Throughout my time here in Spain, I have been striving to make the most out of it by trying something new every day. Whether that is testing a new restaurant or type of food, getting lost walking down the streets of Barcelona, or visiting one of the many historical or cultural sites, there are numerous activities to experience. I am so lucky to have this opportunity, and I want to make the most out of every second.
This week started with a bang as I presented with my group on our topic for our EU economics class. It took some time to prepare, but we went to sit in a local coffee shop and worked as we enjoyed the scenery around us. As I dove into our topic, I absorbed everything on a much deeper level and enjoyed challenging myself to create a presentation that would teach my classmates something valuable. I have two more presentations coming up this week about the EU and Pablo Picasso. The group presentation-based format of the classes I am participating in has increased my appreciation for all that I am learning.
Outside of school this week, I attended my first FC Barcelona f?tbol game! I had never seen a club team play before, and being able to watch one of the world?s best soccer teams in their home city was incredible. It was much more fun than I expected, as I am not an avid soccer fan, but the game was highly entertaining and worthwhile. Going to a soccer game is one of the activities you cannot miss when coming to Barcelona!
My roommates and I have also adventured out to try a few new restaurants and tapas in search of the best empanadas and gelato in Barcelona!
Commuting around the city has been one of my favorite aspects of this program. You can learn so much about a place just by paying attention to your surroundings; riding the metro, walking around, or even taking the bus can provide so much insight. The different parts of Barcelona all have unique characteristics that I have enjoyed discovering. Walking everywhere, while this can be tiresome in the Barcelona heat, has been where I have found some of the most fascinating aspects of this city.
Another exciting feature about studying abroad is the ability to travel on the weekends. Due to COVID-19, we are only allowed to travel within Spain; therefore, we will be taking a few weekend trips around the country.
This weekend a group of us in the program traveled to Palma de Mallorca. Mallorca is an island off the coast of Barcelona with one of the prettiest beaches I have ever seen. When in Mallorca, we walked around exploring and found the famous Cathedral of Saint Mary.
While this was not on our itinerary for the weekend, it was the highlight of my time in Mallorca. Additionally, learning to travel in a different country is an entire learning experience. We navigated this part of our trip seamlessly and will apply what we learned as we travel to Valencia next weekend! Studying abroad has taught me so much about myself and the world. My biggest takeaway from this week is that some of my best memories can be created when I leave room for spontaneity and things outside my comfort zone.