Written by: Riley Mehall | Spring 2025
IFSA Study in Barcelona
When I left to study abroad for the semester, I moved from a small school in Indiana straight to the bustling international city of Barcelona. I associate Butler’s campus with the embodiment of a small midwestern American college. Students can quickly become familiar with all areas of campus and academic buildings. There is a mix of historical architecture and modern buildings. Our small university allows for short walking commutes to class, familiar faces all around, and a sense of security and safety on campus.
As a junior, I have become accustomed to this lifestyle on Butler’s campus. In contrast, Barcelona is nearly double the size of Manhattan, and the population is 295 times the number of students enrolled at Butler. City life has always intimidated me– the crowds, the noise, and the chaos. However, the added element of a new culture and a foreign language only adds to the intimidation.
When I first arrived in Barcelona in January, I was immediately overwhelmed by all the things to see and do. There seemed to be a never-ending selection of restaurants and shops. This was a far cry from just a few weeks earlier, when my biggest decision of the week was between Bazbeaux and Luciana’s. However, I was really excited to have so many opportunities for new cultural, social, and culinary experiences right at my fingertips. I immediately began enjoying the ability to walk or take public transportation everywhere that I needed to go. Over my first few weeks in Barcelona, I began to familiarize myself with the different neighborhoods and metro lines. This way, I was able to venture out and explore the city.
As I have been experiencing life and school in Barcelona, I have learned and observed many things. Barcelona is located in the Catalan region of Spain. This area has its own 
distinct history, culture, and language. So, when living in Barcelona, you will hear people speaking in Catalan and Spanish. These are their two primary languages, although many people also speak other languages, including English, Arabic, Romanian, French, Chinese, and so many more. I have found it easy to get around as someone who does not speak, read, or understand any Spanish. As indicated by the wide array of languages spoken in Barcelona, it is a very diverse city. There are many immigrants living here– according to the official government of Barcelona website, one out of every four people in Barcelona is a foreign national. The many immigrants bring unique traditions and foods that have been incorporated into the city. As a foreign person living in Spain, I have been able to appreciate the special blend of Spanish life with multicultural influence. This has also allowed me to find communities with which I resonate, such as other students studying abroad, other Americans, and the small Jewish community in Barcelona.
Two and a half years living on Butler’s campus in Indianapolis, Indiana, and five months living in Barcelona, Spain, to study abroad have both taught me things about how I want to live, work, and coexist with others. Butler’s campus can feel small and limiting, but also safe and homey. Barcelona can feel big and intimidating, but also exciting and full of new opportunities. I hope to find a balance between the two in whatever place I ultimately decide to call home. I also hope to live surrounded by people and communities that feel authentic to me. At Butler, I am a part of the Jewish community and various social and academic groups in which I had a prior interest. In Barcelona, I have been able to branch out and connect with other students from all over the world in my classes and at social gatherings.
Wherever I end up, and no matter the phase of my life, I will always need connection and friendship. Living in Barcelona has shown me that friends do not necessarily need to be found in familiar spaces. Sometimes you meet the best people in new, and even uncomfortable, places. Valuable connections can come from mutual interests and affiliations– as well as shared proximity and needs. Studying and living in Barcelona has allowed me to expand my horizons socially, academically, and culturally. I have taken advantage of the walkable nature of the city and public transportation system. While getting to know Barcelona, I have learned so much about their unique language, culture, and history. I have also benefited from the global influences on the city, which exposed me to interesting people and new foods.
Living in this new city, I have been exposed to a whole new way of life, which has shown me how much I value new experiences and how I require a sense of community to help me feel at home. I have also developed my relationship with myself, by having to spend time alone I have taken solo trips around Europe, I am living in an apartment by myself, and I have familiarized myself with a new city unaccompanied by to guide me. I would be lying if I said I never miss the familiarity of the Butler bubble. But I know that when I return next semester, my experience being abroad will help to inform the next steps in my life, at Butler and beyond.