Hola! I am Celia from Scranton, Pennsylvania. I am in my second year at Pitt and am studying at Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona, Spain. I am a Marketing and Global Management major, with a minor in Spanish. This international program runs from early January until mid-March. I am taking five classes (Strategic Brand Management, International Marketing, International Finance, Corporate Finance, and Art and Gender in Contemporary Spain) which are all in English.  I choose to study in Barcelona because I thought this could be a perfect location, considering I am a Spanish minor. My goal for this program is to learn about new cultures and immerse myself in everything, ranging from food to music.

The campus has two sections which are about 15 minutes away from each other by foot. The Cuitadella campus is stunning and features views from the iconic Ciutadella park. The distance between the El Born and Cuitadella campus is very similar to walking to class at Pitt. I do take the metro everyday into Jaume I. The metro and public transportation systems run very promptly and are very convenient, definitely better than the PRT in my opinion.

I was fortunate to have two other Pitt students staying with me in the same apartment complex, so we learned how to navigate the city together. Our neighborhood is primarily quiet and filled with locals, which is super nice. Our apartments are single studios, this was definitely an adjustment for me being that I have always had a roommate. It was somewhat challenging to do because I am not fluent in Spanish, particularly Catalan which is spoken in Barcelona.

I have had the incredible opportunity to meet students from universities all across the United States, as well as local students from Barcelona. It’s been fascinating to connect with so many different people, each with their own perspectives and experiences. There’s an instant bond among us because we are all experiencing so many new things every day, from navigating the city to adjusting to a new academic environment. Whether we are figuring out the metro system, exploring local markets, or trying traditional Catalan dishes, these shared experiences create a sense of camaraderie that feels really special. Getting to know people in this way not only makes my time here more enjoyable but also helps me gain a deeper understanding of different cultures and ways of thinking. Thank you for reading, see you in the next blog!