Study Abroad and Domestic Study Away

This semester has been one of immense personal growth for me. The main way I see this is in my independence. Being so far from home and anyone familiar, every decision has been my own to make. The sense of responsibility that this has brought to me has made me feel more confident as a capable adult. 

My classes are taken at the Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona study abroad building, which is located on the Hospital Sant Pau UNESCO world heritage site. I love how beautiful the classroom building is; being built around the same time as landmarks such as Sagrada Familia and Parc Guell, it feels as if I am learning within the history of the city itself. 

In Barcelona, Spanish and Catalan culture are impossible to avoid. The hardest challenge to overcome is the language barrier; it is hard to be comfortable at first in a place where English is not primarily spoken. A lot of activities that my program allows me to do are rooted in distinct Catalan crafts, such as making mosaics or espadrilles shoes, which has given me great appreciation for the Catalan tradition. 

The most impactful travel experience I have taken on is solo travel to Morocco. It was a completely different world to me linguistically, culturally, and religiously. For these reasons, going there frightened me. After going, I don’t know why I had anything to worry about. Everyone was very welcoming to me, and the experience helped me learn to overcome my own fears in pursuit of valuable life experiences. 

I strongly encourage anyone that is going abroad to live with a local. I was mortified when I found that my homestay only spoke Spanish and Catalan. However, this improved my language skills and immersed me in the everyday cuisine and traditions that made her life special. It was truly an invaluable experience to have. 
I am entirely grateful to the Margaret Thomson Pavelka ‘70 scholarship foundation and the generous gifts made by Rebecca McGowan and others. With this financial contribution, I feel as though others want to share in making my childhood dreams come true and care about the valuable experience a student can have abroad. Keep inspiring the next generation of those who are curious about the world. 

Kyle riding a camel on his solo excursion to Morocco: