Coming into this trip, I had no idea how quickly I would fall in love with the city and how natural it would feel to live here. In the grogginess of our jet-lagged arrival to Spain, I immediately knew that I would love this place. Our apartment is beautiful and is located right next to Passeig de Gr?cia which feels like the 5th Avenue of Barcelona. My roommates and I have enjoyed the shopping that is so close to home and it has been fun searching for unique and authentic restaurants nearby to eat meals. Speaking of eating, it has definitely taken some time to get used to eating at such different times of the day. After almost a week of having a changed meal schedule, I have come to enjoy the big lunches and late dinners. I am interested to see how my eating schedule changes when I go back to the United States.
One of my favorite parts of living in Barcelona has been getting immersed into its culture and seeing the way that locals live their lives. The pace at which Spaniards live has been so cool to witness and get to enjoy. Time moves at a much slower pace here than in the United States. Meals are drawn out longer and people choose to walk to get to their destinations. In order to get your check at a meal, you must ask and there is no rush in getting it for you. I have appreciated this slower pace of life as it has allowed me to enjoy more conversation and see more beauty than I usually get to in the rush of everyday life. This slowness is something that I hope to take back home with me.
Another appreciation I have for the Spaniards is their desire to always look presentable. Contrary to the athleisure I am used to wearing and seeing back in the United States, the locals are always dressed nice and look put together. It has been so much fun getting to wear cute clothes every day and it has been an exciting adventure for my roommates and me to find clothes that match the locals.
Another surprise of studying abroad has simply been the significance of the studying part! In one week, I have read six articles, studied for and taken a quiz, and given a ten-minute presentation. And we are just getting started! In all seriousness, it has been so cool and growing to learn about the European Union and how businesses work internationally. Coming to Barcelona, I knew nothing about either subject so it has been extremely beneficial and exciting getting to learn about them.
Every day is an adventure while living in Barcelona and it is already flying by way too fast. I wish I could slow downtime, but instead, I will try to take advantage of every moment and opportunity I get while I am here. I can?t wait for the next five weeks of living in Barcelona!