I have learned that I am responsible and observant. I learned that I am for the most part self-sufficient. Before coming on this trip, my mother was afraid I would get lost in the airport, as she thought I wasn’t very observant. On this trip, my classmates called me queen of the metro because I always knew where I was going. They would follow after me, saying they would follow me off a cliff. This knowledge of where I was going might have been built out of fear but I made sure that I remembered where I came from and where I was going. This surprised me, I am usually not one to lead but I saw myself leading on this trip. This trip taught me how independent I am, a skill that is necessary coming out of college. However, one time on the trip that I wasn’t so independent was when I accidentally locked myself in the bathroom during our winery tour. I had to yell into the boys bathroom for help. We ended up breaking the door handles before the door decided to let me out.
To an Aggie considering taking a CIBS study abroad in Barcelona, the friends you make on the trip make the trip feel more like home. My roommate Alexa made my trip, she was always looking out for me. It’s easy to get close to your classmates, they are all in the same boat and looking for friendly faces. The people you meet are who you get to share some great experiences with. I was afraid to be in a foreign place without my friends or family. I was nervous but so glad that I went and pushed myself out of my shell. To an interested Aggie, they would hear street music. In Rome they had street musicians singing “Take Me Home, Country Roads.” Car horns from the many taxis honking at each other. Waiters calling at you trying to get you into their restaurant. They would see beautiful architecture. The buildings and cathedrals were truly breathtaking. The Basilica in Rome was one of the most beautiful sites, next to the view of Costa Brava from up high. They would experience something they can’t at home. They would experience learning about other cultures and customs. Through company visits you can see the differences and similarities between countries. They would get to experience what it’s like to truly get so close to your peers as you go out and have fun together.
