Dear prospective study abroad students,  

My name is Rebecca Melero, and I had the amazing opportunity to study abroad in Barcelona, Spain, in the second semester of my junior year. I am majoring in communication studies while also receiving an entrepreneurial management and leadership studies certificate. I was enrolled in the IES Barcelona study abroad program, and through not only the program but also my experiences abroad, I was able to learn so much about the culture of Spain.  

One of the things I enjoyed most about my program is that my classes were all located in the center and heart of Barcelona. Some of the classes I took were very rigorous and challenging but, through these classes, I was able to learn so much about politics around Europe. My favorite classes were media and politics in Europe, and Spanish. I loved media and politics in Europe because it was genuinely so interesting to learn about how politics differ from Europe to America. I also loved Spanish because the class was interactive, fun, and there was never a dull moment in class. As a study abroad student through IES, we have two or three classes every day. There were times when I had long breaks in between my classes so I would go to cool restaurants and coffee shops, and maybe even shop at stores.

One of the things I enjoyed most about my time in Barcelona was how truly lively the people were. Everywhere you walked there was music playing, people singing and dancing. Everything about Barcelona was so lively and fun. I also love to exercise so another thing I loved was how everything was sort of walking distance or a metro ride away. Of course, within every place you visit, even in the U.S., there are culture shocks everywhere. In Barcelona, I noticed that public display of affection was considered much more normal than it is in the U.S. Of course, it took some getting used to, but the place was so beautiful that one looks past all the different culture shocks.

One thing I learned about myself is how easily I can adapt to change, new places, new things, and new experiences. Adapting in life is so important, but an experience like this makes it so easy to just adapt, soar, and fly. Through my time abroad I was also able to travel all around Europe. I was able to visit and see so many different places like Paris, Amsterdam, Morocco, Rome, London, and many more because the destinations were endless. I feel like before going abroad, I kind of was in denial that I would be going to live in Europe for four months, but when I got there, I immediately fell completely in love with the place and the experience. While I was abroad, I was able to immerse myself in the Spanish culture and was able to enhance my Spanish-speaking skills. I would not trade my opportunity to study abroad for the world. It was truly the most amazing experience, and I am so beyond grateful to have been able to do it. 

LEARN HOW YOU CAN APPLY FOR A GLOBAL ACCESS AMBASSADOR SCHOLARSHIP

The Global Access Ambassador Scholarship program provides awards to study abroad for a summer, semester, or academic year. The scholarships are intended to support students who study abroad with the intent to serve as Global Access Ambassadors upon return to the UI campus. Upon completion of the study abroad program and return to UI, award recipients are asked to submit a photo and an open letter to prospective students or suggest an alternate means of sharing with prospective students.

Please note that the opinions and views expressed by ambassadors are solely those of the students and do not reflect or represent the views of International Programs or the University of Iowa.

International Programs (IP) at the University of Iowa (UI) is committed to enriching the global experience of UI students, faculty, staff, and the general public by leading efforts to promote internationally oriented teaching, research, creative work, and community engagement.  IP provides support for international students and scholars, administers scholarships and assistance for students who study, intern, or do research abroad, and provides funding opportunities and grant-writing assistance for faculty engaged in international research. IP shares their stories through various media, and by hosting multiple public engagement activities each year.