It has been two weeks so far since I arrived in Barcelona, and I could not have been happier about my decision to go with this city as my home base! Right from the start, I think adapting to the culture has been easy, as I have been abroad before, but there are a few different things that I have noticed. First, everyone is very friendly and very willing to spark a conversation anywhere, whether you are at a restaurant or on the street, you are bound to run into someone and get into a conversation. I have already encountered many Spaniards on local streets that I walk frequently and have had conversations about culture, life and politics with many of them, which has made me feel very welcomed. Here in Barcelona, there is also a large population and number of tourists that come from all over, and many of them speak English, so the language barrier has not been a problem. I have also made an effort to begin exploring the city on the weekend, and some friends and I went to a historic castle this Sunday with free admission and were able to explore some of the history behind Catalonia, specifically.

Through IES, I also got the chance to explore the beautiful city of Tarragona with the entire group here for internships. The city was old, historic, and beautiful. In one of the photos, you can see the skyline from our walk around the town, which was filled with so many flowers and views of the sea! We also went to the beach during our excursion, and I would have to say that has been one of my favorite memories so far. By far the biggest impression that I have from Barcelona, specifically, besides the people and culture, is the architecture. As you can see in one of the photos. I went to explore Sagrada Familia, and I have to say the photos do not do it justice!

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Learn more about this blogger’s study abroad program: Global Internships