When I first applied for a year-long study abroad program, to be honest, I didn’t realize just how long the duration would really last. Before applying, I talked to a few friends about their experiences and, without failure, the recurring phrase they mentioned came to be “I just wish I could’ve stayed there longer.” So, I took that to heart, of course.
I’m a Spanish major, however, I am not a native Spanish speaker nor did I have many resources to advance my skills. At the time, coursing through my major felt like a waste because I wasn’t able to do the major part necessary for me to complete my studies: speak, read, write, and not even understand the language completely. Therefore, when I signed up to study abroad in Barcelona, Spain for a full academic year, I did so with the strict intent of becoming proficient in the Spanish language and was clear to myself on how to achieve it.
I touched down in Barcelona feeling confident. I didn’t know that I had made the grave error that many other foreigners make when coming to Cataluña–not understanding just how big of a presence the Catalán culture still lives on and ever-growing in the region. I had generalized all of Spain to be a country with uniform politics and therein the patrimony as well. In a way, I got a two-in-one culture shock experience applying to study at the University of Barcelona. Despite that, I made sure to adjust quite effectively.
Staying true to my goals, my first and second semester classes were completely taught in Spanish. My first semester I had a literature class and two linguistics classes. To put it simply, I quickly felt that I was way in over my head. In fact, I distinctly remember having to introduce myself in Spanish and desperately trying not to hang my head low in embarrassment quickly after. The three words to summarize my first semester academically are: It was difficult.
Nevertheless, I entered determined to create the experience I desired to have in my program. During all of this, I made close friends with two girls in my literature class along with another wide group who I met while being out in the town by myself; all people with whom I still keep in contact. Actually, being that one of the girls was also muslim like myself, she later invited me to stay with her and her family in Costa Brava for the religious celebration of Eid. They left me to eat leftovers for weeks! This extreme act of kindness removed from so many feelings of loneliness that were starting to overwhelm during the usual seasonal depression time of year.
A financial depression for sure made its way to my pockets during the progress of the program. I realized very quickly that I would have to tolerate sensitivities to FOMO as the semester students had the budgets to go on trips every weekend. Meanwhile, the money that I came with was the money that had to last. Thankfully, I not only had the amazing chance to accept the Chris Borton Memorial Scholarship which helped me sustain immensely during the course but moreover the very helpful UCEAP support system that provided me with a connection to a well-paying work opportunity after I reached out.
I don’t regret not traveling outside of Spain as much as others, in fact, I appreciate the opportunity to fully feel confident in achieving my other goal of purely “living like a local” and focusing on other personal motives for venturing here in the first place. I’ve grown to enjoy the simple pleasure of living a slow and quiet life, away from the chaotic and never stopping rat-race that is California and the general American “hustle” culture. I will forever be enamored with the phenomenal Barcelona train system, on its own it’s enough to convince me to move back to live here just a little longer after graduation; seriously, us Americans do not understand what we’re missing out on when it comes to public transportation.
On top of its fantastic system of metros, buses, and trains, Barcelona has provided me with a well-maintained public and a release of swirling anxiety one surely is to have when they form part of various minority communities in America. It’s to say, Barcelona is extremely safe. I actually had to get used to that feeling of being consistently comfortable in my body and understand that danger is not a pregiven and waiting to strike at moments notice. I will forever love this city for granting me an oversaturated peace.
My host country has provided me with so many benefits to live modestly that it makes it hard to skip over the casual glee of going grocery shopping for very economic prices. Being able to go into a shopping market with just a 20 euro and walking out with a bag full of items plus money left over is a mere joy I cannot ignore and neither deny that I take the pleasure in doing bi-weekly.
Given the semester system and the distinct manner in which assignments are handled at UB, it made for more time to be creative and take interest in other hobbies I never would have even considered for myself. Through making connections in local art scenes and getting to know people, I took on a modeling project, a hobby I would have never considered for myself, and ended up appearing in a music video for an upcoming artist here in Spain (Na te debo on Youtube). I love the free time that I’ve definitely taken advantage of and ironically enough it’s ended by me pursuing a career away from the arts and more into the academic field.
On arrival to my host country, my original career goal was to work as a Photojournalist in Latin América. As cool as the dream sounds, it turns out I only ever really wanted more time to practice my leisurely passions of photography and writing, not necessarily for a vocational purpose. It has occurred to me to follow the path of becoming a translator with interpretation skills that still earns me a life abroad.
For every challenge I’ve faced in Barcelona, the community has amended for me a replenishing quantity to be grateful. Over everything, I have learned about ambition. In itself carries a patience, persistent yet productive spirit that seeks to intentional nourishment through time, bringing with it the reward of respite after reaching into the unknown. Studying abroad is for many but a year-long term is for the select few who have contemplated well on using their count-down time wisely. I came to Barcelona as a fresh 20 year-old full of wonder and objective, and I’m glad to say that I’ll be leaving stepping into 21 years of life fueled by wisdom and a sense of accomplishment.