By Emily Williams
For the month of May, I had the incredible opportunity to enroll in a fast-paced semester
course in the beautiful city of Barcelona, Spain. Going abroad for the first time was certainly a
bit daunting; however, I am so thankful to the BLI for equipping me with the confidence I
needed and for awarding me a grant to put toward my travel expenses. I attribute so much
of my personal and professional growth throughout my time at Michigan to the BLI and I feel
immense gratitude for the financial support I received. Sharing this experience is such an honor!
The specific program I participated in is listed on M-Compass as “Multidisciplinary
Studies in Barcelona, Spain” and is through a third party, Barcelona SAE. In my experience, all
of the staff members were extremely supportive, the resources we were provided were
informative, and housing was clean and comfortable. There were only a few courses available for
May, and I ended up opting for a 3-credit course, “Sports and Society of Spain,” which met for
four hours, 1:30-5:30 pm, every Monday through Friday. Our professor was charismatic and
kind, and his teaching style was engaging. Every other class period, he took us to various places
in and out of the city for field studies. A favorite of mine was touring Monumental, a bullfighting
ring that is essentially frozen in time, as it has gone completely untouched after the practice was
outlawed. My classmates and I were able to explore the ring and a small museum connected to
the building while we learned about the cultural significance and ethical implications of
bullfighting.
To attempt to articulate the immediate love I felt for Barcelona would undoubtedly be an
understatement. The month I spent in the city was filled with everything new: people, places, and
things, all of which were nothing short of wonderful. Outside the classroom, we filled our
days with sightseeing, shopping, and dining. Some of our stops included Basílica de la Sagrada
Família, Casa Balló, Park Güell, Las Ramblas, and Montjuïc. Public transportation in Spain is
extremely affordable and accessible which made navigating the city extremely simple, however
we almost always chose to go places on foot. I truly can’t imagine a better way to take in the city
than by walking through it. Everywhere you look, you find landscapes and architecture that are
steeped in history — it’s captivating.
Before arriving in Spain, I felt apprehensive about my proficiency in Spanish, but to my
pleasant surprise, communicating came quite easily. I believe this is largely due to the demeanor
of the people who call Barcelona home. Everyone I had a conversation with made me feel
comfortable by being patient, kind, and extremely open to sharing their culture.
My time spent in Barcelona has been an incredible chapter. It’s one thing to learn about
the world in lectures, but it’s another entirely to live within its stories and histories. After
returning, I feel so content to bring back not only knowledge, but experiences that will
undoubtedly shape my approach to future challenges and opportunities. Spain, you’ve been
wonderful, and I’m already looking forward to the day I can visit again.
