Hello Andrés,

I hope you are getting ready for this wonderful experience! This will be the best four months of your life–I guarantee it! You will have so much fun, and learn more about the world in such a short period of time. You will grow in so many ways that it’s impossible to list it on one letter.

I’m pretty sure that you are very nervous right now. I can very much say that you don’t have it easy–no college or hometown friends or family around, you have to make decisions, friends, food, adjust to the culture, and travelling on your own. Not everybody dares to do this, but I’m very proud and happy you will do this. At first, it will be intimidating and hard to get used to the Catalan lifestyle, but you will get accustomed. Barcelona has so much to offer that it’s very hard to not feel like home. You will get exposed to many international students, great food, Spanish people, soccer games, carnavals, long walks, beach, Modernism, and good education. This is all you have been asking for!

I know that your biggest fear coming here is the challenge of making new friends. However, let me tell you that a lot of students at your university are on the same boat. Everyone is trying to make new friends, so you will meet so many people from different parts of the world! So expect meeting people from other parts of Europe such as Germany, England, Belgium, Netherlands–which it was very unexpected. You will learn a lot from them and about their different cultures.

In conclusion, be ready to have the time of your life! I’m very proud that you are studying abroad in Barcelona, especially independently! You will create so much memories and friendships that will last forever. And as always, remember to take pictures to remember your time abroad when you get older. You will go to very cool places that it’s worth taking a good picture of you, even though you are not used to taking pictures.

Take care of yourself and, again, have a great time!

With so much love,

Andrés J. Pérez Guzmán