The Truth About Study Abroad: What No One Tells You

I spent my junior year studying in Barcelona, and it changed my life. But not in the Instagram-perfect way you might expect.

Challenges Nobody Warned Me About

Loneliness is Real: Even surrounded by new friends, I deeply missed home

Academic Adjustment: European teaching styles differed drastically

Cultural Miscommunication: Simple things became complicated

Money Stress: Despite budgeting, I underestimated costs

The Unexpected Benefits

Independence: I navigated healthcare, banking, and bureaucracy in a foreign language

Perspective: Seeing my country from the outside gave me a nuanced worldview

Resilience: Every challenge I overcame built confidence

Language Skills: Total immersion took my Spanish from textbook to conversational