We caught up with SAI Ambassador Molly, who answered some questions about her summer in Barcelona.

Late nights at the Sagrada

How has studying abroad impacted your life goals?
I have always known I’ve wanted to travel as much as possible in life. I chose my major based on what would allow me to travel. I chose my university based on who would let me travel as much as possible. So studying abroad the summer after my first year was not a surprise to myself or those who know me. However, I never expected to love it as much as I did. The ability to see new places, meet new people, and experience new cultures was something I never wanted to give up. So, as soon as I returned from my study abroad I started planning my next trip. And the one after that. And while my desire for traveling was always present, my priorities have shifted. I am now more focused on finding new opportunities to find my passions abroad and exploring as many new places as I possibly can.

Parque Guell with my ladies

What is your favorite memory from studying abroad?
My absolute favorite memory of study abroad is from our first weekend in Barcelona. Our whole program went on a Catamaran around the coast of Barcelona one evening and it was so much fun. We had all just gotten to know each other the day before and it was the perfect activity to solidify our bond as a group. We spent the evening boating, laughing, having photoshoots with Sandrine and I left feeling confident that I wouldn’t have to worry about finding my people during my trip. I got to know a lot of new best friends that day – and got a nice tan as well :)

Hanging out at the Bunkers

What was your favorite thing to do in your host city?
About halfway through our trip my roommates and I discovered our favorite little cafe in the El Born neighborhood. It was our favorite because it had iced coffee, and yes we know that’s not very Spanish but hey at least we weren’t at Starbucks. After a couple trips to the cafe we began to discover more and more about the neighborhood. Eventually we were going everyday between our morning and afternoon classes. We would hop on the metro and in just two stops we were in the middle of an incredible neighborhood full of local boutiques, artists, and delicious cafes to explore. Spending a few hours in El Born was something I began to look forward to everyday and I cannot wait to return to my favorite area one day soon.

Paddle boating in Praha

What advice do you have for new study abroad students?
If you can, travel while you are abroad. Most definitely take the time to explore your home city. But, if it’s something you’re interested in, traveling throughout Europe is the one thing I recommend above all else. In the six weeks I was abroad in Barcelona I also traveled to Amsterdam, Portugal, Ibiza, and Prague. These short weekend trips made my experience immeasurably more special. I went into the trip knowing that I wanted to explore Europe but I never imagined how feasible it would actually be. Getting to spend time in four countries within one summer was an experience that will be hard to beat. My trips allowed me to learn about more places and cultures within Europe as well as really helped me to grow closer with my roommates. They also added a lot to the Cross-Cultural Management class I was taking because I got to see, first-hand, the differences in lifestyles that I was learning about in my class.

Boating in Barca!

—

Molly was a summer 2018 SAI Barcelona student from the University of South Carolina.