My time abroad has been an incredible experience, far beyond just traveling somewhere for a short period. I never expected to notice such an extreme contrast between the weekend trips and our time in Barcelona. It was different to experience the local culture in the last weeks and get a taste of what it’s like to live a “normal” life in a different country. Unlike quick visits, where the focus is on ticking off important sights and rushing around, our study abroad journey allowed us to take our time and experience more of their culture. It’s been a wonderful experience that has broadened my perspective and enriched my understanding of the world.
One thing that surprised me during my trip to Spain was the friendliness of the locals. Before I went, I had heard rumors that they might be rude and impolite, but my experience proved otherwise. I discovered that they weren’t actually rude; they have a different way of expressing themselves, which can come across as blunt. During our stay, we had a professor from a local Spanish university who shed light on this perspective. According to her, they believe Americans are often coddled, and they value being straightforward with each other as it prepares them for the workforce after college. Another interesting observation was that locals don’t smile when passing each other, and they find it odd when strangers do. It’s not because they are impolite, but they view smiling at someone you don’t know as strange.
I was quite surprised by how quickly I adapted to the time change and those late dinners here. It’s pretty amazing to come back from school or a company visit and take a siesta. But, I feel like I’m not as productive as I would be otherwise. That’s one thing I didn’t anticipate. Also, those late dinners threw me off a bit. Back home, I’m used to having dinner early in the evening and having more time to wind down before going to sleep. But here, it’s like you’ve got way less time in the evening after dinner, and adjusting my schedule to this change was tricky.
