Why Barcelona?
Hannah Quinn
As soon as
I was presented the option to go to Barcelona, I had my heart set. It was an
amazing price for an amazing place, but little did I know, I was signing up for
so much more than just classes and a warm place.
First off,
we were so fortunate to be able to stay with someone who was from Barcelona and
who loved this place with their whole hearts. They were so excited about our
adventures because they wanted us to experience everything this amazing place
has to offer. Although there is a communication barrier, there was still a huge
amount of love and respect between our hosts and us that you just can’t find in
an apartment or a dorm room. On top of
this, the luxury of basically having a Spanish mom is such a huge plus with
home cooked food and laundry/cleaning being done for you!
We got
right into exploring and adventures because there are just so many amazing
things to do and see once you get to Barcelona. The history, the culture, the
art, the people, everything is absolutely amazing and it’s nearly impossible
not to fall in love right away. We were able to visit the most iconic places in
Barcelona and learn SO much about them. I thoroughly enjoyed having tour guides
because they will teach you so much more about the place you are exploring and
give you a full dose of the history and love that went in to each structure. I
learned so much about Barcelona’s history and it was an amazing experience.
Seeing the influence of so many people present throughout the city is
incredible and so eye opening. Once you start to learn about their history, you
don’t want to stop. You get to see why things are the way they are because
there is literally a reason for everything.
The people
in Barcelona are unbeatable. They are so kind and compassionate and so willing
to help out the silly American. Each day I had a new (small) issue that I had
to take care of that I couldn’t have figured out without the help of the people
in Spain. Whether I was lost or just trying to order food, someone was always
there to take time out of their day to help. I made many friends on this trip.
The ladies from the grocery store down the street, the other students staying
at my homestay and the amazing group of Purdue students I was fortunate enough to
travel with.
Our study
abroad group created an bubble of love and respect for each other and we grew
so close and created friendships that will last a lifetime. I knew zero people
coming to Spain and left with 20 new best friends. We got lost together, we
discovered amazing areas together, we even hiked up a mountain together and
those are just some of the things that helped our friendships grow so strong
and so quickly that we just can’t find on Purdue’s campus. Without this study
abroad program, I would’ve never met some of my best friends.
From day 1
to day 30, Barcelona was an incredible journey and it was nearly impossible to
say goodbye to my new home away from home. Anyone who is thinking of study
abroad in Barcelona, do it. You will not regret it at all and you will learn
more about yourself than you ever thought possible.
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