Study Abroad Diaries: Life Updates

By: Taryn-Mina Chase

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Entry #2 : 02.02.2024 | Time : 12:02 pm BCN

Songs of the Week 🎧

♫ Where You Are by John Summit and Hayla

♫ Steal My Girl by One Direction

♫ Psycho by Post Malone

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Recent Views

I, unfortunately, have no photos to share because...

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Dear people,

It's been about one week and a couple of days since I have been in Barcelona, Spain. Despite this short timeline, I feel like I've lived a whole lifetime. A lotttt has happened in one week so let's just unpack it all.

I feel very lucky because, despite all of the drama I'm about to share, I've had the best time because of the people that God has placed in my life. At first, I was super nervous about making friends as I came abroad alone, but I've learned so far that everyone is so sweet and kind if you just put yourself out there. It's scary to do so, but because of this, I've met people from all over the world. I was super lucky to learn that my roommate in my 4x4 apartment goes to UofSC too! We've become so close and I'm grateful to have connected with her instantly. I have also become close to a group of girls here (there's legit like 12 of us) and they have been there for me through thick and thin already. My best piece of advice: seek discomfort.

Okay, time to get into the tea. I've been here now for 11 days, and I've been to school, cute cafes, the hospital, and the police station. The first two make sense, but the latter are unfortunate circumstances.

The Hospital:

I woke up on Wednesday, 01.24.2024, and realized I had hives all over my body. I struggle with allergies back home and was anticipating that I would have a flare-up at some point overseas, however, I did not anticipate it to happen so soon. I was in the hospital for most of the day and had trouble breathing. The doctors at the hopsital were very efficient and kind, despite there being an obvious language barrier. They spoke slowly with me and tried to ensure that I understood exactly what procedures were about to occur. I was then given medicine to take to help with the flare-ups and was sent on my way. This day was extremely stressful for me because in moments like this, I would immediately call my Mom for help. Buttttt since I am 6 hours ahead, my mother was fast asleep (as she should be). I hadn't grown close to a lot of people here yet and felt truly alone, going through something familiar to me back home, but was a daunting task to handle abroad. The staff at my school were extremely helpful and kind, consistently checking up on me and ensuring that I was being accommodated. Overall, I am doing fine now! I am grateful that the whole process went smoothly and that I have fully recovered.

The Police Station:

Let me give some background. Barcelona, Spain is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. It's known for La Sagrada Familia, Park Guell, and the home of FC Barcelona. These amazing sites entice tourists to visit the city and experience the beautiful culture that it has to offer! Because of this, the biggest crime in Barcelona is pick-pocketing. Many people are victims of this ongoing issue and unfortunately, I can now say I have gotten the true touristy European experience.

A few nights ago, some of my girlfriends and I were heading out for the night to celebrate one of our new friends' birthdays. Walking in a group, laughing, and excited for the night ahead, all of a sudden is stopped as two men on a scooter zoomed towards us. Before I could even blink I'm bumped into and my phone is ripped from my hands. I didn't process what had just occurred but was faced with sadness moments later. Thankfully, none of my friends were hurt and the only damage done was the loss of a phone. The police were as helpful as they could have been, as it's a huge problem throughout the city.

Remember how I said I have made some amazing friends? Well thankfully, my friend Kayla had an old iPhone 7 that she brought and is now allowing me to borrow it with a Spanish SIM card inside. I'm extremely grateful for her kindness and have enjoyed having a home button again. Losing my phone did cause a lot of issues, however, that I'm still currently trying to resolve. Another tip: Don't lose your phone abroad.

Overall, despite the hardships I've faced in the beginning, something that I have been telling myself is "It's not about how you start, it's about how you finish." I'm determined to have a good rest of the semester and I'm ready to face whatever Europe throws at me next! I'm going to make a separate post speaking more on the fun stuff I've been doing here, but I felt like it was important to talk about the not-so-glamorous side that can come with studying abroad.

It's so important to be aware and use the buddy system when you're in a new place. My friends and I have all gotten Life 360 to keep tabs on each other and we always make sure that everyone is accounted for whenever we venture around the city. Things are not always going to be perfect, so it's important to acknowledge the bad times, and stay positive!

I'm currently on a 4-hour bus journey down the coast to Valencia, Spain with some of my friends. Local BCN time is 1:15 pm. Talk soon. Mom and Dad, if you're reading this ... I'm doing okay!

Peace and Love,

TC