Reflection Post

             I used the funds I was granted from my STEP Signature Project to study abroad in Barcelona, Spain for one month through the International Study Abroad program (ISA). I took two classes while abroad, one which counted towards my Spanish minor (Spanish Art and Architecture) and one which fulfilled a History GE credit (Contemporary Spanish History).

            Throughout my month in Spain, my eyes were opened to a different way of life from that of the United States. I was able to experience a city that was somehow a bustling metropolis while feeling like a more relaxed atmosphere than Columbus. I had to learn how to be more mindful and was able to see how the cultural differences forced me to slow down and appreciate things. Spaniards don’t take their coffee to go, they sit at a café and drink it slowly while having a conversation with friends or family. They eat smaller meals more often, and always do so in a relaxed setting that gives them time to decompress and talk to people around them. They walk almost everywhere, unless they’re taking the metro or riding a motorcycle, and despite the busy city feel, there is no hurried or rushed sensation like those permeating New York and Chicago. As a person who is almost constantly rushing to get somewhere or do something, I was forced to slow down in Spain and to appreciate the amazing architecture, people, and food surrounding me. I have never felt more in touch with myself or a place as I felt there.

            My transition to a calmer disposition and a focus on mindfulness was brought about mainly through observation of the city life and the desire to not be seen as a tourist by locals. After the first week of living in Barcelona and assuming I could live my life the same way I do at Ohio State (hurrying from one thing to the next, always thinking about what’s ahead of me), I realized that this state of mind caused me to stand apart and kept me from fully appreciating the amazing opportunity I’d been given.

            Observing my host mom, the local students at my university, and the people I would see every day while walking around the city allowed me to realize how different Barcelona was from any environment I had already been accustomed to. Throughout the first week, whenever I would come home in a mad rush, my host mom would consistently be a force of calm and would cause me to see that my hyperactivity was definitely going against the norm. Similarly, the forces associated with being immersed in an atmosphere that radiates a more relaxed lifestyle began to permeate my mind. Whether I was on the metro, walking to class, going to a café, or even going on a run, the people around me all seemed to be moving at a slower pace.

            The local students as well were helpful to observe. Our classes were set up so that we had four hours of class time separated by a thirty minute break, during which we would go outside and sit down at a café, order something, and chat with our classmates. By watching the students at our university that were locals, and seeing how they used their time to sit and relax as opposed to studying, etc., we followed suit and were able to better enjoy each other’s company and companionship.

             This transformation in the way I look at my life and how I go about completing tasks will allow me to live more in the moment and be more mindful while on campus this coming year. I have realized that I am happier and less stressed when I simply focus on being as opposed to what’s coming next in my day or week. By being present in every moment and enjoying them to the fullest I believe that I will be able to live a happier, more fulfilled life.