Bailey was selected as an SAI scholarship recipient and blogger for the Spring 2015 term. She is a current student at St. Cloud State University studying at Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona (UAB) in Barcelona, Spain during the Spring 2015 term.

Tell us why you chose to study abroad

I chose to study abroad because I LOVE to travel. I have been on shorter study abroad programs and wanted to stay longer and completely immerse myself into a new culture and new language. I was drawn to Barcelona because of its beautiful art culture and location along the Mediterranean Sea.

Tell us about your school, major, interests, clubs (you in a nutshell)

I attend St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, MN. I am studying fine arts with an emphasis in Graphic Design. I love my school and all the friendly staff and professors I get to work with on a daily basis. Besides my love of travel, I also have a passion for playing soccer. I played on the collegiate team here at St. Cloud State for two years before deciding to hang up the cleats and focus on my schoolwork and career. I love to meet new people here in St. Cloud. I am very lucky to attend a school that is incredibly diverse and I love learning about new cultures. I speak fluent French and basic German and Spanish. I am hoping to build on my language skills while abroad in Spain. I am also a member of the St. Cloud State Aero Club, where I do designs for their signage and posters around campus.

What are you most excited about re. study abroad?

EVERYTHING! I am so blessed to have this opportunity, and I plan to soak up anything and everything I can learn about this beautiful city and country. I am looking forward to trying the many different tapas and eating paella on a daily basis. I am looking forward to the beauty that Barcelona has to offer in the art world like the Sagrada de Familia and Park Guell. I have also heard great things about the Picasso Museum. I absolutely can’t wait to attend a Barcelona futbol game at Camp Nou. I am equally as excited to meet all my fellow abroad students as I am to visit all the sites!

What are you most nervous about re. studying abroad?

I think the thing I am most nervous about while going abroad is not being able to see or do all the things I want to while I am over there. Time flies when you’re abroad and there are just so many things I want to experience while I’m over there. I guess that gives me a reason to go back though. I am nervous to get lost, but a little excited about that at the same time. I know its inevitable, but hopefully I will be able to find my way and learn from it.

What are three goals that you would like to achieve/accomplish while abroad?

Okay I have a few more than three things and I know that all of these things are goals that I will strive to achieve.

– I want to make lifelong friends. People you travel with share experiences with you that nobody else can give you. I am hoping to walk away from this trip with friends I can talk to 20 years down the line about memories from the trip and be able to keep in touch with them no matter how far away they are. I

– want to expand my art knowledge. I know that this will happen naturally since I am in one of the major art capitals of the world, but I would like to come back to the United States and feel comfortable talking to my professors about Spanish art and what I learned from it.

– I want to get lost. I know that this was also something I was nervous for, but sometimes you have to get lost to find your way…in more ways than one.

– I want to make international connections. I know in this day and age, when trying to build your career, it is all about your connections and who you know. While abroad, I hope to make lasting connections with my professors and other people that I can keep in contact with who are in the art field.

– Lastly, I want to make these four months abroad the best time of my life. I want to experience everything I can and make the most of my opportunity while I have the chance. I want to take risks and learn from my mistakes, try new things, and meet new people. I know that if I keep in mind these goals while abroad, my trip will be nothing short of amazing. I am so excited to start this journey because I know its going to change my life forever.