Coming to Spain in my first week I was honestly really scared and now that I only have a few days left, I never want to leave. Today I got complimented on how I enunciate words and it really made me feel good that I was able to speak it in a familiar tone without sounding too American! Being here has truly been a blessing, I have gotten to meet people from all over Europe and make new friends with people in other majors at A&M. My initial impressions of Spain were just that it was going to be very hard to feel like I could truly fit in. However, yes, I still stick out like a sore thumb sometimes, but I have been able to pick up how to communicate in an efficient way and even went on a few solo experiences by myself such as a cocktail-making class and kayaking and snorkeling. I am an extroverted person, but I never would’ve believed you if you said I would attend those all on my own. Being able to come out of both of those confident has really made me excited for the next year to come as I hope to learn more about myself in more moments of discomfort!
Some other cool things I have been able to do on my study abroad was visit a flamenco show, try new foods (patatas bravas is one of my favorite dishes), see beautiful pieces of artwork by people in the modern day and in the past, try a Michelin star restaurant, and so much more. Montserrat and Toledo were beautiful, and our guides made it so much better with the explanations of certain pieces. I wouldn’t have noticed some of the backstories and details of the pieces without their help! As well as getting to visit places like Estrella Damm, Cava, and the Port of Barcelona were really inspirational for me as a supply chain major. I got to see many different facilities, machinery, and the process of storing all of their goods. One of the best parts of this trip for me and makes me excited about what I will do in the future. Overall, my trip to Spain was insanely better than I would have expected, and I recommend visiting to anyone! So many places in Spain, including Barcelona, are filled with amazing sites, food, and people.
