College gives you so many other opportunities other than earning a degree or getting a career job. Sure, those two opportunities are probably the biggest reason why we go to college these days. Something has changed for me while I've been in college, though. Now I want to get to experience the world, learn about different kinds of people, and really live life. This past summer I got to experience Barcelona, Spain for five weeks while I studied abroad. This is why I want to go back.
1. The Students.
The people, the people, the people. My study abroad program was full of other university students from around the United States. I haven't been out of Tennessee much, let alone grown close with anyone from anywhere else. The girls on the trip with me have forever changed my life. They made me want to be a better friend, an open listener, and a free-going woman. I miss each of those women every single day. Our GroupMe chats just aren't enough for me! We experienced everything new together–wine tasting, too much amazing food, and walking to the beach to watch the sunrise after a night out. I can't wait to see you all again when I come to visit.
2. The Food.
So what if I gained 20 pounds while in Europe? Like I said before, I am all about experiences. Why should my tastebuds have to miss out? I am telling you guys, I have had some of the best food of my life while I was abroad. I ate at Beyonce's favorite restaurant (my friends went the next night and actually saw Beyonce and her family there), ate brunch almost every day, had almost every burger with a fried egg on it, and ate the best Mexican food. This stuff is amazing. How have I been missing out on all of these foods? The tomatoes tasted like heaven, tapas gave me life, and olive oil and vinegar drenched everything I touched. I'd gladly gain more weight if I got to eat these things everyday again.
3. Traveling.
Yeah, I traveled to Barcelona. Is that all I got to see? Heck no it's not. Every weekend my new friends and I got to travel practically anywhere our hearts desired, every weekend. Where did I travel you may ask? Well my friends, I got to go wine tasting in Valencia, sit on a beach in Tossa de Mar, swim in a waterfall in Croatia, and spent my 20th birthday in Prague at the Lennon Wall. These are only a few of the exciting things that I got to do. I could go on and on about my adventures, but I think my Instagram tells a better story.
4. Beyonce, The True Queen.
Yeah you can see a Beyonce concert anywhere in the world. My experience at the Formation World Tour in Barcelona? I cried six times and almost passed out from excitement. I'll keep this one short because there really isn't much to say except all hail the Queen B.
5. Selfie Game So Strong.
When I returned to Knoxville, Tennessee after studying abroad, I got told that my Instagram game was very strong. That all of my selfies were giving my friends life. I have never felt so honored. Being super into social media as I am, that compliment touched my heart. Mostly have to give the credit to my Barca friends though for taking the best candid pictures of my life. So thank you for making my dreams come true, ladies.
I would give anything to live life freely again like I did this summer. I now have to be an adult and interview for internships, think about my career path, and cook for myself. I now have much more to think about other than where I am going to eat my next meal that will be out of this world. I now have to eat tomatoes that aren't as fabulous as Spanish tomatoes. Barcelona, thank you. I will be back (mostly because I drank out of the fountain that says you will return if you drink out of it).
