A Home Away from Home in Barcelona
For these past months, I’ve taken it upon me to explore as much of the city as I possibly could. Whether it be just walking in any direction with no end destination or trying a new restaurant in a neighborhood I’ve yet to discover, exploring definitely became a part of my everyday life here in Barcelona. There were many places I visited that I probably would have never done so if I didn’t just walk around aimlessly. From wandering down the beach at Barceloneta, to getting lost in the Gothic Quarter, to walking up to Montjuic, to eating at the many delicious restaurants in Poblenou, to admiring Gaudi’s architecture in L’Eixample, I saw a bit of everything in Barcelona.
Some of the best experiences I’ve had in Barcelona have been the result of just exploring the city. The places I’ll miss the most are without a doubt Barceloneta Beach and Montjuic. After my classes, it was common for me to head down to the beach, and either walk down the boardwalk towards the next metro stop or pull out my beach towel and lay in the sand and just spend my afternoon there working on homework.
As a big FC Barcelona fan, Lluís Company’s Olympic Stadium, where the team is currently playing as the Spotify Camp Nou is being renovated, was a frequent place of visit for me. I would go to the stadium hours before the game started, to simply be around the game day atmosphere and the ultras. Being able to interact with local supporters of the team and seeing their passion and excitement for their team was an experience like no other. Seeing the team, I’ve supported for over a decade now has been a lifelong goal of mine, and I am extremely happy to say I’ve been able to accomplish that goal thanks to this study abroad program. I believe that through this experience, I’ve developed as a person massively, and I am extremely excited to head back home, and implement the different parts of my every day in Barcelona into my every day back home.
Alan Garcia
Major: Finance, Investment, and Banking & International Business
Hometown: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Program: Spain – CIEE Business and Culture