On Exchange in Barcelona, Spain

The choice

Less than a month after I returned from my internship, my third year of study began, which meant it was time to start thinking about our track and minors. I deliberately chose the Horizons track because I want to learn more about the various specializations within the hospitality industry. After that, I started exploring all the options, and only then did the idea of an Exchange Programme come to mind. I had already lived abroad twice before, which had been the most educational periods of my life so far. That’s why I felt that studying abroad would help me grow even more as a person. Choosing Barcelona as my first option ultimately felt like the logical choice, because I’d always wanted to live in Spain. I was eager to experience the culture firsthand and improve my Spanish. Plus, Barcelona is such a vibrant, bustling, and international city! All in all, it felt like the perfect opportunity for me.

Studying in Barcelona vs. Maastricht

I’ve only been studying in Barcelona for a few months, but I’ve already noticed many differences compared to Maastricht. First of all, I’m exposed to a variety of cultures, since the classes consist entirely of international students. Normally, I’m in a classroom with Dutch students; now I’m surrounded by Danish, German, French, Italian, and Asian classmates.

This makes the lectures and group projects feel more dynamic. Additionally, Barcelona is, of course, a much larger city, but that also means there are more opportunities for hospitality and tourism. I see the theory I learn in class being applied in real life on my way home. Every now and then I still have to get used to the differences, but HMSM has given me a strong foundation. Financially speaking, studying in Barcelona can be more expensive than in Maastricht, but this mainly depends on where you decide to live. Groceries, on the other hand, are much cheaper, and if you want to eat tapas, you certainly don’t have to spend a lot.

What does a typical week look like?

My daily life is also very different from what it was in Maastricht. At UAB, I take the exact same courses every week. They’re always taught by the same professors, in the same classrooms, and at the same times. Plus, I have every Wednesday off! Among other things, I’m taking courses in Event Management, Gastronomy & Oenology, e-Commerce, and Quality Management. All courses focus on tourism, and I’m assessed through continuous assessment, often in the form of weekly presentations or reports.

It’s definitely become much easier to maintain a routine! Every school day, my alarm goes off around 6:30 a.m., because I first have to take the train to campus for about an hour. I live right in the city centre, so I walk a short distance to the Plaça de Catalunya station. Because of the long days, I’ve already gotten used to taking the “siesta,” partly because my housemates and I don’t start cooking until around 8 p.m. On the weekends, and even occasionally during the week, we try to make lots of plans, like going out or exploring the city. The beach is close to home, so I’m often there, too.

Challenges

Living and studying in a city I knew little or nothing about certainly presented its share of challenges. One of the biggest changes I noticed was that Barcelona has a different pace than Maastricht. While Maastricht is relatively compact and quiet, Barcelona is larger and busier. This could feel overwhelming at first, and I had to find a good balance between my social life and my personal downtime.

Also, many people in Barcelona speak only Spanish or Catalan, languages I didn’t know at all when I moved here. I’ve since started learning Spanish through self-study. Still, the key to learning a language is really putting it into practice outside the home, so I try to do that every day. Forming sentences is often still difficult, but luckily the locals are very patient and really appreciate it when you try! This definitely helps me stay confident to keep trying, even though it takes some time.

Opportunities

At the same time, this period in Spain also offers great opportunities. In the short time I’ve been living here, I’ve been able to build a much broader network. Studying at a Spanish university also provides a unique learning experience, because the lectures are taught differently than in the Netherlands and are conducted in English. What I notice most is that the experience makes me more confident in unfamiliar situations; things that were new or exciting at first now feel more and more like the norm.

My time in Barcelona has already given me a lot of direction in my plans for the future. Working on international group projects, in particular, has shown me how interesting it is to work in an international hospitality environment. I feel really at home in that environment. In addition, I’m already absolutely certain that this won’t be the last time I live abroad, and that I’ll definitely take the opportunity if it comes my way again.

Eva’s advice

I would definitely consider the exchange programme, because it offers so much more than just academic skills. You get to meet people from all over the world, and it contributes so much to your personal growth. Even if you’ve already chosen your minors here in Maastricht, take a look at which cities offer the option to study for a semester. You might just surprise yourself!