I didn’t expect to go to Switzerland while here but I said yes! It was one of my favorite experiences.

Here are the top 5 things I learned while studying abroad:

Always say Yes
Although it’s cheesy, this phrase explains my experience abroad. Keeping myself in check and constantly reminding myself if this is once a lifetime opportunity and it’s only six weeks helped this trip reach its full potential. Giving your body some rest is always important, especially while traveling but being able to do so in moderation allowed me to keep up with the busy lifestyle. Even just saying yes to foods I was unsure of or even to weekend trips while abroad that I didn’t expect, saying yes has changed these past 6 weeks and helped me to realize how important it is to live life to the fullest even back at home!

The importance of independence
Living in Barcelona, Spain for six weeks this summer has taught me so much about surviving independently and enjoying it. This was my first time out of the United States so being away from my home for this long helped me to become more independent. I feel that this will help me tremendously especially after I graduate from college. Having this experience right before my senior year has taught me so much about myself and what I can accomplish alone. Living so far away from my family and friends this summer was quite daunting at first and made me uneasy. However, once I took a look around and realized how cool this experience is, I was able to enjoy doing even little things alone. Being able to explore or even just get food alone has been so educational and allowed me to fully immerse myself into the culture in Spain.

Adventuring around Barcelona alone!

How to be adaptable
Having the confidence to explore my new city while being unable to speak the native language here has taught me so much about being adaptable. Overcoming the fear of doing things alone in a foreign country was a feat. However, after adapting to the culture and busy life, my trip was much more enjoyable. Even the classes while abroad required some adapting on my part. The style of teaching and lengthier classes were quite an adjustment in the beginning. Not everything went perfectly while here in Spain, however, adapting and keeping an open mind when things got bumpy was an important lesson for me to learn. For example, when I went to Paris my flight back home got canceled. My immediate reaction was to freak out. We needed to be back to Barcelona quickly but were unable to find flights to get us there in time. My friends and I ended up having to book a 12 hour flexibus back! 12 hours with strangers in a bus in a foreign country is not the most comforting idea. However, this turned out to be one of my favorite memories while abroad. Having my friends with me and being able to laugh it off and know that we would get back safely was a huge lesson on being adaptable. .

UAB has taught me so much.

Education is more than just in the classroom
My SAI leaders stated this on the first day that I arrived in Spain. As the 6 weeks flew by, I quickly realized how right they were. This experience has been full of learning in and out of the classroom. Even just walking through Barcelona or experiencing the metro for the first time was extremely educational. Keeping an open mind about everything and allowing myself to learn in each situation has been a huge lesson. Being able to live like a local here in Spain has been a unique experience that I have dreamed of for years and has taught me something new every single day.

Don’t be scared to ask for help
While here abroad, I have been in many situations that have required me to get out of my comfort zone and ask others for help. This has never been my strong suit. Even just asking the SAI leaders for advice or asking strangers for directions has helped my time abroad go more smoothly. Being comfortable asking other people for help in an uncomfortable situation has been so helpful. Most of the time people are more than happy to help you even if there is a language barrier. Asking for help allowed me to learned things I would’ve never known or figured out on my own.

Overall, these past few weeks have taught me more lessons than I thought possible. Each thing I have learned has been applicable to life back at home and I will cherish the memories forever.

 Written by: Rylan, Summer 2024 Barcelona student from Oklahoma State University