Alumni Interview with Greta

What inspired you to go abroad?

I was fortunate enough to grow up with people who encouraged me to take advantage of every opportunity to explore the world around me. I have childhood memories of my aunt speaking French, and my grandmother always played French music. My dad was stationed in Germany before I was born, so my mom lived there for about a year, and she always put me to bed saying "Gute nacht meine lieben." When I first went to college, it was a big adjustment and a leap out of my comfort zone, because I was about 900 miles away from home, where I didn't know anyone. Once I got comfortable there, I felt like I needed a new challenge, so I took an even bigger leap, this time across the ocean.

Why did you choose AIFS?

I chose AIFS because, of all of the programs affiliated with my school that I looked at, AIFS had the cheapest program in my chosen city. They also had a lot of course options, and I was able to get courses that would all apply to my major at my home university.

What was your favorite part about Barcelona?

This is so hard, because I love everything about Barcelona. The climate, for one, is incredible. I think it rained less than five times in the entire four months I was there. There rest of the days were beautiful and sunny, and even in January, the temperature usually stayed above 45 degrees Fahrenheit. I also adored the geographic location of the city; Barcelona backs up to some of the most beautiful mountains I have ever seen, and on the other side, the city ends in gorgeous beaches. I had days where I woke up early and had a brief hike in the bunker hills (with the best view of the city, btw), then I would walk through the city and spend my afternoon down on the beach. Finally, the architecture of the city is breathtaking. There is so much history in the buildings. My all time favorites are Parc Guell and La Sagrada Familia. I could spend an entire day enjoying the way the light filters through Gaudi's stained glass windows.

What made your experience abroad unique?

I think the most unique part of my experience abroad was the way I really found myself falling in love with so many new things, not just new places. I ate escargot, which is something I would have bet good money I would never do. I took every single opportunity to hike, which is something I had never really done before. I always considered myself to be a city girl, and I would have expected to find myself in museums and theaters, and really just surrounded by buildings. While I still loved the museums and buildings, I was blown away by, and overwhelmed with a new appreciation for the natural beauty of the Earth. I often found myself running in the mountains and hills, simply because I wanted to cover more ground in the limited time I had.

One experience that always stands out in my mind is a morning I spent in the Pyrenees mountains. I was on a weekend trip with my program, and we were due to leave that morning at 9 a.m. sharp to go on a three hour hike in a nearby town, then return to Barcelona. My friends and I had spotted a tiny building sitting on top of a steep hill that looked to be about two and a half miles from our hotel, and we really wanted to see it up close, so we woke up early and went on a five mile hike at 6:45 a.m. I can't remember any other time that I have voluntarily woken up that early, but in that moment, I was eager to do it. The hill was so steep when we reached it, that I literally had to climb hand over hand. We only had 15 minutes to spend at the top, but we got to watch the sunrise over the tiny, white church we had found. We had to run to make it back for breakfast, and I loved every second of sucking in the air that it took.

I also had the opportunity to volunteer while I was in Barcelona, which was something that not a lot of other people did. I volunteered with Best Buddies Spain, and every other Tuesday night I would teach an ESL class to local adults with developmental disabilities. This really helped to give me an even more rounded educational experience, and it also was a great opportunity to interact more meaningfully with the local community. It was also a great way to work on my Spanish!

How did local staff support you throughout your program?

I cannot say enough great things about my onsite staff. Not only were they incredibly helpful, but they were also kind, caring, and so much fun! They always went the extra mile taking care of us and ensuring our experience was as amazing as possible. They arranged free activities every weekend for those of us who stayed in the city. When we had a maintenance issue with our apartment, someone from the office came to check that our landlord had taken care of it promptly, and made sure that everything else was up to their high standards.

Inma, my resident director, is a funny and fierce mama bear, who I have no doubt would have fought for each and every one of our lives if the circumstance somehow called for it. When, on the optional excursion to Morocco, a group tried to cut us in the customs line, Inma physically formed a blockade with her body. It was hilarious. Ana is one of the sweetest women I have ever met, and when I needed to go to the doctor, she met me at the metro and stayed with me the entire time, offering any help I needed with using my insurance and helping translate when necessary. Jen went paragliding with me off the edge of a mountain in Switzerland, and when a program friend and I went snowboarding the next day, Jen came along and spent the whole day on the mountain with us, despite me being incredibly slow. It was one of the best days of my whole experience.

My local staff really made me feel like I had family abroad, and I can't wait for the day that I return to Barcelona and get to see them again!

What's one thing you wish you would have done differently?

