A phenomenal university experience

To call my study abroad experience life changing would be an understatement. Studying abroad has been the best adventure of my life, and I am forever grateful that I took a leap of faith and did something that scared me. I remember applying to my program and feeling so nervous because of all the unknowns. It is crazy to think that studying abroad once scared me so much because it ended up being the best decision I ever made.

One of the highlights of studying abroad was being able to attend such a phenomenal university. I took two classes at Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and loved every minute of it. The campus was nestled in the bustling district of Sant Pau, a campus of beautiful historic buildings amongst an otherwise modern city centre. Every day I took the metro to class and every day I was in awe that this was my life. Not only were my classes challenging but they were fascinating as I was able to interact and work with students from all over the world. I feel more well-rounded as a result of all the new perspectives I have been introduced to. My intercultural communications class provided me with the tools to be a respectful and open-minded tourist in my new home. It was fascinating and engaging to blend sociological principles with practical theories when discussing the differences between our home culture and Barcelona.

My second class was a Spanish class, which was definitely necessary in this city because it was never a given that anyone I encountered would speak English. My Spanish class was nothing short of amazing- my professor was so wonderful and truly wanted us to learn the important basics of the language. At first, I was very hesitant to speak Spanish with locals because I did not want to make a fool of myself. Over time though I became more comfortable and I was able to order food and ask for help in a store with ease. Everyone says that the best way to learn a language is to surround yourself with it and now I can confidently say that that is very true.

Barcelona is a city unlike any other. There were many social norms and behaviors that were very different from what I was accustomed to. I maintained the mindset that I had to just embrace the culture instead of judging or questioning anything. An important tradition in Barcelona is “sobremesa,” which is essentially when after dinner you continue to sit in the restaurant and talk for hours. Life in Barcelona is much slower and relaxed than in the United States, which I personally came to love. People there truly cherish quality time with loved ones and never rush anything.

One preconceived notion I had going into this was that it was just going to be a vacation and it wouldn't really help with any academic or professional goals. This could not be further from the truth! Living in a different country for two months completely changed me as a person. I now feel independent and confident in myself, which I know will help me greatly when it comes to pursuing career goals after I graduate. I used to be fairly introverted, but this experience took me completely out of my comfort zone and enabled me to become a more social and outgoing person. Also, I have completely expanded my world view as a result of being able to interact with so many people from all over the globe.

I am forever lucky to have studied abroad, and I would recommend it to everyone!

• Name: Victoria Scott
• Status: Senior
• Major: Political Science
• Hometown: Cleveland, Ohio
• Program: CIS Abroad - Summer in Barcelona - Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona