Spain: Julianna Pohl

Program: CIEE Barcelona Business and Culture, Spring

Major: Marketing; Supply Chain Management

What is your most memorable experience from your program?

The most memorable experience from my program is being able to live and connect with individuals who had such different backgrounds, upbringings, passions, and lives from mine. As someone who hadn’t travelled much before this abroad experience, even within the United States, I was never truly exposed to individuals who lived in other regions, just the Midwest. I was able to gain such incredible insights, make valuable and long-lasting connections, and gain awareness of different perspectives. The point of going abroad was to broaden my overall knowledge, and I am so grateful and thankful to say that it did just that.

A student sits on a stone ledge and smiles at the camera. Behind her are historical buildings made of stone with intricate white and brown stone roofs. — One of my last solo trips to Parc Guell in Barcelona! I adored Gaudi’s work, and the park was amazing to hike. Definitely worth visiting!

What challenges or barriers did you face as you prepared to go abroad and/or during your time abroad? How did you work through them?

The primary challenge that I faced during the study abroad process was going into it knowing absolutely no one on my program. Although many students from Wisconsin went to Barcelona and were doing the same program as me, I found it absolutely crazy that I didn’t have at least one friend studying abroad the same semester as I was. This initially frightened me, as I wouldn’t consider myself the most independent person, and I love to take trips/learn new experiences with other individuals at my side. However, as I went through the course of my program, I found peace with, when I needed to be, being alone and comfortable with doing things solo. Plus, I got to make great friends along the way!

I was able to gain such incredible insights, make valuable and long-lasting connections, and gain awareness for different perspectives.

A student smiles at the camera standing sideways with an arm reaching out away from the camera towards a large stone arch. The arch has two large columns with intricate dark gray turrets on top. — My second favorite landmark in Barcelona, the Arc de Triomf – only second to La Sagrada Familia. It was right next to ESCI, where I had two of my courses. This was also the first place I visited when I got to the city!

How were your program academics similar or different from taking classes at UW-Madison?

My program academics were a bit special and different compared to other students who I met on my study abroad program. I had two fast-tracked classes at ESCI, which ended less than two months after my program had started. Both were four-credit, three-hour power lectures back to back, and I would be lying if I said they weren’t very demanding and challenging, and were very different from the normal-paced courses I would have taken back at Wisconsin. I also had two classes at CIEE, which were awesome, but they were the full length of the program. What I loved about the fast-tracked classes was that they allowed me to have a bit more freedom towards the end of the program (when the weather was nicer) to travel and explore inside and outside the city.

A student leans on a graffittied stone wall. She is smiling at the camera. Behind her is a blurry view of the rooftops of the city. — This photo was taken at Bunkers de Carmel, where you can see the whole city! I did this solo on my last day in the city – you can even see La Sagrada Familia in the background.

What is the moment you are most proud of?

I am most proud of going outside of my comfort zone and travelling/exploring the city solo. As someone who previously was not comfortable being solo on any adventures, I really had to push myself to make the most of my program and see as much as I could, both in my home city and outside of it. Seeing new places while studying abroad is crucial to personal and professional development, and I am happy to say that I went on over five solo trips across the duration of my program. Although I would have loved to travel with my friends or classmates on all adventures, I am very appreciative for the conflicts they had with joining – I never would have been able to push my boundaries and learn so much more about the world, travel, and how strong I can be by myself.