Study Abroad Reflection
In the spring of 2025, I studied abroad in Barcelona, Spain, where I completed a 20-hour-per-week internship while taking three courses: two Spanish culture classes and one advanced Spanish language course. I lived in the Eixample neighborhood and attended class and worked near Plaza de Cataluña, close to Las Ramblas. Barcelona became more than just a place I visited; it became a space where I learned how culture operates in everyday life. Because of Spain’s location in Europe, I was also able to travel easily to Sitges, Naples, Porto, Lisbon, Paris, Venice, Milan, Palma de Mallorca, the Canary Islands, Athens, Santorini, Dublin, Marrakech and the Sahara Desert in Morocco, Malta, Nice, Monte Carlo, Capri, Sorrento, and Positano. While those travels broadened my perspective globally, my deepest growth came from living and working in Spain itself.
Before studying abroad, my learning goals were primarily academic and linguistic. I wanted to improve my Spanish fluency, gain international work experience, and explore Europe. I imagined that simply being immersed in the language would automatically make me more confident and culturally aware. However, after my experience, my goals shifted from language mastery to cultural understanding and personal growth. For example, I realized that fluency is not only about vocabulary or grammar but also about understanding context, humor, tone, and cultural expectations. In professional meetings during my internship, I learned that communication in Spain often values relationship-building and warmth before efficiency. Conversations would begin with personal questions about the weekend or family before transitioning into work topics. In the United States, I am used to more direct and efficiency-driven communication. Over time, I began to adapt, understanding that connection was not a distraction from work; it was part of it.
One cultural aspect that deeply impacted me was the concept of time and social rhythm in Spain. In Barcelona, life operates at a different pace. Meals are longer, evenings begin later, and social interaction is prioritized. For example, dinner often starts at 9:00 or 10:00 p.m., and cafés are full late into the night. In contrast, in the United States, productivity and early schedules often dominate daily routines. Initially, I found the late dinners and slower pace challenging. I felt unproductive or behind schedule. However, I began to see how this rhythm fostered stronger social bonds and a greater sense of presence. Spaniards seemed to separate work time and social time more intentionally, fully engaging in each moment. This changed my perspective on balance. Rather than measuring productivity only by efficiency, I began to value depth of connection and intentional presence.
Barcelona’s diverse and international population further shaped my experience. The city is a cultural intersection, and Catalan, Spanish, European, North African, and global influences blend together. Through my internship, I worked with young professionals around 30 years old who had chosen to build their careers in Barcelona. Their independence, work-life balance, and global outlook greatly influenced me. Many had studied or worked in multiple countries and viewed mobility as normal. This expanded my understanding of what a career path can look like. I began to see that professional success does not have to follow a single national model; it can be flexible and internationally oriented.
Living with my best friends added another dimension. They did not speak Spanish fluently or share the same academic focus on Spanish culture, which often left me as the translator or cultural bridge when we were out. At restaurants, in taxis, or meeting locals, I became the primary communicator. At first, this responsibility felt stressful. I worried about translating accurately or representing us well. But over time, it strengthened my confidence and leadership skills. It also made me more aware of how language shapes inclusion. I saw firsthand how not understanding the language can create distance from cultural experiences. This responsibility deepened my appreciation for my years of language study and reinforced my commitment to intercultural communication.
Marrakech, Morrocco
Traveling outside Spain allowed me to see both similarities and differences across cultures. In Italy, Portugal, and France, I observed Mediterranean social warmth similar to Spain, yet each country maintained its own identity through food traditions, language, and social customs. In Morocco, particularly in Marrakech and the Sahara Desert, I experienced a cultural environment shaped by different religious, social, and economic traditions. We traveled during Ramadan, which added another layered dimension to the experience. During the day, the atmosphere felt quieter and more restrained, as many locals were fasting. Restaurants were less active, and there was a visible shift in energy compared to European cities. However, after sunset, the environment transformed, families gathered, markets became more vibrant, and there was a strong sense of community surrounding the breaking of the fast. Hearing the call to prayer echo through the city while understanding the significance of the holy month deepened my awareness of how religion structures daily life in ways that are both visible and embedded in routine. The structure of markets, the rhythms of prayer, and the vastness of the desert landscape contrasted strongly with European city life. These travels highlighted how globalization connects countries through transportation and tourism, yet cultural particularities remain strong. Returning to Barcelona after each trip felt grounding; it had become home.
Some of the most meaningful moments were simple: walking through Eixample in the early morning on my way to class and work, speaking Spanish with a café owner below my apartment, who began to recognize me, or watching the sunset at el mirador del Palau Nacional, only a short jog away from my apartment. These moments felt meaningful because they signified belonging rather than visiting. Challenges such as homesickness and adjusting to cultural differences forced me to become more adaptable. When I felt overwhelmed, I relied on routine: morning walks, structured study time, and intentional conversations with locals. Overcoming these challenges made me more independent and resilient.
This experience also impacted how I see myself in society. In Spain, I was both an insider and an outsider. As an American, especially as an exchange student, I was sometimes perceived through stereotypes: as outgoing, ambitious, or fast-paced. Yet my Spanish language skills allowed me to move beyond surface assumptions. I became more aware of my national identity and how it is viewed internationally. I also recognized my privilege in mobility, the ability to travel freely across countries within short plane rides. Living in Europe showed me how interconnected nations are geographically and culturally, and it made the United States feel simultaneously familiar and distant.
Academically, this experience enriched my studies in ways that classroom learning alone could not. Concepts from my Spanish culture courses became visible in daily life, in regional identity in Catalonia, in the importance of history in shaping political conversation, and in the social structure of public spaces. My advanced Spanish improved not just in grammar but in spontaneity and nuance. I learned idiomatic expressions, humor, and local slang that cannot be fully captured in textbooks. My internship connected my academic studies to professional application, strengthening my interest in international business and cross-cultural collaboration.
Ultimately, studying abroad in Barcelona transformed my understanding of culture from something studied to something lived. It reshaped my goals, expanded my worldview, strengthened my independence, and deepened my appreciation for language and human connection. Spain was not just a destination; it became a turning point in how I understand time, identity, relationships, and my place in a global society.
