourage others to try to do so as well. On my program with IES Abroad, I not only met the best Spanish teacher I have ever had, but also was able to meet so many cool people that I eventually traveled all throughout Europe, Africa, and the UK with. I also had the opportunity to take classes at other universities such as Universitat de Vic - Universitat Central de Catalunya, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, and Universitat Ramon Llull where I took courses like Start-Up Creation, International Marketing, Finance, and Producing a Sitcom. These classes allowed me to meet students from all around the world and gain a new perspective on my studies while working with all my Spanish professors. My favorite part of my classes was when I directed a Sitcom scene that my peers and I created. It was hectic to be in charge of everything and everybody, but satisfying seeing everyone work together to create something amazing. Barcelona reinforced my passion for travel and love for learning about new cultures. To live in a Spanish-speaking country after learning Spanish for 7 years and actually getting the opportunity to use my skills daily was an incredible feeling. IES Abroad gave me the opportunity to live a life completely different from my every day and it was a refreshing change of pace. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from this whole experience, it’s that, as cheesy as it sounds, the world is so big, and I want to keep exploring it.