It has been almost 2 weeks since my study abroad program in Barcelona ended, so I have had plenty of time to reflect on my experience and think about any last thoughts I want to share. I was very sad to leave the city that had grown to mean so much to me, and I miss Barcelona and the friends I made abroad already. For my last blog post, I’d like to talk about what it’s been like for me since returning home and share advice I have for other students interested in studying abroad.
I didn’t think I’d experience reverse culture shock upon returning home, but I have faced it in a few instances. During my first week back, I accidentally told more than a few cashiers and servers “gracias” than I’d like to admit. I didn’t realize how used I had become to speaking basic Spanish until I returned home. My apartment in Barcelona was in the Eixample neighborhood, which is centrally located. I was able to walk almost anywhere I needed to go- class, restaurants, grocery stores, famous sites, and more. Coming back home and having to drive everywhere again and not having to do much walking felt weird to me. I also experienced understandable feelings of sadness after returning home. I miss my apartment in Barcelona, my roommates, the shops and restaurants I frequented, the Panot tiles that pave Barcelona’s streets, and so much more. I have coped with these feelings by first accepting that they are natural. I have also taken time to reflect on the memories I made abroad and feel gratitude for the overall experience. Finally, I have made an effort to fill my days by going back to work and by spending time with friends and family. This has helped me adjust to being back home quickly.
I think the best piece of advice I would give students who want to study abroad is to plan ahead for studying abroad as much as you can. Meet with your academic and abroad advisors, go to the study abroad fairs, and do your own research on study abroad programs you may want to pursue. I would also recommend planning out the classes you want to take in advance. I had no problem choosing where I wanted to study abroad, but because I studied abroad as an upperclassman, my options for courses that would count towards my degree were limited. I would recommend leaving a few general education courses, like an English or writing class, available to take abroad. I had already completed my general education requirements prior to studying abroad, so my course options were limited to major and minor-specific classes. While not impossible to find, it was more difficult for me to find programs that offered courses that would count toward my Marketing degree and International Business minor.
The final piece of advice I would offer is to save up more money than you think you need. I ended up spending more money than I thought because, while abroad, different opportunities present themselves that you don’t want to miss out on. However, while memorable and fun, these opportunities can still be costly. For example, I ended up flying to Paris and renting a hostel for a weekend with my roommates, and that was something I had previously not taken into account in my budget. In short, expect the unexpected and do what you can to prepare for it now by saving up and adding a contingency fund to your abroad budget. Despite having spent more than I planned, the experiences I had abroad and the memories I made will last a lifetime, so every cent was worth it in the end, in my opinion.
I will forever miss my time in Barcelona, and I wish I could have stayed longer. I never would have thought going into my program that 4 weeks wouldn’t be long enough, but here we are. I am so grateful for the time I did get to spend abroad, as well as for the friends I made, sights I saw, and valuable things I learned. I would do it all over again if I could!
