¡Bienvenidos a Barca!
Since I last wrote, so much has happened. For starters, I am now officially abroad, and from this point forward will be writing from Barcelona, Spain. I’ve brought with me a shirt that says “Vamos Azul” and plan to take pictures with it throughout these next four months. Any Europeans who have not heard about the University of Michigan definitely will have by the time I leave! I have been gone now for three weeks and honestly can say this is one of the best experiences of my life. Here is a little recap of the problems I’ve encountered, tips and ideas for future study abroaders, and my experiences thus far…
Problemo #1 – How to fit four months into two suitcases???
This would have to be the biggest challenge I’ve faced. I would equate the logistics behind properly packing for an entire semester to the stress I felt prepping for my statistics final in December. Not fun. Not easy. Somehow I managed, and if I could give one tip, it would be to roll all of your clothes up and then stuff them in the suitcase. You would be shocked by how much you can fit by doing this simple trick.
Barca Lifestyle
This sounds cliché, but Barcelona is the coolest city ever. The city offers gorgeous architecture, mountains, and mile long beaches along the Mediterranean Sea that put those in Miami to shame. The food has been a little peculiar. I went to a cooking class this week and learned how to make the popular Spanish dish called paella. It tasted pretty good, but trust me when I say that you do not want to know what goes into it. I would have much rather eaten it without knowing all the ingredients! Also, if you don’t have friends or family who have been to Barca and already informed you – the nightlife here is a tad insane. Staying at the “discos” until 6 am is the norm and not sleeping has become a regular (and probably unhealthy) habit. There are numerous tourist sites to visit before I leave in May, but so far Park Guell has been my favorite. The views of the entire city are absolutely breathtaking.
Fùtbol
Soccer is the sport to watch and play here. The Spaniards love it. I have already internalized some of this love for fútbol too. I bought an official FC Barcelona jersey and sported it during the intense past two Wednesday night games versus Real Madrid. The fans go insane while watching the games. Just this past week, we went to a local bar outside the arena… it was quite an experience to say the least! However, Barcelona still accommodates the numerous American students with Sunday night NFL football and beer pong tournaments.
Travel, Travel, and More Travel
One awesome reason to study abroad and probably the biggest factor in my own decision to come spend a semester in Europe is to travel. The great thing about Europe is that other countries are only a short plane and cheap ticket away. Already, I have plans to hit the slopes in Interlaken, Switzerland, drive along the ritzy French Riviera, and become a cocoa bronze goddess in the Canary Islands. There are so many more places I plan to go and I promise to bring a little part of UMICH with me!
¡Adiós! And of course… ¡VAMOS AZUL!