Hello Explorers! My name is Kaity, and I am happy you’re here! Out of the four of us, I am the one who is going to talk the most about travelling abroad. It is one of my favorite things to talk about, admittedly. I truly am one of those people who was “changed” by their study abroad trip. I have always wanted to travel. It has been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember. When I got to college, I knew I was going to study abroad. My mind was set on going somewhere across the sea. My biggest concern was the language barrier.
Where to Study Abroad?
In high school I had declared that I wouldn’t go anywhere that didn’t speak English. Now I know that sounds bad, I understand that now. But as someone with extreme anxiety and a lack of language awareness, I wanted to go abroad to a place that spoke English. As I searched for programs at my school, I quickly realized that I would not be able to do so. All of the programs in primarily English-speaking countries were for majors different than what I had. I quickly discovered a program that would fit perfectly into my minor. A program that went abroad, had a small group, and was customizable to what you wanted to do. I applied without thinking much of the country. When I got accepted it dawned on me that I would be going abroad to Barcelona, Spain.
Packing Fears:
Do I need a Spanish translation book?
I had taken Spanish in high school and a little bit in college but vaguely understood the language. I was nervous about getting lost, being stuck in a place, and being unable to communicate myself. I was so afraid that something would happen. I started buying every Spanish translation book I could. By the time my trip rolled around I had collected about five. However, only one made the trip with me because it was small enough.
How to pack just the right amount?
Another fear of mine was trying to pack enough stuff. I am not a woman of minimalism. I am very much an over the top, over packer. I picked out one suitcase and spent a week deciding which outfits to take and which outfits to leave. My recommendation, bring items that you can mix and match. With the help of my travel scale, I was able to keep my bag below the fifty-pound maximum.
My Studies
This program was particularly appealing because I was able to customize it. My minor was honors, this is very broad and can be shaped to whatever major each student has. Because of this, I was able to customize the trip to whatever I wanted or needed. The only requirement: create three proposals for papers and then follow through with one. Our final paper had to be fifteen pages and reflect on our experience and knowledge gained.
My final paper topic? Graffiti. Because of my majors in English and Writing, Rhetoric, and Technical Communication, I decided to do my project on something that combined visual rhetoric, communication, and writing. I focused on the graffiti in Barcelona and how it is a form of communication and protest instead of a crime. The trip itself taught me so much besides the street art I saw while walking around.
Where we lived:
I was in Barcelona for a month. We were there from the middle of May to the middle of June. Our group had seventeen students and two professors. We stayed in apartments in the more “residential” area. We were in a quieter are that was still within walking distance from major attractions. My apartment was a ten-minute walk from Sagrada Familia, one of the main attractions of Barcelona. Our apartment was in a building full of other apartments. We were lucky enough to have an in-room washer and dryer. We also had a small kitchen and living room. There were three bedrooms and one bathroom.
The Group Energy:
My favorite part was our little balcony that overlooked the street. We were able to watch the people walk by and see everything that goes in. My cohort was mostly girls. There were four boys and sixteen girls. The dynamic was always entertaining. There were a lot of big personalities in our group, but I wouldn’t have changed it for the world.
Our Professors:
Our professors were John, a Spanish professor, and Jessica, a history and women’s studies professor with a focus on Barcelona. It was amazing learning and living with them. Our professors didn’t stay with us but stayed close by.
Before I was jet set, I had anxiety about nearly every part of this trip. But, by the end, I had fallen in love with Spain. I managed quite easily in a country where I didn’t speak the language. Through travel dictionaries, previous knowledge, and the experience I gained while there I was able to get by quite well. If you have concerns, voice them! I felt most comfortable after practicing terms with one of the professors on our trip.
I saw everything Barcelona had to offer. From museums to cathedrals, mountains to beaches, and so much in between; I had an amazing time in Spain. The sites are unmatched. This trip will be a memory I keep for a lifetime. I cannot wait to revisit my “stomping grounds” in a few years. Stay tuned for more stories of my study abroad trips, Explorers.