Wow, study abroad time has gone by too quickly! It seems like just yesterday when I arrived here in Barcelona during the first week of September and felt disoriented in my new environment. I have learned a lot about the local history and culture since then, but at the same time, I feel like there is still so much I do not know. Part of me that is homesick, but part of me also wishes to stay longer to become a more true Barcelonian.
With the clock ticking, I am trying to hit all of my bucket-list items here in Barcelona. Last week, I finally visited Park Güell and the Sagrada Familia, two of the most famous tourist destinations featuring architecture by Antoni Gaudí. Park Güell was bigger than I expected, and I saw a lot of interesting stone arches around the park. It was high in elevation at some points, so I was able to see beautiful views of Barcelona. The Sagrada Familia had a gorgeous interior, and I went inside at sunset to see the stained glass lit up with warmer light. I sat inside and stared at the ceiling in awe for a while. Since it is Christmas season, the streets of Barcelona are also lit up with Christmas lights, and there are some Christmas markets here and there.
In terms of things I learned during study abroad, I think one important lesson was finding balance.
