What inspired you to travel abroad?
When I was in high school I had the chance to travel abroad for a week with my Spanish class. We went to four cities in Spain: Barcelona, Madrid, Toledo, and Zaragoza. Ever since then, I knew that one day I wanted to go back. I have been studying Spanish for seven years and knew that living in a place that spoke primarily Spanish would be the best way to help me practice my skills.
Why did you choose IES Abroad?
I knew I wanted to study in a Spanish-speaking country but also didn't have enough skills to study in a completely immersed school. My university only offered a few programs in Spain and the IES Abroad Barcelona one not only allowed me to achieve my "speaking in Spanish" goal but also had the business and communications classes I needed to fulfill my degree requirements.
Nothing beats overlooking the gorgeous Barcelona skyline while waiting for the sun to set.
What was your favorite part about your host country/city?
The landscape in Barcelona is so interesting and unique. I feel like it really has everything which is what I loved most about living there. I have never had the opportunity to live that close to a big body of water so I spent a lot of my time just sitting by the beach and watching the waves roll in. Also, I would do a lot of hiking in the mountains which was really fun and an interesting experience I have never had before.
What made your experience abroad extraordinary?
My time abroad was made so much better by the friends I met and got to experience it with. I flew into Barcelona not knowing anyone on my program. Leaving the city, I left with a lot of new friends I still keep in touch with today. It is comforting to know that everyone is navigating the same thing together and it’s fun to explore, learn, and make memories with people just like you!
How did the local program staff support you throughout your program?
The IES Abroad staff tried to do everything to make our experience very enjoyable. They put on a lot of events, trips, and activities that would help you immerse yourself in the culture like trips to surrounding cities (Valencia and Tarragon), nights trying classic Spanish food and drinks, and tips for what to do and not to do in Barcelona which was all helpful to get to know Spain.
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad?
I wish I would have planned a little farther ahead traveling-wise. I got to travel to a lot of places but feel that if I made a plan of places I absolutely wanted to hit beforehand, I would feel more accomplished and would have been able to experience more of what I wanted to. I also wish I would have reached out to more local people and learned more about their day-to-day life.
Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.
Typically I would wake up and make a small breakfast in my apartment. Then I would metro in about 10-20 minutes to my class at a local university. After that, I would metro another 20 minutes further into the city center and get lunch at a local cafe.
I would take my Spanish class at the IES Abroad Center and go home to drop off my things. During the night after all my classes were done, I would try to either find a new restaurant to try or visit a museum or attraction I hadn't been to with my friends.
Sagrada Familia at sunset is the best time to go see the stained glass reflect against the walls.
What did you enjoy doing in your free time abroad?
I did a lot of walking around in Barcelona during my free time. The architecture is so interesting to look at and you find something new around every corner.
I would also visit a lot of the shops around the city because they were very unique and some were super old. I also spent a lot of my time just sitting at coffee shops and watching people walk by.
What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?
I lived in an apartment/dorm style accommodation near Poblenou. I had my own room and bathroom but shared a kitchen and living room area with my nine other roommates.
I liked having that many roommates because someone was always down to do something. It also didn't feel cramped because you had your own space which was pretty big and secluded from everyone else.
Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?
Going abroad has completely changed my life. It made me realize that there is so much more out there to explore and learn and that I want to make that a part of my future. I do all that I can to encourage others to study abroad because it was that impactful on my outlook on life. Every day I hope to only go back again and to be able to travel more!
My visit to the Sagrada Familia was with my family when they came to visit me!
What is one thing every future participant should know about your program before their program begins?
Know that if you just take classes through IES Abroad, you will only meet Americans who are on the IES Abroad program. It is a lot harder to meet locals or other international students. If you want to meet people from other countries or even that just aren't in your same program, take classes at the partner universities. These classes are actually on the campuses of Spanish universities and you have a better chance of meeting more people.
Would you recommend IES Abroad to others? Why?
I would recommend IES Abroad Barcelona to anyone who is looking to meet a lot of people, travel during the weekends, and likes to have a fast-paced and hectic lifestyle. Barcelona is a quick city with lots of people and things to do and, although there are outlets like sitting by the beach or walking in the mountains, a lot of the time it is go go go!
What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is?
When you go abroad you get a completely different perspective you would NEVER get by just staying in one place forever. You see how people can be different and realize the life you have been living isn't the only one out there.
You can be whoever you want to be and you realize that only when you bring yourself outside of your normal life. You also learn to be kinder to the people around you, more accepting of people's differences, and incredibly flexible with change.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
I think meaningful travel is a good combination of seeing the "touristy things," doing something you like, and also getting a taste of what a local might experience. It was really cool to see things that I had learned about in school and see famous attractions. Don’t skip those, but finding niche experiences and activities that can be unique to your trip are what you will remember most.
