You’ve probably read countless articles that have started with the sentiment, “study abroad changed my life.” But, after studying abroad in Barcelona this past semester, I have to say, that there’s really no other way to summarize study abroad. Sure, that was a statement that I heard from many people, but it can only truly resonate with you once you have experienced it yourself.
Source: Kiernan Rome
It may be called “study” abroad, but this journey is so much more than that. You will learn from your classes, but you will also learn about new countries, cities, cultures, people and most importantly you will learn about yourself. As cliché as it sounds, I’ve returned home with a completely new view of the world and my place in it.
I’ve learned that home is a feeling, not a place. It has only been a few weeks since my return to the states, but I am overcome with nostalgia for Barcelona constantly. A place that at first was so foreign to me turned into a place that will always be part of me. The transformation from tourist to local happened without me even realizing. I will never forget the quaint bakery where I bought my daily croissant and the man at the mercado who supplied me with pints of ice cream on a weekly basis. The George Payne and Dow Jones became my favorite bars, while Bruc 33 and Rosa Negra became my favorite restaurants. My roommates were initially strangers, then becoming friends, and eventually family. We shared holidays and birthdays, laughter and tears, crazy nights at Opium and simple girls nights on our couch. This place and these people made me feel like I belonged, and that is what home is. I never thought that it was possible to be homesick for a place where you were not born and raised, but I couldn’t have been more wrong.
Source: Kiernan Rome
I’ve learned that life begins at the end of your comfort zone. We are creatures of habit and that is why it isn’t always easy to change things up. Making the decision to study abroad means you are leaving the place and the people that make up your natural habitat. Personally, I am somebody who tries to avoid change and loves my routine, but taking risks is what helps us grow. I had to adopt a “just go with it” attitude, and I couldn’t be happier that I did. I ate foods that I never imaged I would try, I traveled to places I couldn’t even locate on a map and I began to just live life as it was happening. Maybe back home you wouldn’t be this spontaneous, but you’re here and will never be younger and may never get the chance again, so just go for it.