If you’re even slightly considering studying abroad… just do it… Seriously. It will completely change how you view life itself, and chances are, it’ll end up being the best decision you make in life so far. That’s exactly what happened to me during my semester in Barcelona with CIEE.
I studied abroad from January to April, living in a dorm. I chose Barcelona because of its energy I got from it while looking into different locations. the mix of culture, nightlife, and how easy it is to travel to other countries. I was excited to explore Europe, meet new people, and experience a completely different lifestyle. What surprised me most is how quickly this once “dream destination” became my normal life. Walking past places like the Sagrada Familia that I had only ever seen in pictures felt unreal at first, but eventually became part of my everyday routine, which is something I’ll never take for granted.
The highlights are honestly endless. I came here alone, so I made incredible friends in my classes, had a super active social life, and traveled almost every weekend with my now friends for life. My favorite trips were to the Sahara Desert, Morocco, where we rode camels and drove ATV’s, as well as Edinburgh, Scotland, where we hiked up hills to see highland cows in their native land. Both completely different but life altering and unforgettable. I sat in the Sahara sand watching the sunset, as well as in the tall grass next to a wild highland cow, soaking in what my life has become, and cried tears of joy and appreciation in these very two different settings. At home in Barcelona, I loved spending time in the Gothic Quarter, which quickly became my favorite place in the city since I loveee shopping.
Academically, classes were more interesting and manageable compared to college at home, which made it easier to balance school and travel. I became friends with everyone in my Spanish class because it was a small knit group. I also found out about unfortunate events while in that class, which was my bank account got hacked first week of classes, so I spent half the semester with zero dollars in my bank account. They were all very comforting about it and made me feel better about my situation. There was also one time My credit card declined for 3 days straight before I got my money back, so I was crying in the bathroom before my 9am. It just so happens, my professor for that class came out and saw me crying, asking what’s wrong, and offered to buy me food because I couldn’t buy food for a few days. Everyone you meet is genuinely kind hearted and a great support system while your away from the usual one you have at home.
That said, there were a few things that could’ve been better. My class schedule wasn’t always ideal, and I wish I had known more about orientation before arriving (as well as the rare event of having a hacked bank account). But overall, these were minor compared to the experience as a whole.
I would recommend this program to anyone and EVERYONE! My biggest piece of advice? Just do it. Before college, everyone told me studying abroad was their favorite part, and the only people who didn’t go said it was their biggest regret. Now I completely understand why.
This experience completely changed my perspective on life. It made me realize how much there is to see and how important it is to take advantage of opportunities. I’ve become more independent and confident, that it persuaded me to delay my flight home so I can solo travel for two weeks after the program! One thing I’ve learned is that “the world doesn’t sit still, so why should we”. There’s no reason we have to settle into a routine if we don’t want to, let’s get up and see the world.
