Wow. Reflecting on my study abroad experience, it just brings countless memories to mind and smiles to my face. To start with, it was hard. These classes, these professors, were no joke, but honestly, I think it made it that much better. I have learned in life the things that are easy and that don’t require a lot of work, are often really unrewarding, temporary, and non-memorable. I would recommend this trip to anyone interested who is willing to work hard and be adaptable. I think I learned a lot through just living in a different country and language barriers and all the things, to grow in being flexible. I learned to try the food instead of asking what it is, figure it out on the fly, and lead when I don’t know what the right way is. This leads me to my next point. Choose joy. I talked about it in my last blog post, but I think there is more to unpack here and something that anyone can work on daily and still see areas to improve. In one of my last notable conversations in Barcelona, someone said as a leader you either build people up or tear them down, with no in-between and this trip with the challenges it created, the school work, long hours, etc. really showed me just how impactful choosing to put a smile on my face and encourage can change your surroundings. This trip also made me love the world a whole lot more. It’s really easy to get stuck in your little world, especially in college. Spending some time away from pretty much anything you are comfortable with lets you realize how small you are and appreciate the things, people, and culture of anywhere you go. Here are some of my favorite photos from the last week and a half of the trip.
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