What I’ve Learned Living in Barcelona

By: Jenovia Levine

Here are some of the things I have learned about Barcelona, and myself, since studying abroad with CIEE.

I was given this incredible opportunity to immerse myself in a culture and environment different than mine for a whole semester. For the almost 4 months I have been here, I have learned so much about Barcelona, Catalonia, and Spain as a country through the classes, town, and people. Upon arriving here my first goal was to quickly learn different key phrases in Catalan to be able to communicate. After beginning classes at CIEE I started to explore the town more and orient myself. My new goal became to establish a routine here and eventually find places like cafes and restaurants that I could always return to. What I have learned is that establishing a routine helped me turn my study abroad city into a home as I met friends at these cafes for a quick bite in between classes. Barcelona has a ton of colorful cafes and what I learned is that coffee is intended as a break in your day, not something quick and on the go. Sitting and stopping and catching up with a coffee and a light pastry is one of the daily stops I added in my daily routine here. Another thing I have learned while studying here is do go at least one new place a day, especially in such a big city like Barcelona. I take walks in the local parks, along Barceloneta beach, visit the many museums around town. By taking time to do these things with my friends, whether it be a class field trip or in our free time, I learn more about the culture and what it is like to live here. Lastly, my favorite thing that I have learned to do since being a student here is how to grocery shop. With different store types, products, and experiences this has been a highlight of my learning experience. Barcelona has typical grocery stores, meant for more bulk shopping and dry goods, but they also have Mercats where I buy my fresh produce for the week, along with other baked goods like homemade empanadas. So far, I have learned so much in and outside of the classroom and continue to learn more and more as I explore more of the city in my classes and freetime. Barcelona has become a part of my story and a part of my home.

EXPLORE BARCELONA