As our four weeks in Barcelona have come to an end, I have emerged as a more confident, adaptable, and understanding person. Through the many memorable experiences and activities, I have grown and developed, built important relationships, and overcame many challenges. As the trip began, we were told by our professors that traveling and living in a different culture is one of the fastest ways to grow confident in our abilities, and looking back, that has held true. Several challenges emerged, such as missing my flight on the way to Spain, and figuring out how to get another flight and make it to Barcelona on my own showed me that it was not the end of the world and everything will work out. Other challenges, such as planning my weekend trips to other countries, were stressful but showed me that I was capable of figuring out my way around without much help from others. In addition, the bonds forged with my fellow Aggies from staying up late, traveling, and studying with them are invaluable, and I hope to continue the friendships I made.
Our last week was sad as I did not want our study abroad to end, but it was also one of the most enjoyable weeks of the trip. Some of my favorite activities and memories were from this week. For example, our visit and tour to the famous Basílica de la Sagrada Família was incredible and breathtaking. The church, although still under construction after almost 150 years, is probably the most beautiful piece of architecture I have visited. Designed by famous architect Antonio Gaudi, it had magnificent detail and statues on the facade, making it unlike any other church I had seen. My favorite part about the structure, however, was viewing the stained glass from the inside, which cast colors from deep blues to vibrant oranges throughout the interior hall. Additionally, we visited the Perelada Winery in northern Spain, which was very interesting and informative. We learned about the wine making process in depth, with everything from how the different types of soil the grapevines grow in to the length of time the wine is aged in the barrels affect the taste, aroma, and color of the final product. Also, we discussed the wine business in Spain and Europe, learning how big it is. We also learned about the growing industry of wine tourism, and how the Perelada Winery was designed for this tourism, which was quite interesting to me. In addition to the activities we had, some of my best memories from the last week were hanging out with my classmates, such as going out after our exams were done or swimming in the ocean at sunrise on our last day in Barcelona.
Overall, my time spent in Barcelona was wonderful, and the experiences I had were life-changing. While the days and classes were long and tiresome, the learning was unmatched and the adventures were unforgettable. To anyone considering studying abroad in the future, I cannot encourage it enough. Be sure to approach the trip with an open mind and be ready for things to not go as planned. The life lessons, learning, and growth will change you in ways you cannot imagine, and you will only wish it lasted longer. Till next time, Barcelona.
