The first few days in Barcelona have been filled with so much: new experiences, jet lag, amazing views, unique food, and more. It has definitely been an adjustment to the time zone as well as the daily schedule here. I already really enjoy the aspects of the trip that immerse us in the culture of Barcelona within our daily life. We started the first two days here with group events which were so fun, even through the ten miles of walking each day. The amount of walking and public transportation has been a major difference from the U.S., and especially Texas. The presence of a reliable and safe public transportation system and a walkable city has created an even greater sense of learning about my surroundings just by walking in them daily. Overall, it has been a lot of fun. Getting to experience the city in this way and establishing a routine has made the adjustment much smoother. I am so excited for all the fun activities planned as well as the opportunity to learn both inside and outside the classroom. I hope to learn in the academic setting as well through focus on the perspective of the European Union. There is so much to learn from the differences here, and I have really enjoyed our classes discussing the reasons behind the differences in economics and culture. I am so excited to continue this experience in Barcelona and exploring such a beautiful city!
I have also really enjoyed the flexibility of the weekends to have the ability to travel throughout Europe or stay and explore Barcelona in a more relaxed way. The first weekend we spent exploring Barcelona and were able to go to places we didn’t have time to go to during the week. The next weekend, I was able to fly to Rome which was so much fun. Seeing the differences between the American, Spanish, and Italian cultures was very interesting and further developed my perspective of these countries.
Overall, this is such a unique and valuable opportunity, and I am so grateful for this experience!
