ME v. ME: Lost in Translation
Studying abroad was something I always knew I wanted to do, but I never could have predicted how it would transform me. The summer of 2023 in Barcelona wasn’t just about working in a new city or ticking a box on my résumé—it became a pivotal experience that challenged me in ways I didn’t expect and pushed me outside of my comfort zone more than I could have imagined. And I’m so grateful for that.
When I first arrived, I was overwhelmed with excitement. My apartment was two blocks from La Sagrada Familia, and my roommates were incredible. The food, the views—everything seemed perfect. But, like most things, the reality of immersing yourself in a new culture is never as seamless as it looks on social media. By the end of the first week, as the initial thrill of being somewhere new began to fade, I found myself filled with mixed emotions.
Starting my internship was daunting. I was the first and only person to hold marketing responsibilities for the real estate company I interned with, so I had to figure things out largely on my own. I quickly realized I didn’t feel useful or included at first—I wasn’t bonding with my coworkers the way I saw my peers doing, and my Spanish was not as good as I thought it was. The language barrier hit harder than expected. Conversations in the office flew by in French and Spanish, and I found myself doubting every word I tried to say. The Spanish I’d learned in the States didn’t quite match the dialect in Spain, making me second-guess myself at every turn.
But here's the thing—discomfort breeds growth. Without those moments of feeling lost or out of place, I wouldn’t have found the independence and open-mindedness that studying abroad gave me. Every awkward interaction, every misunderstanding, and every time I felt like I didn’t belong helped me grow. I was challenged to step up, to navigate a city and a culture that weren’t my own, and to embrace the newness rather than shy away from it.
As time went on, I realized how much I was gaining from these experiences. From conducting market research and managing brand development for a real estate company to learning the ropes of social media marketing from scratch, I built a wealth of professional knowledge. More importantly, I learned how to adapt, how to push myself beyond the discomfort, and how to find my voice—even in a language that wasn’t my own.
By the end of my time in Barcelona, I had developed lifelong friendships and connections with people from all over the world. I learned to challenge my own cultural awareness, to appreciate the diversity of perspectives, and to become more comfortable with feeling uncomfortable. What I once saw as insecurities, I now see as strengths—they pushed me to grow and taught me to be more patient with myself.
So, what did I take away from my summer in Barcelona? Growth doesn’t happen in comfort zones. It happens in the moments when you feel most uncertain, most challenged, and most vulnerable. And for that, I am forever thankful for my time abroad.
