Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona, Italy

Attending a three-week summer school at Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona was one of the best experiences I’ve had as a student. From day one, I was immersed in the lively culture of the city and met students from all over the world. I arrived just in time to watch Spain’s Euro Cup final victory over England on the big screens in Plaça de Catalunya. The atmosphere was electric, with people climbing on bus stops and statues to get a better view and flares going off in the crowd, whilst the police watched on calmly. Despite the high energy, the crowd was surprisingly well-behaved, and I felt very safe. I remember walking quite some distance across the city at the end of the night and seeing cars with Spanish flags beeping all the way down the street, which added to the thrill of celebrating such a major event in the heart of Barcelona.

In my Animal Law class, I made friends with law students from China, Macau, the US, and Switzerland, and they became my companions for exploring the city. I wanted to experience more than just the tourist highlights, so I joined two run clubs and went bouldering at three different climbing gyms. Running through Barcelona’s diverse neighbourhoods was a fantastic way to see the city. I’d highly recommend these kinds of ‘ordinary’ activities for anyone on exchange; they gave me a real insight into what it’s like to live in Barcelona, not just visit, and it’s much easier to connect with locals.

Another highlight was a paella and sangria cooking class, which also took us through the city’s historic markets filled with incredible local produce. It was a hands-on way to learn about the region’s food culture, and the paella we made was delicious! I also attended Barcelona’s Pride parade and concert, where I saw Jessie J and some amazing Spanish artists perform. The celebration was so much fun and a perfect way to experience the city’s inclusive spirit.

Barcelona is an incredibly walkable city, with something beautiful or interesting around every corner. People take their children and dogs out for walks late into the night and you often see people spending quality time with their friends and loved ones My favourite moments were seeing the Basilica de Sagrada Familia at sunrise, where the early light on the intricate architecture was breathtaking, and Plaça d’Espanya at sunset, which was an equally stunning view of the whole city.

One funny moment I experienced was going to the beach with my new friends, and having very mild culture shock after I started slathering on sunscreen and taking off my outer layers to get into the water – it was then that I found out that, for the locals, “going to the beach” was more akin to going for drinks at the pub, rather than to do any swimming.

Adapting to a different language and culture and meeting people from around the world was challenging yet extremely enriching and rewarding. My one regret is not learning more Spanish beforehand, although almost everyone I encountered spoke English. Barcelona is a beautiful city with an enviable lifestyle, and I felt so fortunate to experience it just a glimpse of it. I will definitely be back for more!

Lily Nguyen
Juris Doctor
Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona, Italy
Global Short Programs Travel Scholarship

For more information about the UTS Global Short Program visit: www.uts.edu.au/thinkglobal