Spain : Reviews (Barcelona)

I enjoyed the daily trips we took in my literary course. It was amazing to read about these locations rich in culture then less than an hour later go visit that place and compare the representation in literature to the actual place.

I loved living with a host family. I feel like I really got to experience the culture (and the food!!) by living with my host parents.

I loved getting to push myself outside of my comfort zone every single day. Whether it was in the classroom, talking with locals, or being truly independent for the first time, I always felt like something great was about to happen. I can't describe the feeling of accomplishment and growth at the end of my trip- this was hands-down the best decision I've ever made.

My favorite part of my study abroad experience was my fellow students and teachers. The students I studied abroad with helped me grow in my Spanish abilities, allowed me to adjust quickly, and always made me feel comfortable and not stressed. The same goes for my teachers. Indira was a light to all of her students and always made sure none of us were struggling.

The best parts about studying abroad were the friendships I created along the way! The relationships I made with my host mother and new friends are connections I will value forever. I was able to meet people from all over the world, and I'd like to think that I left a footprint on a few.

My favorite part of the program was spending time with my host mom. I enjoyed talking with her and listening to her opinions and personal history.

My host mom was my favorite part of this program. She was amazing and felt like a part of my family, which helped a lot with not feeling homesick. She was very helpful throughout the whole trip and very loving.

I appreciated the opportunity to participate in the local culture and community at a much deeper level than a tourist would.

I loved the architecture, the city experience, and meeting new people in the program.

Living with a host family was the most rewarding experience of the program. I was able to fully immerse into the culture and create a strong bond with the family.

The most rewarding for me were the cultural experiences. Going abroad really opens your eyes to different ways of life, style, culture, language and what it feels like to live and be happy as opposed to living solely to work.

I learned so much about myself outside of just learning more about Spanish. This experience helped me develop into a well-rounded adult by learning about independence, healthy boundaries, self-care and confidence, and balancing school with tourist activities. Without studying abroad, I don't think I would be the person I am today, and that is what I find extremely rewarding.

Furthermore, a lifelong goal of mine has been to become fluent in Spanish. This experience has undoubtedly helped me get closer to that goal. I am now trying to find a longer program or experience in a different Spanish speaking country to help achieve my goal of fluency because I realized 6 weeks is just not long enough! It flew by and now I look forward to going abroad again.

Research the city before you go and you will be rewarded, Barcelona is big and don't expect to figure it out in a few days. It takes weeks.

When learning a new language, it's important to TRY!! You don't always have to be right, and it's OK to ask questions. That really helped facilitate the development of my language skills.

I learned that I was a lot more independent and capable than I thought. I was nervous about being on my own in a foreign country, but I quickly found out that my previous Spanish education had prepared me very well, and it was easier to adjust to a different culture than I had thought.

Take advantage of the time with your host family as much as possible. They are wonderful resources, and they all chose to host students because they want to help you improve Spanish and learn about Spanish culture. Eat breakfast and dinner there as much as possible because not only are you paying for it, but it is also a great time to get better at Spanish and get to know them which will result in a better overall experience. It is normal to be nervous about talking to them, but push pass that fear because the reward is so much greater than the doubts!

Also, budgeting your time strategically is very important. There is so much to do in Barcelona, so much so that I didn't travel outside of Barcelona during the entire program. Writing down your priorities (museums, places, restaurants, etc) and figuring out how to accomplish all of them with schoolwork will be helpful to make sure you don't miss anything you want to do. I am really glad I did this because I accomplished my whole Barcelona bucket-list! For others, their goal was to travel on the weekends to different places, and I know they wouldn't have been able to accomplish this without planning ahead.

For future program members I would encourage attending all the provided pre-sessions to get a general idea of what you need. Coming into a new environment prepared is the best thing to do. Future students should feel encouraged to try new things even if it brings them out of their comfort zone.

Talk to others about your struggles initially. It's a lot easier to adjust to the differences and craziness when you come to realize that your peers are all experiencing the exact same things as well.

I learned a lot about the differences between culture in Spain and the prevalent Latin and Hispanic cultures here in the US. I think future students should know that no matter how much they think they are prepared for traveling to another country, the experience will be different than they are expecting, but it is important to keep an open mind and not let their worries stop them from trying new things.

I learned that studying abroad means being flexible and adaptable.