Hello! I am Zayla Loftsgard, and I studied in Barcelona through the IES program during the spring semester of my sophomore year! My favorite thing about Barcelona is how versatile it is. I enjoyed being able to go hiking and being right on the beach. I lived in an apartment with Barcelona residents right on the beach. I enjoyed this because of the location but it was enjoyable to meet more locals of Barcelona.
Another thing I enjoyed about Barcelona was how many different cultural activities the city celebrated. Attending these events allowed me to see more of Spain's culture and meet more people. One of my favorite events was St. George's Day. This is a day celebrating love, and the streets were covered in roses and many other events to celebrate.
I learned a lot about myself while studying abroad. One thing in particular that I learned was how to adjust to constant change and obstacles. When living in a new country I was constantly adapting to change in all parts of my life. This experience showed me how to move through challenges and the benefits that come from them.
"While in Europe, I was able to appreciate the importance of doing things you enjoy. This made me reevaluate how I prioritize my responsibilities and enjoyment in my own life."
Another thing I learned was how interested I am in seeing and learning about different cultures. My favorite trip abroad was going to Morocco; this trip became my favorite because it was an environment that was so much different than anything I have ever experienced. These cultural experiences changed my identity in some ways. While in Europe, I was able to appreciate the importance of doing things you enjoy. This made me reevaluate how I prioritize my responsibilities and enjoyment in my own life.
My biggest tip to University of Iowa students who are interested in going abroad would be to DO IT! Have an open mind while preparing for this experience and don’t let what you see and hear from others greatly affect the choices you make. As a first-generation student, studying abroad made me realize the importance of global experiences and my education.
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.