HOW DID YOU ENGAGE WITH THE LOCAL COMMUNITY WHILE ABROAD?
Food was really important when I was abroad in Barcelona. In the mornings, I would get a buttered croissant from a bakery across the street over some small talk with the alter, Gloria. On Thursdays, me and my friends found a taco shop that had the BEST meal deal and scrumptious food! The servers and the cashiers came to expect our arrival at 1pm on every Thursday, and everybody knew all our regular orders by December. These encounters really made my experience abroad much more intimate.

WHAT'S ONE STORY OR IMPORTANT ASPECT YOU ALWAYS TELL PEOPLE ABOUT YOUR TIME ABROAD?
One of my friends opted for a homestay, and I went over to his family’s home often. They were the first ones to challenge me to pick up some Catalán and introduce me to their favorite tapas. Advice? Don’t shy away from a homestay. This will play a big role in making a place your HOME for a semester.