The study abroad program in Barcelona offered through Elon University has become one of our school’s most popular programs. I personally had the time of my life, and I miss so many of the wonderful things about the city I was lucky to call home for four short months. I cannot wait until the day I get to return to the city by the sea! Let me tell you a little about my experience in this program in case anyone was interested in immersing themselves in Spain for a semester.
Academics
Students attend most classes at CIEE, located quite centrally a few blocks from a main thoroughfare, Passige de Gracia. I loved our little school building; it is in a beautiful pastel townhome and has a rooftop porch with decks that are perfect for morning and afternoon study sessions. We also attended one class at ESCI-UPF, just a short walk down through the Arc du Triomph to a neighborhood known as El Born. Overall, my academic experience abroad was fantastic. The attendance policy is more than generous, the work is manageable and applicable to your major, and the hands on work, field trips, and Spanish lens through which you learn are exceptional!
Living
When it comes to accommodations, Barcelona offers three unique options: homestay, residencia, or a shared apartment. The shared apartment option allows you to live both with students from the study abroad program and local Spanish students. The residencia is a dorm style building with single rooms and a rooftop pool! I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to live in a homestay with another Elon student and an amazing family of four. All the housing options are wonderful in their own regard, and they are all located in different places around the city so everyone can become familiar with a different section of the city, as well as explore around. I may be biased to my own experience, but I personally think that the homestay option allows for students to truly become involved in the culture of Spain and to learn, grow and challenge themselves.
Food
The food offered in Barcelona is some of the best in the world. There is every type of food for any budget, at sit down and to-go locations around the city. There are world renowned restaurants such as Moments at the Mandarin Oriental or Tickets, and tasty diamonds in the rough like Luigi’s, TAST, Café Alsur, and Bo de B, as well as local favorites sprinkled throughout. Brunch is very popular at Teresa’s, Flax & Kale, Brunch & Cake, Milk, and Picnic. There are also unique dining opportunities, like a Dining in the Dark restaurant where you are stripped of all sense of sight and have tio rely on your other senses to find and eat. If I had an endless budget, the foodie in me would not have been stopped and I would have eaten at a different restaurant every single day for every single meal.
Activities
There is so much to do in and around Barcelona. I found that before, after, and even in between classes, I loved to walk around and explore new areas such as Lilea, El Born, The Gothic Quarter or Las Ramblas. The shopping is amazing – you can find everything from designer to fast fashion and touristy souvenirs. In addition to walking around and exploring, the beach and the mountains provide a lot of other fun things to do like nature walks and hikes, swimming, sailing, helicopter tours, vineyard tours, and cava tastings. On top of that, there are endless landmarks, museums, and sites of interest including Tibidaboo, the Picasso Museum, La Sagrada Familia, the W Hotel, and all the incredible modernist façades.
Travel
Obviously while you are abroad you want to explore all of Europe and see all there is to see, but you have to prioritize – Europe isn’t going anywhere, so take advantage of being in Spain and really get to know the country you’re fortunate enough to live in for an extended amount of time. With that said, you can access many places very easily from Barcelona; its central geographical location was one of the reasons I chose to study here! Some of my most memorable weekends were spent in Morocco, Vienna, and London. CIEE also gives students the opportunity to take part in several day trips and one overnight stays to places throughout Spain and Catalonia that I would never have thought to visit, but am so glad that I did!
Studying abroad is one of the greatest opportunities a student can experience. Elon has so many amazing programs to choose from, and I strongly suggest you consider Barcelona! If you have any questions about your upcoming semester in Spain or are considering it as one of your options, don’t hesitate to reach out to me at echarles2@elon.edu.