My time abroad completely changed the way I think about day-to-day life, culture, and how people interact with each other. One of the most interesting things I learned in class was about the history of the European Union and the euro. It helped me understand how connected Europe really is when it comes to business and politics. One fun fact that stuck with me is that Europeans usually get about three extra weeks of vacation compared to Americans. It really showed me how differently people here view work-life balance.
Outside of the classroom, I noticed a lot of little things that added up to a completely new experience. Public transportation was so easy to use. I barely needed to use Uber because trains and buses could get me pretty much anywhere. It made me realize how much more accessible and environmentally friendly cities can be with the right systems in place.
One of the biggest surprises for me was how gluten-free friendly the city was. As someone with celiac, I usually have to be super cautious when eating out, but here there were tons of restaurants and bakeries that were completely gluten-free. My favorite place had Neapolitan-style pizza, and it was honestly better than most of what I’ve had at home.
There were a few cultural differences that stood out too. I had to get used to the lack of ice and the fact that hot coffee is way more popular than iced. But I actually started to enjoy it. I also loved how late the sun set, it didn’t get dark until around 10 PM, which made every evening feel longer and more relaxed.
The beach was always full of people, even on weekdays. I’d see locals playing sand volleyball on Monday nights, which was such a cool reminder of how active and community focused the lifestyle is. Visiting old cathedrals and seeing how strong the religious culture still is was also beautiful to witness. And one of my favorite moments was watching a soccer match at a local restaurant. The energy, the cheering, the sense of unity…it was amazing!
Coming into this trip, I expected to see pretty buildings and eat good food, but I didn’t expect to feel so connected to a different way of life. This experience definitely changed my perspective on how people live and interact in different parts of the world, and it made me think more about the kind of lifestyle I want for myself moving forward.
