Alumni Interview with Natalie Jones

What inspired you to travel abroad? 

I always loved to travel and in the summer of 2017 I visited Barcelona for a week and fell in love with the city and its culture. I majored in international studies knowing one day I would spend a semester abroad but I never imagined it to be as inspiring of an opportunity as it was! 

Why did you choose IES Abroad? 

I chose my specific program because I knew I wanted to be in Barcelona and my school recommended IES. 

What was your favorite part about Barcelona, Spain? 

My favorite part about Barcelona was how unique the city is in general. It felt like it was its own country and was so rich in art, culture, and history. Every time we traveled I had so much fun, but it also reaffirmed that I made the right decision in the city I chose because I never loved another place as much as Barcelona! 

What made your experience abroad extraordinary? 

The people I met definitely made my experience abroad extraordinary. I did not know a single person on my program and I left with so many amazing friends. I would encourage people to really push themselves outside of their comfort zones. It is not always easy to meet your people right away but do not get frustrated! Attend a lot of discoverIES and other events your program sets up and make sure to be social. 

How did the local program staff support you throughout your program? 

The staff was pretty incredible while we were there. They helped us switch classes if we needed to and made sure everyone was in a Spanish level that they were genuinely comfortable with during orientation. Also, the discoverIES events were amazing and the staff were always really kind and fun that attended. 

What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad? 

I wish that I spoke Spanish more frequently while I was abroad. I was in the conversational Spanish class (which was 347) and I loved it, but because I was in an apartment I did not use it as frequently outside of class. My suggestion to people living in apartments through IES would be to speak with your BCC in Spanish. It might feel a little awkward at first but my apartment started doing that towards the end of the semester and it was actually really fun. I also went to the same cafe everyday and spoke to the two owners in Spanish. Just use it whenever you can, whether it is at a bar or restaurant or even with your abroad friends. People understand that it is not your first language and are usually very patient and helpful.

Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like. 

One of my favorite parts about my experience in Spain was that I could not really describe a typical day because everyday was so different. Granted, there were definitely some consistencies, such as classes and ordering my ginseng con leche from Silva and Celina at Nappucino everyday. However, for the most part I never knew what the day had in store for me; sometimes we would get a group of friends together to play volleyball at the beach and watch the sunset together, and other days we would roam to El Borne and try and find a hole in the wall restaurant or a hidden speakeasy. I never had a routine but I still felt settled, and Barcelona was truly my home. 

Everyday abroad is filled with constant opportunities so take each one as a new adventure! 

What did you enjoy doing in your free time abroad? 

I traveled on most of my weekends but I also spent a ton of time exploring Barcelona. We all tried to eat at different restaurants and go to new bars all the time in different neighborhoods so we could see more of the city. I also went to many different museums, historical sites, and interesting public spaces. There are so many differences from neighborhood to neighborhood, so do not get stuck in one area.

What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it? 

I lived in an apartment while I was in Spain and I loved the independence that came with that accommodation. Personally, that living arrangement forced me to become more independent and I loved all of the freedom I had because of that decision. 

What is one thing every future participant should know about IES Abroad before their program begins? 

Everyone should know to go into their programs abroad with an open mind. The less expectations you have about the program, the more open you will be to all it has to offer. I met engineering majors taking fashion classes and fashion majors in sports classes. This is your time to broaden your horizons, so do not try to confine yourself to what falls under your major. Take classes that do a lot of field studies and that allow you to explore the city! 

Would you recommend IES Abroad to others? Why? 

I would absolutely recommend my program to other people because it was always highly organized and they provided us with so many opportunities to meet new people. I switched my classes around a lot when I arrived and they were extremely accommodating of the changes I wanted to make to my schedule. 

What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is? 

The biggest benefit of traveling abroad is that you grow immensely as a person. You have a greater appreciation of different cultures and witness firsthand how another part of the world lives everyday. Your mindset changes, because it helps you realize just how big the world is and how much there is to see and learn. It makes you feel small in the most incredible way because it pushes you to continue learning about more places and immerse yourself in new cultures. You get comfortable being uncomfortable and learn to think outside the box. You learn what it is like to be independent and feel like the whole world is at your fingertips. You have the opportunity to make each day the best day of your life and it is the most indescribably enriching experience. 

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

Now that I am home, I want to do everything I can to make sure other students have as great of an experience abroad as I did in Spain. That is why I decided to be an ambassador for IES and got a job as a peer adviser for my university's study abroad office. I am also already planning two reunions this summer with my friends from my international internship in Australia as well as my friends from IES Barcelona. Additionally, I will be spending the other part of my summer working an internship at a Spanish restaurant. Once I graduate, I plan to backpack for several months and then eventually work internationally. 

What does meaningful travel mean to you? 

Meaningful travel is when you are not just going to another country to get a good Instagram picture. It means you want to see what is there, not just be seen there. It is when you truly appreciate how different every city and country is and have a true desire to learn more about these places. Sometimes meaningful travel is getting lost in the city and finding a tiny family-owned cafe where you listen to the owner's story about his life. Other times it is skiing or hiking in the most beautiful places imaginable. Traveling is buying an experience, not an object, so make the most of it. Some of my favorite memories from abroad were finding tiny bookstores in Romania, dancing in the street with new people in Barcelona, happening upon a random rock concert in Prague, and finding a random off-road sunset spot in Greece. Your favorite memories and the one that stand out are not usually the ones you think will, so appreciate every moment.