I wish I would have stayed longer! I came home right away at the end of my semester, because I was worried about money. I have since decided that worrying about money, unless you absolutely have to, is silly! I still had some savings left, and while sure, it's more prudent to have something in my savings, I was already in Europe! I wish I had taken advantage of that and explored a few more weeks at the very least. I also wish I had spent more time actually in Barcelona. I traveled nearly every weekend, so I didn't spend as much time in Barcelona as I could have. I chose Barcelona for a reason- because it is my heaven on Earth! I should have hung around a little more.

Describe a typical day in the life of your program.

On weekdays, I would wake up around 8 a.m., grab a pastry from a local cafe, and walk the short walk along the pedestrian street to my campus. I had between two and three classes each day, in the historic Sant Pau campus, or in the newer, Eixample building. Sometimes I grabbed lunch between classes, other times I caught up on my sleep with a quick nap. I spent my evenings leisurely exploring the various neighborhoods, relaxing in my apartment (watching Spongebob en Espanol), or catching some rays on the beach (or up on my favorite rooftop bar, atop Hotel Ayre). My weekend trips often took a lot out of me, so many nights I would turn in early. However, Barcelona has a lot to offer when it comes to nightlife, so when I was feeling up to more fun, I would head out to a bar, and then to one of the many clubs on the beach.

What did you enjoy doing in your free time?

One of my favorite things to do in Barcelona was to walk to the edge of the city where the bunkers were, stop in a convenient store to grab a baguette and some cheese, the make the brief hike up one if the hills (the one that backs up to Parc Guell was my favorite). My friends and I would sit at the top, taking in the view and sharing some bread and cheese. The bunkers provide a phenomenal, panoramic view of the city. I would start every morning watching the sunrise from on top of the bunker hills if I could.

Another thing I loved to do was hang out at the rooftop bar on the top floor of the Hotel Ayre Rosello. The hotel sits about a block away from La Sagrada Familia, and it perfectly overlooks the city's crowned jewel. Every time I went here, it was nearly empty. My friends and I could lay out in the sun for hours undisturbed, staring at Gaudi's masterpiece, sipping on sangria.

Finally, I loved walking down Las Ramblas. Sure, it's touristy, but it is touristy for a reason. It is full of life and color. It's also full of amazing food. About halfway down is the entrance to the biggest open air market, La Boqueria. I loved walking through La Boqueria, looking at all of the foods and colors, grabbing new things to taste. After I got my fill in La Boqueria, I would finish my stroll down Las Rambals, enjoying the street artists, paintings, and fresh flowers, and end up along the water.

What was your accommodation like? What did you like best about it?

I stayed in a six person apartment that was located on the pedestrian street that ran diagonally from La Sagrada Familia to the Sant Pau Hospital and campus. I was three blocks from La Sagrada, and one from a metro station. The apartment we were in was newly renovated, and very chic. It was on the smaller side, but very comfortable, and the location could not be beat.

What is one thing every participant should know before participating in your program?

The AIFS staff are an incredible resource. I had friends who studied abroad and only ever saw their local staff on the first and last days of the program. The AIFS staff took care of everything I needed. They met me at the airport, and met me with the cab that took me back on my final day. When we had maintenance issues, they spoke to our landlord for us, and came to the apartment to check that things were being taken care of. They arranged walking tours for the first few weekends of the different neighborhoods. They took us on tours of neighboring cities, all included in the program costs. They arranged activities, from cooking class, to dance class, to an exercise class, each weekend, all free, for anyone who stayed in town and wanted to join in. When I woke up with pinkeye, I emailed them that I thought I may need to go to the doctor, and within an hour they had scheduled me an appointment for that morning. They met me at the metro and accompanied me the whole way.

Now that you're home, how has your program abroad impacted your life?

My time abroad sparked a passion for travel and cultural exchange. I feel deeply that this experience grants students with a new understanding of empathy, and shapes them into global citizens who will better contribute to their communities and to the global community. Since returning, I have continued to work closely with study abroad in a new role, promoting it on my campus and helping provide advice and guidance to students on my campus considering study abroad. AIFS gave me this opportunity, allowing me to serve as an Alumni Ambassador. I have also learned how to unpack my experience and examine the different skills I gained, and look at how I can speak about the experience in a meaningful way.

Study abroad also taught me a lot about who I am and what I want from life. This has played a huge role in how I look at my future, and what I want out of my career. I definitely have a better understanding of what to look for in a job when I graduate.

Would you recommend AIFS to others? Why?

Absolutely! I tell everyone who is interested in studying abroad that they should check out AIFS. I chose AIFS because they were a cheap option, but they exceeded every expectation I have. They made Barcelona, a city more than 5000 away from my home, a home. The accommodations, activities, and staff are all exceptional. Even after I returned, AIFS continued to support me, and provide me with more opportunities to learn and grow.