Program and Location:

Summer, Spain: Culture and Community Engagement in Barcelona and the Camino de Santiago, Barcelona, Spain

Major/Minor:

Applied Education LDT Major and Psychology Minor

Why did you choose to study abroad?

I wanted to put myself outside of my comfort zone and I wanted to push myself mentally and physically. Traveling outside the country was terrifying to me, so going with a purpose and a group appealed to me. I knew NCSU offered great study abroad programs so I decided to look through the MANY programs on the website.

How did you pick your program?

I picked my program based off of a few things: lower cost, only 2 weeks, and hiking! I’m not the type of person to want to be away from home for a long time, and I am financially on my own, so I wanted to make sure what I picked was reasonable. And hiking the Camino de Santiago is a once in a lifetime opportunity, so I knew I had to go for it.

What is something you learned about yourself? How are you different? How are you the same? Or, what did you realize about your own culture by living in another one?

I learned so much about living in the moment (as cheesy as that sounds, it’s true!). We were so busy, yet intentional between our week in Barcelona and our week on the Camino that all my life stressors and worries seemed so little and I was able to look at them through a completely different lens. I realized how fast pace America is and how Spain is much more focused on interaction and detail. It was truly an eye opening experience being outside of the United States.

What advice would you give to another student?

Study abroad if at all possible. If you can make it work with your financial situation and life scheduling, do not miss the opportunity to experience the world. I had no idea how amazing and beautiful Spain would be. Not to mention becoming best friends with everyone in my group. 10/10 experience that I think everyone should try for.

 How were your classes abroad different than if you would have taken them at NC State? Did you take any field trips or do anything outside of the traditional classroom?

Almost every class while we were in Spain was in some new location or with different companies within each community. We went to a sustainability garden in Barcelona, helped with an afterschool children’s program, toward a charter school in Barcelona, and so many other field trips. Our classes, while hiking the community de Santiago consisted of power or longer reflections together, talking about our experiences individually and as a group. I learned more in those two weeks abroad, than in any class any semester at NC State.

Would you do it again?

Yes!