As my final days in Barcelona approach, I have begun to look back on my time here and reflect on it all. It seems impossible that it has already been almost four months. I feel like I just got here, and yet I also cannot believe how much has happened. While trying to cram in all my favorite things one more time and study for finals in the next week or so, I am also taking the time to think about all the things I have learned, how I have changed, and what I want to take back home with me from my experiences.
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| I'm going to miss walking to class and passing some of the most beautiful buildings on earth. |
I cannot even begin to explain how much I have learned from this experience, both in and out of the classroom. I have learned a lot about other languages and cultures, of course. I have a better understanding of geography, global politics, and world history. One of the things I really did not expect, however, was how much I learned about my own country. When you interact with so many new cultures you are forced to question everything that has always seemed obvious or normal at home. I have learned to take a look at all the ways I do things and put them into cultural perspective. When I go home, I am never going to see all the regular things that everyone does in the same way.
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| The many museums we visit with our classes are all incredible and helped me learn so much. |
Going abroad also allows you to learn a lot about yourself and even change along the way. This has certainly been a transformative experience for me. I have learned how to interact with other cultures, how to suspend judgement, and how to understand situations from new perspectives. I have also become a much more confident person when it comes to trying new things. Traveling has becoming a breeze and I feel that I can navigate cities and public transportation much better than I ever imagined. I also feel more comfortable leaving my comfort zone and I am already thinking about ways I can continue to do so when I get home.
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| In Barcelona, theres always new places to explore. |
All my experiences in Europe have impacted me in big and small ways and I want to take everything I have learned back home with me. In class, we have learned how to talk about study abroad experiences on a resume and in a job interview. This has been very helpful, but I also cannot wait to simply implement everything I have learned in my every day life. I plan to continue to question my own culture and the things that seem like such a given in the world. I think I will be much more openminded when I get home and always try to see things from other perspectives. Lastly, I feel that I will be a lot more curious about the world around me. I want to continue to learn about the world, even my small community at home, and keep on exploring and learning new things.
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| How will I survive without beautiful places like Montserrat to visit easily? |
I could say a million things about my study abroad experience and all my favorite memories, but overall I just want to say that I am grateful to have had this opportunity. My advice to anyone would simply be to enjoy every moment, because it goes by in the blink of an eye.
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| Thanks for everything Barcelona. |
Julia D. is the Spring 2017 MOJO Blogger in Barcelona, Spain. She is currently a Junior studying Communications & Film at University of Michigan
