Lessons From Our Semester Abroad

We spent the last three months studying abroad in Barcelona and wanted to share our biggest takeaways and advice for anyone traveling or studying abroad in the future! While there is so much beauty in the unknown, there are definitely a few things we wish we had known before arriving. These lessons apply whether you’re studying in Barcelona or anywhere else in the world. We hope everyone can take something valuable away from this post! 

Adjusting

The first few weeks being abroad are a major adjustment. We were overwhelmed and struggled with the uncertainties. One of the main things we were intimidated by at first was the language barrier; however, we quickly realized that people were incredibly patient and willing to help. Ultimately, you are in a new country and culture without the comfort of your routines, which, as exciting as it can be, is also very stressful. It is important to remember not to put pressure on feeling settled in immediately. This comes with time as you start building small routines and becoming familiar with your area. 

The Value in Wandering 

For the first few days, we would wander through the main areas of Barcelona without a destination or GPS. We found this to be a very helpful way to get our bearings, immerse ourselves in the culture, and begin to find comfort in a new city. It was so nice to walk around casually, wander into stores, through the parks, and just be. 

The Value of Connection

Looking back, one of the most meaningful parts of traveling was the connections we formed with others. Whether this was with people in our classes, others from SMU that we hadn’t previously known, teachers, or locals. You form a special bond with the people you are abroad with and make new friendships with people from all over the world. It reminds you that connection isn’t just about time, but about presence, and being fully immersed with others in a new environment is so special.  

Be Present 

Live each day with an open mind and just see where it takes you. Some of our favorite memories weren’t planned at all, they happened when we said yes to something spontaneous. Studying abroad is truly what you make of it. We are both creatures of habit and routine, but we found so much value in letting that go and immersing ourselves. While abroad, we weren't as inclined to pick up our phones. It really helps to limit your phone use and take in your surroundings. The more you put into the experience, the more you’ll get out of it. 

Staying in Your City

There’s a lot of pressure to travel every weekend, but some of the best moments happen in the city you’re living in. We encourage you to travel while abroad, but don’t feel like you have to constantly be going somewhere else. It is exciting to see new places, but don’t spread yourself too thin because at a certain point, you are so exhausted from traveling that you lose the initial excitement of it all. We found it helpful to stay in Barcelona for a couple of weekends and be tourists in our own city. It was so easy to get caught up in going to class during the week, and then packing to leave on the weekend that we forgot how much there is right where we were. 

Collecting Memories

One of the best ways to hold onto your experience is by collecting small memorabilia along the way. Whether it’s postcards, photos, tickets, or little souvenirs. We both kept journals along the way, jotting down special moments or little logs of each trip and our time in Barcelona. Once arriving back in the United States, it's easy to forget some aspects of being abroad, so collecting a little something or keeping a journal is something that you will cherish for the rest of your life. 

Packing 

When it comes to packing, stick to versatile basics and neutral colors that you can mix and match. Less really is more. You will most likely have a small area where you are living, and when traveling, you have limited packing space. For the colder months, our daily uniform was jeans and a sweater and as it got warmer, we mixed in simple tops and t-shirts. If traveling in a city like Barcelona, there are lots of stores accessible where you can get anything you may need. You will most likely come across amazing vintage shops and stores you wouldn’t find in the United States. Because we were living with limited space for several months, we learned to be much more intentional with what we purchased. Instead of buying impulsively, we prioritized timeless, versatile pieces, focusing on quality over quantity.

Travel Schedule

There is so much value in going with the flow but we also loved doing a little research and planning going into each trip. We would talk to others who had traveled to the same destinations to see what they loved. We usually booked a dinner reservation ahead of time and had a rough itinerary of the things we wanted to do and see, such as museums, landmarks, food to try or experiences. 

Our weekend travel schedule typically looked like arriving late Thursday night, grabbing something easy for dinner, and going to bed. We would then wake up on Friday and do a lot of the touristy things and sightsee, then get ready for a nicer dinner reservation. On Saturday, we would try to find more local spots, such as cafes and vintage stores, and stumble into a place for dinner. We had limited time in each spot, but we made the most of it, and we left each location satisfied and grateful for all we had done.  

We’ve created a list of a few more of our biggest takeaways from this past semester: 

• Experiences outweigh things

• Less really is more

• You don’t need to see everything to experience a place fully

• The people you meet shape your experience just as much as the places you go

• Cultural differences aren’t inconveniences; they’re opportunities to understand a different way of life

• Document your experience, but don’t let documenting replace actually living it

• Say yes to everything, even if it scares you. This is where you grow the most 

XOXO,

Avery & Bliss