Q: Initially, what made you decide to study abroad? Why did you choose your program?
A: Study abroad has been a goal of mine since I was in high school. I have always wanted to travel and experience different cultures. I chose Barcelona because I thought it would be a great way to learn a new language while also fulfilling my academic requirements.
Q: What was the highlight of your study abroad experience?
A: The highlight of myvstudy abroad experience was meeting and making new friends from all over the world. It was very exciting to learn about other cultures and experience different lifestyles.
Q: What was your greatest challenge abroad and how did you overcome it?
A: One of my biggest challenges initially was making friends within my program. I was the only UC Merced student in my program and many of the other UC students already knew each other. I was able to overcome this by continuing to put myself out there, even if it meant going to events alone. Overtime, I was able to meet many new friends who I am still in contact with today.
Q: How did your coursework abroad compare to your courses at UC Merced?
A: The coursework at UB was only slightly different than any of the courses at UC Merced. Lectures were more similar to discussions, and our grades only depended on our final as we did not receive any homework. It was also very common to refer to professors by their first name in Spain.
Q: What did you gain from your study abroad experience?
A: Studying abroad has been an unforgettable experience that helped me improve and become confident in my Spanish speaking, trying new things, and having an open mind.
Q: What advice do you have for students considering study abroad?
A: My advice for students considering studying abroad is to not be afraid to put yourself out there and that exploring new things by yourself can be just as fun as with a group of friends.
Q: What do you wish you learned about studying abroad before you left for your program?
A: I wish I knew to be more prepared for the amount of times I would get sick. I got sick quite a few times during my trip and wasn't completely prepared for it.
Q: Describe a typical day abroad.
A: A typical day abroad in Barcelona started at around 8am when I would walk to a nearby café for breakfast. My classes didn’t begin until about 11am, so I was able to take my time. I had two classes which went from 11am-3pm (without breaks) so afterwards, I would take the metro to my apartment and walk to a place nearby to get lunch. Since my day ended pretty early, I would have time to go see museums, go to the park, or go to the beach after and have dinner around 9pm with my friends at a nice restaurant.
Q: If you could go anywhere in the world tomorrow, where would you go and why?
A: I would definitely go to Paris! During a free weekend, I went to Paris with a few friends I made while abroad and it was amazing, but the city was so big and we had so little time that I want to go again for a longer amount of time so I can do more sightseeing.
