Program: IES Barcelona, Spring
Hannah’s Major: Political Science
What is your most memorable experience from your program?
I studied abroad in Barcelona, and one of the most memorable moments for me was witnessing a very important Catalan tradition, the human towers. As a part of my program, I had learned about this tradition a lot and seen it in pictures and videos. Human towers have been an integral part of Catalan culture for ages, so when I heard about it happening in the city for an annual festival, I knew I had to see it. It happened in a large square in the center of the city, where a bunch of different teams had traveled from all over Catalonia to come and form the towers. It was amazing to watch them work together to climb and form these tall structures with only their bodies. It was even more unbelievable seeing it up close and in person and watching them quickly form and un-form these structures. This happened towards the beginning of the program and helped me feel much more connected to the city and Catalan culture.
I would advise someone considering participating in IES Barcelona to take full advantage of all that the city has to offer…There is so much to explore, and even after four months I feel like I could find something new.
What did you learn about yourself or the world because of your experience?
A very important lesson that I learned during this semester was that in order to make the most out of new experiences, I need to put myself out there and accept discomfort. Traveling to new places every weekend and meeting new people who don’t speak the same language as me and are used to a very different culture is extremely challenging, and I quickly learned that I could not let fear or discomfort hold me back. When I started to work past my anxiety and try new things, I found that my experiences were much more memorable and unique compared to many of the tourist-trap, common activities most other people do. While these activities feel safe and are popular, it was the times that I walked around a new city without a plan and got recommendations from a local that I enjoyed myself the most. Going forward, I am going to be conscious about how I let my anxiety or fear hold me back from new experiences, especially now that I know how rewarding it can be to embrace discomfort.
What is your advice for someone considering your program?
I would advise someone considering participating in IES Barcelona to take full advantage of all that the city has to offer. Barcelona is extremely unique in that it has beaches, mountains, and numerous distinct areas of the city itself. There is so much to explore, and even after four months I feel like I could find something new. It is very easy to find some kind of event, festival, concert, or parade in the city, which is a great way to get to know the Catalan culture and familiarize yourself with the city. I would also recommend designating a few weekends during the semester to stay in Barcelona, because traveling every weekend won’t allow you to experience all that the city has to offer. The weekends I stayed there were some of my favorites because the city really comes alive on the weekends, and the times I had hours to wander around and discover new places and sights were what made me fall in love with Barcelona.