For the last three months, my STEP Signature Project has afforded me the most memorable experiences thus far in my life. As a result of my project, I was afforded the ability to embark on so many new opportunities. For one, I was able to expand upon my knowledge of the Spanish language, a skill and a language I find very valuable to know. Additionally, the chance to be taught in a different style was both challenging and intriguing. Finally, I was able to live an entirely different lifestyle, one of a European.
Barcelona: a city of immense historical significance, artistic ability, and passion. When deciding on my STEP Signature Project, I knew early on that I would love the opportunity to study in a foreign country, regardless of the period of time and where. However, the latter question became increasingly important: where? After countless hours of researching where I might want to embark on this extraordinary new opportunity, I decided on the perfect destination, Barcelona. The chance to study in a foreign country, learn a new language, adapt to a new lifestyle.
Upon arriving in Barcelona, I was immediately blown away by the architecture, the food, the life. Hundreds of thousands of people, all going about and enjoying their daily lives in the many plazas, markets, and picturesque alleyways.
Then I moved in with my host family. My host mom, Pepa, immediately embraced my roomates and I, and welcomed the three of us into her quaint and charming home. With her cat Momo, and dog Kuki, we became part of the family, going about our daily lives with an amazing home in the historic Gothic Quarter, but with even more amazing company. We became incredibly close, and I felt genuinely cared for by my host mom.
Aside from an incredibly warm and comforting home life, I was able to explore the vibrant and fascinating city of Barcelona. So much history. So much life. I became deeply invested in the history of not only the city, but its interaction in the greater Spanish history. For the first time, I was able to understand the scope of the history of countries outside the U.S. And I loved it. Additionally, I explored the immense architectural feats of artists such as GaudÃ. La Sagrada Familia was truly inspiring, and his other works such as Casa Mila gave me a greater appreciation for architecture altogether. While there are certainly historic buildings in the U.S., few compare to these. While I had not really cared about art before, I now found myself appreciating different aspects of it.
Not only was the city itself beautiful and fascinating, but the lifestyle was drastically different. For the first time, I was able to live an entirely different lifestyle. I had been to other countries before, but I had never truly lived in another country. For one, I realized a general sense of class amongst the locals early on. Nobody necessarily seemed to care “too much,” but they just had a general sense of self confidence that I appreciated. Also, walking and taking public transportation everywhere, while possible even in Columbus, was taken to another level in Barcelona. Before I knew it, I was averaging 24,000 steps per day. I felt great. I was being active without even making a conscious effort, I was meeting incredible people from different walks of life, and I finally felt my sense of self-confidence growing. I was beginning to see what it was like outside of the U.S., for better or worse. I found it incredibly valuable just to even have that different perspective, to know that lifestyles outside of your own do exist.
Barcelona, while amazing on its own, also provided me the incredible opportunity to explore the rest of the continent. With the accessibility and affordability of travel between Barcelona and other European cities, I was able to venture out and experience and see things I never had in my young life. From seeing the Eiffel Tower for the first time, to the first bite of pasta in Rome, Europe as a whole blew me away. The history of each of these places was apparent, the cultures vibrant, and the people prideful in making their homes the best for them. I greatly appreciated each of these concepts. What really left an impact on me was the apparent value to live a happy personal life, rather than focusing on material possessions or money. Sure, these things are valuable in their own right, but I found it intriguing how the citizens of these countries put these things on the backburner of their lives.
What started as a simple idea, a STEP Signature Project idea, became the most life changing experience I have had to date. I now know what life is like outside of the U.S. I was able to love and appreciate the differences in the many places I traveled to, and I was able to ponder how this experience will change my outlook on life moving forward.
This opportunity has genuinely made me question every desire I have and have had for my future, and I welcome that with open arms. Do I really want the same things? Who knows. But I never would have known what was out there had it not been for my STEP Signature Project.
