How can I make this new city my home? That was the challenge I gave myself when I arrived in Barcelona for my yearlong UCEAP program at the University of Barcelona. I’m hard pressed to think of a better program for me than the UCEAP program at UB. Like many other UCEAP students in Europe, I could have traveled every weekend and visited all corners of the continent. Instead, I spent most weekends in Barcelona, sitting in cafes, studying at the UB Library, or shopping at the mall with friends. But above all, I revel in the moments of connection that I felt with the people of Barcelona, especially the way that peoples’ eyes would light up when I spoke Catalan to them. “Parles català molt bé!” they might say. I’d reply with a simple, “Merci,” and just smile, knowing that I had participated in a program that gave me a piece of living culture — a language — that I still carry with me today.
I'm hard pressed to think of a better program than the UCEAP program at the University of Barcelona. Like many other students in Europe, I could have traveled every weekend and visited all corners of the continent. Instead, I spent most weekends in Barcelona, sitting in cafes, studying at the library, or shopping with friends. Above all, I reveled in the moments of connection that I felt with the people of Barcelona, especially the way that their eyes would light up when I spoke Catalan to them. “Parles català molt bé!” they might say. I’d reply with a simple, “Merci,” and just smile, knowing that I had participated in a program that gave me a piece of living culture and a language that I still carry with me today.