Here goes nothing!

Hi all!

I am so excited to get going on this trip, on this program, with these classes, and with all of you! I just finished packing my big suitcase, and I've managed to fit everything into one so I'm pretty ecstatic on that front.

In terms of the program and my expectations and goals, I really just expect to learn a ton. I know that my speaking is... classroom speaking, so I'm really stoked to put my foot in my mouth a whole bunch of times and learn how to really communicate in a non-native language. I spent a few days in Barcelona about 18 months ago and had my longest conversation with a taxi driver (about 25 minutes in traffic) and it was pretty awesome. That kind of genuine interaction and language skills is exactly what I'm looking to achieve as my primary goals in these weeks abroad.

Beyond the acquisition of language, I'm excited to try a whole bunch of new food and embrace a culture that is different from the one that I've grown up in. One of the best parts of traveling is being able to have that personal, introspective reflection that compares and contrasts cultures, experiences, and people, and then taking that reflection and finding out more about yourself and what you like or dislike, love or hate, and what you want to see more of. That's a long-winded way of saying that I want to find some interesting differences between the United States (and Boulder) and a Spanish (Barcelona) experience.

Lastly, I know that I'm gonna make some awesome friends. I can't wait to hang out with my fellow Buffs all over the city and country, and I'll see you all very soon!

Looking forward to the program starting on Sunday

In terms of being nervous or worried, I am nervous about living in the city. I've travelled abroad a lot and I always find the city to be very loud, very dirty, and very overwhelming. Since I am from the mountains, it is a huge change for me. On that same note, I'm worried about living in a bad part of the city, or about feeling unsafe. I know this program is very successful and that CIEE is very good at arranging living situations, but I am still anxious. Lastly, I am nervous about having a roommate again, since I have not had a roommate since my freshman year of college.

Since I have travelled around Europe in the last ten years with my family, I have a basic understanding of the cultural differences between Europe and the US, in addition to past experience to draw upon. I expect that the first day or so in Spain will be very difficult to understand, as it generally is when I return to Spain. Since I have spent the last week in France, though, it should be less jarring to hear Spanish, than if I were coming directly from the states. I am looking forward to hearing a language I actually understand. I expect to eat some very good food, learn a lot of information (in a short period of time), and make some good friends.

Overall, I am excited to hear the Spanish of Barcelona and interact with a new city. I hope to make a lasting connection with my host family and really live in Barcelona as if I were a local. More specifically, I am eager to explore the city, spend time on the beach, go hiking, learn to cook some of the local dishes, improve my Spanish, and make some new Buff friends.

I might have (definitely) done this wrong

So, I know we were supposed to finish this blog post before we got to Spain, but since I got here a little bit early I missed that cutoff. I haven't spent much time in the city itself though, so hopefully it still counts.

I am so excited for this new experience. I have never been to Europe before, much less Spain. I think it will be really amazing to see and live (albeit briefly) in a culture that is not at all like the one I grew up in. There is always so much to learn from people and from different places.

I don't feel terribly nervous, which is nice. I'm sure any doubt/over-analysis will set in after I've been there for one week and haven't accomplished all of my goals yet, because that's just the kind of person I am. Impatient.

I guess it would make sense to actually say what my goals are, huh? I want to make at least one friend from Barcelona that I'll keep in touch with after I leave Spain. Hopefully more, but I'm bad at keeping in touch, so I'll aim low. Also, obviously, I'm very excited for the opportunity to travel more, to learn about the history of such an old city, and to get to know everyone from CU. I barely know any Spanish majors.

I guess that's about it! So psyched to get started.

Clara

Getting Ready!

As I’m getting ready to leave for Barcelona I have a few fears but mostly I’m just excited. I’ve traveled abroad before. (I’m sitting and writing this in my grandparents’ house in York, England). However, I have never lived abroad. Spending so much time away will be a new and slightly frightening experience, but I’m hoping, after a quick adjustment period, Barcelona will begin to feel like home. I’ve also never traveled abroad without my family. I’m very glad I have a good group of students with a similar background to mine and two experienced professors to guide me. Since Spanish is my second language, it will be a difficult adjustment to use it every day, but I hope that it will help me learn.

Overall, I really want to get to know Barcelona as a city. I think that when I have traveled before and stayed only a week or so, I have been missing out on large parts of the culture. I hope that living in the city and experiencing it first hand for six weeks will allow me to really grasp the language and the culture. I want to speak with locals and learn from them as well. I really want to get pictures to show off back home, but I also don’t plan on seeing the city through my camera. This is a once in a lifetime experience and I’m going to take full advantage of it.

I’m very excited to try new things and get out of my comfort zone during this program. One thing I’m very excited to try is the food. I’ll admit that I don’t know much about it, but I want to try everything I can. I also am looking forward to learning about the rich history of Barcelona and Spain as a whole. I’m glad we will be having on site lectures around the city. Getting to travel and learn at the same time is a wonderful opportunity. No matter what we do or where we go, I know that this will be an amazing adventure I will remember forever.