Well, at least I'm sweating a whole lot less now.

I've been back home in Denver for almost a week now, and I've had some time to reflect, compare, and evaluate my experience in Barcelona this summer. There are many things that I will miss about being in the Spain, but there is no doubt that it is good to be home and have the comfort familiarity of Colorado. 

To start, I want to thank my professors, Juan and Javier, for an amazing experience. It was as close to a frictionless experience as anyone could have hoped for, and the hard work, passion, and dedication into making this program successful is obvious. I really felt like our time was spent very well and there was a great balance between academia and leisure, scheduling and flexibility, and time spent in the classroom and time spent learning from site visits. 

Next, I would be remiss if I didn't lament some of the things I'll miss from Barcelona the most. First and foremost, the pace of life was a really nice change. Life felt a lot more relaxed and laid-back when it could be, and that did not go unnoticed. In fact, my parents remarked to me that I seemed "like a different person; a lot more laid-back and worry-free." I'm sure this will mostly dissipate when I rejoin the american workforce next week, but until then I'm going to drink my café bombó in tranquility. I'll also miss the ubiquitous amounts of beautiful fresh bread that accompany nearly every meal, and the daily ritual of visiting the market and buying fresh ingredients. It was a totally different experience that going to Costco once a month and safeway a few times a month, and I certainly think that it was a step above in terms of food quality. Lastly, I'm going to miss the ability to practice my Spanish every day. My biggest fear is to lose my abilities in this language that I've worked so hard to learn, because it is truly a wonderful thing to be able to speak another language at this level. It is such a privelage to be able to communicate with another unimaginable amount of people, and even here in Colorado I still find a few occasions to use it each year. This fall and spring, although I won't be taking any spanish classes, I'm going to search out a place that I can apply my language skills and keep them honed. 

These are just a few of my thoughts from this program. I loved being in Barcelona, and the trip was amazing. I can't say enough about how much I feel like my speaking in Spanish has improved, and I can't say enough about how lucky I am to have had this opportunity to go on this trip. I'm glad to be home, and I'm glad to have stopped sweating, but I will always hold Barcelona, Spain close to my heart.