My favorite class while abroad was intercultural communications. This class focused on the differences in how individuals in different cultures communicate, and how their cultures shaped their perspectives on life. In this course, we got to do a lot of projects that involved talking to local people and asking them questions about their culture. It was a really cool and special opportunity to be able to see how other people view the world is such different ways than we do, and it definitely opened my mind to different ideas.

One way I engaged with the local community in Barcelona was going to local cafes, specifically "Casa Bella" which was right outside my apartment. Throughout my time in Barcelona, I found myself eating there almost every day, and I slowly became friends with the owners and workers there. Through these relationships and being surrounded by a local environment, is where I improved most in my language and cultural competence skills.