Adjusting to Life in Barcelona

The Dining Experience
One of the first things I noticed was how much longer meals last here. In Barcelona, people take their time at the table, engaging in meaningful conversations without the rush I was accustomed to in the United States. Back home, I often ate quickly or multitasked, always thinking about the next item on my to-do list. Adjusting to this different lifestyle in Barcelona helped me learn to be more present, prioritizing my time with others over constantly worrying about school or the things on my daily to-do list.

Food

When it comes to food, Spanish cuisine is super delicious, but it did require some adjustment. Meals often include ham, cheese, and potatoes, with fewer vegetables than I typically ate. To balance my diet, I made it a point to buy more fruits and veggies at the supermarket—which, by the way, offers incredibly fresh and flavorful produce compared to what I was used to. When cooking meat or produce, I noticed a difference in how fresh the food was and how much better it tasted. I learned more about how Spain emphasizes providing fresh and healthy produce, which I greatly appreciated. The prices were also a lot lower then I was used to, which was a great surprise! Portion sizes are also smaller, a lot different than the sizes I was used to back at home. I found that tapas did not fill me up haha. 

A Focus on Sustainability
Barcelona’s emphasis on sustainability is inspiring and something I have become more cautious about now. Simple habits like turning off lights when leaving a room, taking shorter showers, and limiting hot water use are the norm here but not discussed as much in the United States. Many homes don’t have dryers, so air-drying clothes is common. The city also promotes initiatives to reduce electricity consumption and is overall a very green and sustainable city, which I really enjoyed when I was living here. 

School Life
Academics in Barcelona differ significantly from the U.S. The workload involves less homework and busy work, and often just has one or two grades for the entire course. For instance, some of my classes only included grades on a couple of projects we did throughout the semester, while others only included midterms or final exam grades. Instead of multiple assignments throughout the semester, grades are based on just a few key assessments. Instead of more homework, we were encouraged to participate more in class discussions and learn from each other. 

Technology also plays a smaller role in the classroom here. There’s minimal use of computers and tablets during lectures, creating an environment where students are encouraged to stay engaged without distractions. However, class times are noticeably longer than I was used to, which took some getting used to. I realized that my attention span was a lot shorter than I anticipated. I think it would be better to include multiple breaks during the longer class time for international students. 

Final Thoughts
Adapting to life in Barcelona has taught me to slow down, savor life, and appreciate new perspectives. From dining culture to sustainability efforts and schooling, these differences have meaningfully enriched my experience and reshaped my daily habits.