“It was important for me to go abroad in order to experience the cultures and lifestyles of other places, along with giving me a chance to practice my Spanish language skills in an immersive environment. This experience to Spain combined my interests of art, food and social studies into an experience I'll always look back on,” said Grace Rana, a moving image production and marketing major who participated in the Arts and Sciences Scholars Abroad program over spring break.
During the program, students visit Barcelona and Madrid and spend days in Figueres and Toledo. Through visits to museums, landmarks and local organizations, students gain a firsthand look into Spanish culture.
“As a creative, I have always wanted to go to Spain. It has an old, rich culture and a love for all types of art. The architecture was inspiring it and of itself, and the museums were so diverse. This will help me in my own creative practice because it will give me new experiences, insights and inspirations to draw on for future projects,” she said.
Through these experiences, