For weeks I, as well as my peers, busied ourselves studying for midterms and making plans for spring break. But I don’t think it really sunk in that I would be going to Barcelona, Spain until I had finally boarded the plane. Barcelona is a beautiful and incredibly colorful city; it is quite unlike any place I have ever visited. Every barrio in Barcelona has its own vibrant culture that just sweeps you right in and makes you want to stay there forever! And the food, oh my goodness!

Here I am on a bus with broken wifi driving through the curvy roads of Cantabria watching the fields of la España verde, teary-eyed.

I had the privilege of spending a few days with my host family in their summerhouse in a small town in the north of Spain called Pechón. It was an exceptional experience that truly brought me closer to my host family.

The fall and spring semesters are structured differently in Spain, and one of the most notable distinctions is the 10-day break for Semana Santa (Holy Week) during the spring. This means that IES Abroad offers fewer group excursions than during the fall, and that students have a space of time when they can travel independently just about anywhere they’d want to go.

Kasha’s April Wrap-Up

I wasn’t planning on going to the famous Trinity Ball. It’s expensive, it’s all night, and I hadn’t heard of any of the bands. But come February 19, I walked into the apartment to find all my roommates listening to the acts and planning their outfits and asking if I’d gotten a ticket yet because there were only a few hundred left, and, well, five minutes letter I was getting a confirmation email assuring me that “You shall go to the ball!”

When I decided to study in Barcelona, my family made plans to come visit for spring break. I was super excited to show them around Barcelona and all the things I’ve discovered since I’ve been here.

Naturally, we hit all the necessary spots, like Sagrada Familia (still awe-inspiring the second time around) and Parc Guell (the view never gets old.) We also took a day to go to Montserrat Monastery, a one-hour train ride outside of Barcelona, for a nice hike and stunning views.

Taking advantage of this spring break, a few friends and I went to tour the Blue Mountains and Jenolan Caves today. Starting off at 6 am, we thankfully made it to the random bus terminal in time. The bus terminal was inside/under a massive casino and we spent quite a while walking around the casino trying to find it. Traveling is so much easier when I’m just following mom around! Our bus driver was also the tour guide and as we made out 2 hour trip to our first stop in the Blue Mountains he told us some Australian history.. how lucky!

It’s spring break! Finally some time to deviate from the routine schedule of school and homework!  The teachers have been working us hard and this break couldn’t have come soon enough.

Deciding to study abroad is one big decision that brings lots of others of varying magnitude with it. Where to study; which classes to take; if, when, and where to travel…the list goes on and on. One of the choices that most affects daily life abroad, however, is your living situation.