As my time in Barcelona winds down and I look back at my time here I can’t help but think about how much my perspective has changed since being here. Living in a cosmopolitan city like Barcelona was a massive change in lifestyle compared to what I experienced in Texas.
Barcelona boasts several prestigious universities and study abroad programs that cater to international students. This creates a large community of students from all over the world, so you’re able to meet amazing people with vastly different experiences. As someone who was taking classes in Spanish I was offered so many opportunities for practical immersion.
In the United States we have the luxury of being fairly isolated geographically from a lot of the major conflicts that have occurred throughout the rest of the world. Living in Barcelona also allowed me to have a more nuanced understanding of the identity conflict between Catalonian culture and Spanish culture.
Nevertheless, the strong sense of community within Spain is a magical thing to see. Whether it be unification through music, religion, sports, or food the city never fails to feel alive at all times.
Due to Spain being conveniently located near so many different countries, it offers a chance to travel around Europe and Northern Africa fairly inexpensively. I was able to travel to places like Portugal, France, Italy, Morocco, and the Czech Republic which brought a new understanding. I was able to make long-lasting friendships with people from all over the world and this was the most rewarding part of my journey. I am so thankful for the opportunity and I hope to return to Spain in the future.
