CIS Abroad - Semester in Barcelona - Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona

Going into my semester abroad, I was super nervous about living in another country, especially without a support system. CISabroad calmed my nerves right away! From the very start of the trip they picked me up from the airport and helped me get settled into my apartment, and throughout the entirety of it they checked in and were always available for help and advice. Another thing I loved about CISabroad was the housing and school situation they placed me in. I was put into an apartment with other international students, making it extremely easy to meet lifelong friends. The location was in a family-friendly, safe, and centrally located area in Barcelona which I would not have traded for the world! As for the school, I attended the Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona and instantly made lasting connections with my professors and fellow classmates. CISabroad gave me the opportunity to safely explore the beautiful city of Barcelona for four months while meeting amazing people and growing everyday. Overall, I would not have done my semester abroad any different and I have CISabroad to thank for this!

Going abroad was one of the best experiences of my life. I met a lot of great people from around the world, saw cities that existed long before the United States were even colonized, and learned far more than what I could ever be taught in a classroom. Living and having to immerse yourself into a different culture forces you to grow and experience new things, the skills I learned and brought home from that will help me in the future with whatever I choose to do with my life. Going abroad creates a new way of seeing the world and understanding different cultures and customs, I think it is definitely something every student should have the opportunity to do.

I spent a semester in Barcelona with CISabroad and the program had its ups and downs. I lived in an amazing neighborhood in a nice, clean, and well-equipped apartment right by the metro and train. I also lived pretty close to the school I attended. The day and weekend trips they had planned for us were always a lot of fun but they always seemed a little unorganized. Overall, my classes weren't too difficult and Barcelona was an amazing city.

Barcelona truly felt like my second home. Every day there was a new adventure to go on and even after months there are things I didn't have the chance to do. If you like a city with a great variety of nightlife (everything from clubs to breweries to cocktail bars), beautiful beaches and a rich culture then this is the program for you. It is also super easy to get to other cities from the Barcelona airport and transportation is great. The classes aren't very hard because professors know that you are there to learn but also there to explore and visit other cities.

I knew that I would love Barcelona, I Just didn't know how much, and my expectations were BEYOND exceeded with the help of CISabroad. From the beginning, applying and preparing to go abroad all of the staff were extremely helpful in answering questions and making me feel prepared. Once I got there, it was super easy to find them at the airport and they delivered me to my apartment door, literally a 1 minute walk from Las Ramblas and the Christopher Columbus statue. Their orientations and welcome activities on site helped me get my bearings and make friends immediately. The classes and teachers were wonderful. There were many cultural activities to help immerse us in the culture from hikes, city tours and my favorite a cooking class. I'm not a super emotional person, but my roommates and I cried when it was time to leave and I cannot wait to go back. None of this would have been possible without CISabroad (and I'm actually planning to study abroad through them again, seriously that great).

My time in Barcelona was one for the books. This was my first time studying abroad and flying on an airplane by myself, and I felt very confident going through CIS abroad. They were very organized and they made me excited and ready upon arriving in Barcelona. The activities and the people made me very comfortable and I learned so much by just walking up La Rambla hearing Catalan and Spanish of the people around me.

On a daily basis, I learned new things about Barcelona. I tried new foods, met new people, and saw new buildings produced by amazing architects and artists. I was constantly amazed that I was living in the most beautiful city in the world.

This past semester in Barcelona was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. Being able to experience and live in a beautiful new city, meet great people and travel around Europe really opened my eyes to what I want out of life and how much I love to travel and take on new challenges. I am so happy I chose CIS because they made all of the pre departure requirements really easy but more importantly the incredible staff in Barcelona were always willing to help and worked hard to make our time in Spain memorable. Barcelona is the best city in the world and I would not change a thing about my time there. From the beach to the lively culture to the incredible night life, I will look back on this amazing time for the rest of my life. Thanks CIS!!