I have always wanted to go on a study abroad. I did not know that Barcelona, Spain, was the one I would go on until the end of the Spring 2021 semester. I was excited to find out I would still get to experience a study abroad this summer since many of them were getting canceled due to COVID-19. However, I was lucky to get to come to Barcelona thanks to the amazing Center for International Business Studies, McFerrin Center for Entrepreneurship, our faculty leader, and our graduate assistant for this trip. I have been surprised with how much I have already developed a love for this city while experiencing something I have never gotten to experience before, like going abroad.
I have been able to experience a lot of things, unexpected and expected. I expected to visit many sights that allowed us to develop a better understanding of Spain’s culture, like La Sagrada Familia (Bas?lica de la Sagrada Fam?lia), where we got an insight into how much Barcelona is impacted by its architecture and religions while walking inside with its heavenly colored lights shining in from the stained glass of the church. We also visited the Gothic Quarter in Barcelona on July 10th while during a scavenger hunt around the city. This area was beautiful in the day and lively at night. We went back that night to enjoy some food and street performances as we enjoyed the sights of The Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Saint Eulalia, also known as Barcelona Cathedral.
While we were able to enjoy these sights these past couple of days we have been here, I have realized that more people than I thought would not speak any English and trying to figure out how to communicate with them while knowing very little Spanish and Catalan, which is the two main languages of Barcelona, has been difficult. This is different, something that was out of my comfort zone, and I have had to get used to trying to learn some more simple Spanish and ways to communicate. I have had to problem solve and find ways to lessen this barrier of communicating with the locals. While out also it is interesting to look at the different ways their restaurants work. They usually do not split checks, so we have to use Venmo a lot and exchange Euros. We have been able to be efficient with this so far and even set up a google sheet showcasing everyone’s Venmo and how much they owe someone if they do. One thing that is also surprising at their restaurants is that water is not free. They serve water bottles, and you have to pay per bottle that you get.
These experiences that I have been able to have been helping me learn more about myself already. Like when we work on our team project, I have learned how to communicate better as a team member. I hope that I will continue to grow myself during this trip and learn more about Spain’s culture in these upcoming lectures we have and excursion trips we will experience. I want to better understand myself and others while on this trip and look forward to the rest of this study abroad in Barcelona.
