My First Week in Barcelona: Finding My way!

On September 1st, I first arrived in Barcelona. It was a very hot day, and as soon as I arrived, that was the first thing I noticed. I come from a cooler country, and although it was summer back at the college where I study, I was definitely not ready for the heat wave that came during my first few days.

Nevertheless, I was very impressed during the bus ride to my dorm, seeing the beautiful sights of Barcelona for the first time. It is definitely a bit difficult to adapt to a new city, especially during the first few days. I remember being very tired and sleeping for a long time. However, the next day, we had orientation activities, where I participated and was able to meet a good number of people.

One of my favorite activities was the Old Town tour. There, I met a really nice friend and a lot of people with whom I was able to go out for dinner later and even plan some trips for later in the semester. It was a great opportunity to get to know people, get outside of my comfort zone, and simply be around others. It can definitely feel a little isolating during the first couple of days when you are in a completely new city, so having these activities made the transition a little easier.

Based on my experience arriving here, I also want to share a few tips for anyone who might be starting their own study abroad journey.

My first tip is to be calm and be gracious with yourself. It is going to feel hard during the first couple of days. You are going to miss home or miss college, and you might log into social media, see what your friends are doing, and feel like you are missing out. However, it really does get better in just a couple of days. It is going to be fine! Trust the process and just make the best of your time here. After all, it is also not a very long period of time. Three months go by really, really fast, so make the most of them.

My second tip is to walk around the area where you are staying and around the places where your classes will take place. This can really help you feel more oriented and grounded. You start to know where you are going and become less dependent on Google Maps every time you walk somewhere. Just having the confidence that you know where you are going and what is around you can really help your brain calm down and make the adaptation process much smoother.

My third tip is to not be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone and talk to people. Many of us come here alone, and we all have the expectation of making new friends. Most people are also very open to conversations and making plans. So don't be afraid to talk to new people! You never know when you might meet your next great friend.

Go out, say yes to some plans, and give yourself the opportunity to have new experiences. Of course, if there is something that makes you uncomfortable or something you really do not want to do, you do not have to push yourself into doing it. It is also important to listen to yourself.

And that brings me to my fourth tip: remember who you are. Do not try to force yourself to do something you do not want to do just because everyone else is doing it. If you are not a big going-out kind of person, then it is completely okay to stay in. Sometimes, staying within what feels comfortable can also help your brain adjust to everything that is happening around you.

There are some things that, as long as they are safe and you feel comfortable, are definitely worth saying yes to at least once. Try something new, have new experiences, and see what you think. But you definitely do not have to force yourself to do something you genuinely do not want to do.

So, be gracious with yourself, follow your own path, and do not compare yourself to other people who are studying abroad and may already look like they have a lot of friends, or to your friends who have studied abroad before. Everyone has a different journey, and yours is just starting. You are only in your first week, your first couple of weeks. Be patient with yourself and keep going with enthusiasm.

For my first week, I am going to share a compilation of pictures from the tours I went on around Barcelona. I hope you enjoy them, and I hope you join me in my next blog!