What inspired you to travel abroad?
I wanted to expand my international experience, meet new people, travel and live in Europe! Since I knew studying abroad was a feasible goal for me, I was very excited to start planning it in my freshman year. I specifically knew I wanted to go study in Spain as I was pretty familiar with the Spanish language and wanted to improve it by living in a country where that is the primary language. I specifically chose Barcelona because I loved its location in between the sea and the mountains.
Tibidabo
Why did you choose American Institute For Foreign Study?
AIFS had the best program option for me, as well as so many included activities and excursions! I really wanted to study in Barcelona, and out of all of the programs I looked at, AIFS offered the Business classes I was most interested in, such as International Business and International Management! They also not only offered help with getting a visa and finding an apartment but also offered a flight package that would not only allow me to meet people before my program, but also get to see London!
What was your favorite part about Barcelona, Spain?
My favorite part of Barcelona was the fact that there is a variety of activities you can do in the city. Because of Barcelona's ideal location, in between the Mediterranean Sea and beautiful mountains, you could enjoy downtown city life in the Gothic Quarter, go swimming in the Mediterranean, or go hiking in the mountains overlooking the city, all within a few miles of each other! This was amazing because it gave a variety of activities, all within an hour of each other!
What made your experience abroad extraordinary?
I absolutely loved Barcelona as a city, and I particularly loved the school I attended. Since AUB is an international school, this meant that there were not only students from America attending, but also students from countries such as Germany, Egypt, and China. It was really cool to learn alongside people from different countries, as we got to exchange stories and learn about how different schooling is in other parts of the world. Now I can say that I have friends in Germany, Belgium, and other countries, which is so cool! I really look forward to seeing them again in the near future!
How did the local program staff support you throughout your program?
AIFS was amazing! Their office was located just three blocks from my school, and they were always available if we needed help, or even just wanted some recommendations for places to go or eat. We also were helped with our apartment. For example, our fridge stopped working one weekend, and they immediately sent assistance to come bring us a brand new one! Additionally, they also would accompany us to the doctors if we ever felt sick, and overall would treat us like family, were so kind and truly wanted us to have an amazing experience.
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad?
Honestly, I am very happy with my experience abroad. If anything I wish I could have stayed longer! But luckily since I am only a third year I still have time to go abroad again next year! If you are currently debating whether or not to go abroad I would 1000 percent recommend it! Deciding to go study abroad was by far the best decision I have ever made! You get to not only earn credits for your degree, but also meet amazing new people, travel around Europe, and learn about new cultures!
Sagrada Familia
Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.
A typical day in my life abroad would consist of going to class, then eating in a local bar with friends I made at school, then going downtown with my roommate to explore and shop. Then finally to go out for some tapas and enjoy the good food with good friends. Lastly, I would go home and work on any homework I was assigned, then get to watch the sunset from my apartment complex's roof, which overlooked the Sagrada Familia. On the weekends I would either travel with friends, or go on one of AIFS excursions!
What did you enjoy doing in your free time abroad?
I absolutely loved exploring Barcelona during my free time. In between classes I loved to take the bus downtown with my roommate and just explore different parts of the city we had not visited yet. Especially once December came around, downtown was completely decorated and we loved to go see the Christmas markets. Some of my favorite places in Barcelona are the Gothic Quarter, and Tibidabo, which overlooks the entire city and is home to an old amusement park. I can't wait to go back to Barcelona in the future, as it really has become a home away from home!
What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?
I chose to live in an apartment. I was placed in one with five other girls from the program, and shared a room with one of them. I loved the location because we were three streets away from the Sagrada Familia, on the same street from one of our campuses, and a quick 15-minute bus ride to the center of the city and our second campus. Our apartment was also cleaned every two weeks which was amazing, and they would occasionally come in to check if everything was going well or if we needed anything for the apartment.
Tapas
What is one thing every future participant should know about your program before their program begins?
Say yes to everything! AIFS offers so many different excursions and activities included in the price so take advantage of them! Not only are they super fun, but they are completely organized by AIFS and an amazing way to bond with the people on the program! My favorite excursion was to Andorra, which is a small country in between France and Spain, and my favorite activity was a cooking class, where we got to learn how to make our favorite Spanish foods! For example, we got to learn how to make Paella, Spanish Omelette, and Crema Catalan!
Would you recommend AIFS to others? Why?
Of course! AIFS was so helpful before and during my study abroad experience. Like i mentioned, not only did they help me with my visa, and provide a flight package, but they assisted us with our apartment, they were always available to help, and provided us with several excursions and activities, all included in the price.
What do you feel is the biggest benefit of traveling abroad?
For me, the biggest benefit of studying abroad is the cultural exposure. I feel that I now have a larger appreciation for the world and how different each country and culture is. I now have a strong urge to keep exploring the world and learning more about other cultures! I can't wait for the next time I get to go back to Barcelona, remember the amazing memories I made while studying abroad, and give my family a city tour of my second home on the other side of the world.
Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?
I miss it every day. When you study abroad you really do end up with a home on the other side of the world. I feel that I am a completely different person after coming back from studying abroad. I feel much more independent and confident in myself! I also have made friendships with people from all over America as well as the world, who I have created lifelong memories that I will cherish forever! I cannot wait for the next time we get to all see each other and reminisce the amazing moments we had in Barcelona.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
I love to travel because it allows you to experience different cultures! Meaningful travel to me means that you do not go visit a different country just to say that you've been there, but to truly experience their culture firsthand, as it is fascinating! After all, "if we were meant to stay in one place we would have roots instead of feet!". I definitely would recommend studying abroad as it really does expand your perspective of the world, and offers the opportunity to go to a country as a tourist, and leave as a local!
