My time studying abroad in Barcelona went by much quicker than I initially expected. When you are getting ready to leave, everyone around you tells you that your time abroad will change you as a person. I always thought there was no way that just 11 weeks could have that much of an impact on me, but it is true. My time abroad has turned me into a much more confident, independent and better person.

During my time here, I traveled to seven different places, including taking a solo trip. Each location allowed me to experience a new culture, try new food, meet new people and see new attractions. But it is not just the traveling that changes you; it is also navigating a new city on your own. I was intimidated by Barcelona when I arrived. I barely speak Spanish, had never taken public transit and had never been away from home for such a long time. Each challenge allowed me to grow as a person.

Communicating with the people around you when you don’t speak the language was the scariest part for me, but as time went on, I grew more comfortable with daily interactions in Spanish, like grabbing a coffee, checking out at the grocery store and ordering at a restaurant. Public transit was something completely new to me. The first few times, I was scared to try to navigate on my own, but it ended up being surprisingly easy. I also thought being away from home was going to be challenging, especially with a seven-hour time difference. I found that the best thing for me to do was set aside time to call home and stay busy. Overall, my summer in Barcelona was an incredible experience, and I wouldn’t change it for the world.

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Learn more about this blogger’s study abroad program: Journalism: Barcelona Internship