Have you ever thought of studying abroad during college, but at the same time felt a bit unsure if it’s for you? Well, I can honestly say I felt the same way during the first semester of my junior year. The thought of living in another country for four months seemed daunting and I was anxious about being apart from my boyfriend for that long. I was nervous I would arrive in Barcelona and feel extremely home sick, flooded by intense culture shock. And I was right. But what I realized is that the feelings that place us out of our comfort zones, that leave our stomach with butterflies and our nerves through the roof, are sometimes what allow us to grow the most. The first step of embarking on something that will change your life forever is accepting that things will change.
When I first arrived in Barcelona, I was taken aback by the uniqueness of the city, a city that seemed so vast and confusing. Jet lag clouded my brain as I got settled into my cute little apartment, just a few blocks down from the Sagrada Familia, a beautiful basilica with breathtaking architecture. Anxiety ran through me in the beginning. I was surprised by the level of culture shock I felt. My Spanish is mediocre, so adapting to the struggle of a language barrier was a challenge at first. And that’s what culture shock is all about. And I’m telling you, it’s a real thing. Getting over culture shock requires adaptation, and it takes time. Even when I arrived back in the US, I had major reverse culture shock. The truth of the matter is that people do things very differently in Spain. Customer service is much slower, people eat dinner at 10 or 11 PM, they take siesta, and there’s a whole bunch of pick pocketers to watch out for. It felt like a whole different world.
When I began to adapt to Barcelona, I began to truly immerse myself in the culture. I loved the laid back, carefree nature of the locals and their ability to live life day to day. I loved the diversity of the city. First you are surrounded by narrow streets and old buildings and then you’re dipping your feet in the warm Mediterranean after having a delicious tapas by the sand. Tapas, which are small plates shared amongst a group, are seriously amazing. Prosciutto, potatoes, bruschetta galore. When nighttime comes around and you walk into the under ground nightclubs right on the beach, you’re welcomed by awesome DJs and a lively dance floor. When you take the metro to class the next morning, and walk through Las Ramblas, the beautiful weather and unmistakable atmosphere makes you feel so at home. There is so much to explore in Barcelona. It’s truly a majestic city. And what’s so amazing about studying abroad is that flight tickets are fairly cheap, which means this is your chance to travel Europe and learn about different cultures. There are so many amazing places to see and so many unforgettable memories to make.
If you’re unsure whether studying abroad is for you because you’re nervous, know that no matter what anybody says, everyone is nervous before embarking on this once and a life time experience. But I promise you, it’s so worth it.
