Life in Barca

I still remember the week before I came here, it was so surreal that I was going to Barcelona. On the plane, it felt as though I was going to a far away place in the U.S., not Spain. When I arrived here and saw the buildings and cityscape, I was bewildered by its beauty and I felt as though I were in a dream. Being here for a month is extremely hard to imagine considering it felt just like yesterday when I was wondering how it was for those students that were here last semester and how they were feeling at that same moment. It did not take long at all for all of us to adjust to the Spanish ways and traditions, and as a matter of fact, we are more cultured and open-minded already. As a group, even though we were in studios before and knew of each other, its truly amazing how close you become with the people you are here with. I feel like we're a family that take care of one another and watch out for one another in every situation. You learn to become a leader, a team member, and your own character.

I feel like this trip has taught me so much already, both educationally and internally. Not only is the architecture brilliant and inspiring, but you grow as a person and mature so quickly. You begin to see things in a different light, view others in a different manner; a more professional and mature manner. For instance, we were taught to work in the studio as though we were all architects, to not make the differentiation between student and teacher. That alone gives you a sense if responsibility and respect. I would not trade this program for any other one. The Barcelona program is one of the best choices I have made in my life, and is well worth the loan money. Seeing the architecture first hand is simply magnificent. Seeing pictures and doing all your research on the Guggenheim, for instance, is nothing compared to seeing it in person and experiencing the spaces and the vision of the architect. I cannot wait to see more! I cannot wait to be more and more inspired and have a thousand ideas rush through my mind after seeing the impossible, possible.