Barcelona SAE, Author at Barcelona SAE Blog

My Fútbol Experience in Barcelona

Mar 23, 2020

by Samuel Restrepo, Rhode Island College You are finally here! After all your hard work you landed in Barcelona, one of the best cities in the world for an incredible fútbol (soccer!) experience. But how exactly do you immerse yourself in the fútbol culture while in Spain? Here, I will share 3 things that you can do to spend your time abroad as a true Barça fan. Watching a Barça Game at a Local Sports BarEven if you have never watched a single fútbol game in your life, I strongly recommend that you experience a fútbol game at one...

Challenges to Prepare for in Barcelona

Mar 20, 2020

by Dominic Occhiuzzo, Florida Gulf Coast University Studying abroad is an exciting adventure that is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity. However, every student is sure to face some type of challenge or barrier over the course of the semester. An important aspect of life is to be able to welcome these challenges and better yourself by overcoming them. When prepping to come to Barcelona, I had an unlimited amount of questions that caused me to have anxiety and fears about possible challenges and whether I would be able to overcome them – things like the language barrier,...

4 Tips for Keeping Your Study Abroad Experience Alive After Returning Home

Mar 18, 2020

You have just returned home from an amazing time studying abroad; you saw new places, met new people, and were completely integrated into another culture. You may have learned a lot about yourself and even re-examined your priorities, values, and what you think of the United States and the culture you were brought up in. You are sad to leave, but excited to get back and tell everyone about your travels, and excited to get back to familiar ground and pick-up where you left off. However, the reality may fall short of your expectations as life in the US...

Coronavirus Updates – Spring 2020

Mar 12, 2020

The health and safety of our participants is always our #1 priority. Barcelona SAE continues to closely monitor the Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation worldwide through trusted sources such as the CDC, WHO, US Department of State and APUNE. We have been and will continue to be in regular communication with our students, parents and partners and will continue to post updates below. Our Preparation We are closely monitoring all health and advisory resources including the CDC, US State Department, US Embassy in Spain, the WHO, and more for the latest updates about the COVID-19 and its impact on Barcelona and Spain. We are updating...

An Encounter with Culture Shock

Feb 28, 2020

By Trevaleyus Harris, Albion College Learning about culture shock is very different than actually experiencing it. Here in Barcelona, I was introduced to some local college students. I met a student from the Basque Country in Spain. As we were walking around Plaça Catalunya, he told me about his time studying in Barcelona and some things he does as part of his culture. He told me that when he has dinner with his friends and family, they would typically start around 9 or 10 pm and would not end until 11 pm or even midnight. I thought to myself,...

My Experience + Tips to Avoid Pickpocketing in Barcelona

Feb 28, 2020

By Erran Owenby, Lenoir-Rhyne University Hola! My name is Erran Owenby. I attend the Barcelona School for International Studies (SIS) and my major is Graphic Design. I have been living in Barcelona for two months now and I have had one of the best experiences of my life. Along with all the excitement, there have been many challenges to studying abroad. One challenge that is specific to Barcelona is pickpocketing and I have been a victim of pickpocketing along with a few of my friends, so I am here to talk about my experiences and a few tips for...

Homesickness While Abroad

Feb 27, 2020

By Laszlo Van Straelen, Guilford College It’s no secret that being abroad for a long time can be full of highs and lows. There will always be excitement when one is leaving home to live in another country for a while. The first few weeks of a study abroad experience is usually experimental, where you get used to the cultural differences and explore as much as possible. There are plenty of events to attend and meeting people is very easy. After the excitement wears off, some people may begin to feel a sense of homesickness. This can be especially...

Embracing Discomfort

Feb 24, 2020

Hola chicos, qué tal! My name is Kendra Espiritu, I am a Junior at New Mexico State University, born and raised in Las Cruces, NM. I am pursuing my Bachelor’s in International Business and minoring in International Studies and Spanish. Here in the beautiful city of Barcelona, I am attending the Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona and taking international business and humanities classes in both Spanish and English. I am living in an apartment in the heart of the city with the coolest roommates, exploring the city by foot, meeting new people, making life long friends and of course constantly practicing...

Seven Tips for Homesickness While Abroad

Feb 24, 2020

By Erran Owenby, Lenoir-Rhyne University Hola! My name is Erran Owenby. I attend Barcelona School for International Studies (SIS) and my major is Graphic Design. I am currently studying abroad for the Spring 2020 semester from January 2nd to April 24th. As you can tell, I will be here for a total of about four months and that’s a long time to be away from my family, considering I used to go home every other week at my home university. I have been in Barcelona for a few weeks now, and at this point, homesickness has begun to affect...

Why is it Important to Travel as a Person of Color?

Feb 13, 2020

By Trevaleyus Harris, Albion College Traveling to a foreign country can be an intimidating experience in itself. It’s impossible to truly know what a new culture will be like until you experience it firsthand. Culture shock is unavoidable, but with the right strategies, you can feel more prepared to take on this new adventure. Hear what Trevaleyus Harris has to say about being an African American student in Barcelona, how he overcame specific challenges, and why he thinks it’s important to travel and immerse yourself in different cultures. Want to learn more about traveling as a person of color?...