Go Abroad to Barcelona, and Leave Feeling Like a Local

Thinking about studying abroad or doing an internship abroad in Barcelona? You are definitely not the only one as it is one of the most popular destinations in the world to do an overseas program! But why is it so popular to go study and intern abroad in Barcelona? Aside from the obvious aspects that any Mediterranean city has such as beaches, great food, etc… Barcelona is unique because it has an amazing, vibrant, and thriving culture. The city is a part of the state of Catalunya, which is in turn an autonomous province of Spain. However, what makes Catalunya so different is that it was independent from Spain not so long ago.

Why does it make Barcelona such great place to study abroad? Because the people are fiercely independent and show it in amazing displays of culture that is exclusive to Barcelona and Catalunya. However, because of this, the Catalan culture can be a little funny. Firstly, it is illegal to traffic cannabis, but if someone partakes in their own home then it is entirely legal. Also, Spain and Catalunya never made laws concerning nudity, so technically you can walk the streets and subways completely naked. There are actually famous nudists that roam around Barcelona. Finally, the Catalan people have the fantastic tradition of castellers, or human towers. These towers can include as many as 40 people and are able extend into the air up to 15 meters in height!

Because Barcelona is such a popular place to study abroad at, programs that go to Barcelona offer students the opportunity to meet people from around the world and never have a dull moment!  For example, on Barcelona Study Abroad Experience’s (SAE) four week study program during the summer at Barcelona International College, students from all over the world get to know each other and the time of their lives together!  Programs such as these also provide cultural activities ranging from cooking classes to program led tours of Barcelona to excursions to nearby cities such as Girona and Sitges.  The proximity of Barcelona to these cities provides easy access for the student and the program, for example, in Girona art students can marvel at the wonderous museum of Salvador Dali, and still get back to Barcelona in time for dinner!  So, in short, because of its location and cosmopolitan nature, Barcelona provides an amazing place to study abroad at with a slew of cultural opportunities that will always keep the student busy!

However, what really stands out is the history behind everything. For example, you can walk through the neighborhood, El Born, and really understand what the Catalan spirit is all about. Walking from the beach to the center of the neighborhood, you’ll pass by a plaza that is lit by a torch dedicated to the Catalan Revolutionaries that died fighting for their country during the War with Spain. Moving on from there you can walk through a church which was build and funded by peasants in the middle ages because of their dedication to what they stood for and a belief in equality for all. Finally, you’ll arrive at the main plaza where people are relaxing around the church in restaurants or tapas bars to end the day.

This is the spirit in which students are immersed in when they study abroad in Barcelona. The culture of a people defined by the amazing and unique. This is why when you go to the Barcelona Facebook page, many of the comments are “I’m coming back Barcelona!” or “Te echo de menos Barcelona! (I miss you Barcelona)” or finally “T’estimo Barcelona.” (I love you, Barcelona, in Catalan). All of this makes Barcelona a truly wonderful place to study abroad at.