CEA CAPA Education Abroad in Barcelona, Spain

I really loved my experience studying abroad in Barcelona this past semester. As a Spanish minor I really enjoyed the opportunity to speak to native Spanish speakers in real-life scenarios daily. Another amazing part of this experience was how there was so much to do in my home city, I was never ever bored! The best part of studying abroad was the people that I met there! Because of CEA CAPA I was able to meet so many students from all over the world! I really had the best semester ever, and would do I all over again if I could!

CEA CAPA was amazing from the beginning! From the beginning days of housing and class selection or the visa process to actually arriving in Barcelona and having CEA CAPA pick me right up from the airport, I felt completely taken care of the entire time! CEA goes above and beyond to ensure a safe, academic, and fun experience for all of their students and I cannot thank them enough for the semester I spent in Barcelona! I also want to highlight that the housing was absolutely phenomenal! I felt so safe in the city and was in walking distance of everything I needed - plus it was so clean!

I was housed at carer de Nàpols, 206, and it was such a nice place. Building looks old from the outside but on the inside, featured a super modern feel. The kitchen was huge and had a beautiful countertop and oven and stove. Came with all of the necessary cooking materials. The location of the school was amazing, right in the center of the city. The access to trains and travel was super easy, and the teachers were quite engaging and intelligent. Was awesome to be in a different environment than the one I am so used to.
The apartment itself was also really comfortable to come back to after a long day. The bedrooms were a good size, there was plenty of natural light, and it was always quiet enough to get a good night of sleep. The neighborhood felt safe at all hours, and walking around it I was always finding new cafes, bakeries, and little shops I hadn’t noticed before.
In terms of lifestyle, I was a 10 second walk from the nearest grocery store, and a 3 minute walk from a larger one. This made cooking for myself very easy and accessible. Furthermore, I was able to go to the gym almost every day, as it was a 10 minute walk from my place. The gym, while looking small on the outside, was a great space and allowed me to keep going on my health and fitness journey. I also utilized the electric bikes a lot which was a lot of fun, and I found it to be the most efficient mode of transportation.
Having the grocery stores so close also meant I was eating fresh food almost every day. The produce was great and way cheaper than I expected, and I got to try a lot of local foods I wouldn’t normally buy back home. Between cooking, the gym, and biking everywhere, I honestly felt healthier there than I have in a long time.
The classes themselves were a highlight too. The teachers made the material interesting and were always willing to help outside of class. Being in a new country also pushed me to use my Spanish every day, whether it was ordering food, asking for directions, or just talking with locals. By the end I felt a lot more confident speaking and understanding it.
The social life of Barcelona goes without saying. Any given night, there are so many things to do, whether it’s going to a bar to watch a soccer game, going to one of the many beach clubs, or just kicking back with your friends at a restaurant. Dinner starts a lot later there than it does at home, which took some getting used to, but once I adjusted it was one of my favorite parts of the culture. People take their time with meals and actually enjoy each other’s company.
During the day, the weather was amazing, and many days I was able to sit in the sand and kick back. On the weekends, the trains made it easy to get out of the city and explore other places nearby, which was a great way to see more of Spain.
Overall, this was one of the best experiences I have had. Between the apartment, the location, the classes, and the people, I would recommend it to anyone thinking about studying in Barcelona.

I had an amazing time getting to know the staff and exploring the city. They truly care about your experience and do everything to provide unique opportunities to grow as a person and a student. The class content was applicable to the city around you and very interesting. The location of the CEA CAPA center was extremely convenient for transportation and in the heart of the city so it was easy to explore before, after, and in between classes. I felt supported the whole time and learned so much about different cultures.

My time abroad with CEA CAPA was amazing. The staff was really helpful when the heating broke in our apartment. It was a complicated issue, but they fixed it as fast as they could. Other than that, the location and everything were amazing. Studying abroad can be scary, especially when you are alone, but CEA CAPA was very helpful, and they can help with anything, even if you just want to talk to someone or practice your Spanish. Going abroad will be the best experience of your life. This might be your only chance to go abroad and travel without the responsibilities of having a job or family.

This experience was very unique to me considering it was my first time EVER going abroad! Studying social cognition and learning about the significance of higher-level cognition function and how it allows us to connect to humans and allows us to feel relatability to inanimate objects (like art and architecture) made my experience so much more magical. This heightened awareness I felt made my appreciation for the culture so much deeper. This was such a beautiful experience that I got experience.

I loved studying abroad with BSAE! Was able to participate in many immersion experiences and truly immerse myself in the Spanish culture! I was able to meet so many new friends and people. This program also provided easy credit transfer through Jacksonville University and was easy to navigate regarding credit transfer back to my home university UNC chapel hill. I really appreciated this because as a stem major it is difficult to find classes that transfer back, but this program was actually able to provide me with 9 credits back, and I took 9 credits!

I have never been able to travel before going abroad. Barcelona was more than just a home for me for four months. I was able to meet amazing people and travel to so many different places. This program also allowed me to take interesting classes for my major, Psychology, such as Cross-Cultural Psychology. I was able to visit psychotherapy centers, social work centers, and learn about how health is approached from a global perspective. I was also able to visit more than 9 different countries including Italy, Morroco, and France. I was able to connect with locals and the culture. The program was very organized and had many fun trips planned as well as events to get to know staff and others who are studying abroad.