Study Abroad and Domestic Study Away

As someone who has spent years moving around, leaving home, going to boarding school, and adjusting to life in the United States, I thought I had gotten used to change. I thought I knew what it felt like to start over in a new place. But somehow, even in such a short amount of time, Barcelona has managed to leave an impact that feels just as strong as all those years of experience. Being here has made me feel both the most like an adult and, at the same time, the most like a kid rediscovering the world. It has brought out a version of myself that feels the most genuine and the most open. The way this city has affected me is unlike anything I expected. I was never fully sure if I wanted to live in Spain in the future, but this experience has completely changed that. Now, living in Spain feels less like a vague idea and more like a real goal.

One of the things I have loved most is how many new people I have met. The friends I have made here have become such an important part of my experience. We spend our weekends exploring new places together, whether that means discovering different neighborhoods in Barcelona or taking trips outside the city. Some of my favorite memories are from those weekends, especially the feeling of getting on a train not entirely sure what we will find, but knowing it will be fun because of who I am with.

Another unexpected gift of studying in Europe has been the chance to reconnect with friends from my past. For the first time in years, we were finally on the same continent, and being able to visit them felt surreal. Seeing familiar faces in completely new settings made me realize how much I have grown and how far I have come since we were last together.

My Spanish has improved more than I ever expected. I came here hoping to get better, but I did not realize how natural it would start to feel. Daily conversations with locals and the simple need to communicate pushed me in ways that classroom learning never could.

As my time here comes to an end, I feel like I am returning to Lake Forest as a new version of myself. I am more confident, more independent, and more open to the world around me. Barcelona has left a real mark on me, and I know I will carry this experience with me for a long time.

Sia and a friend in Scotland: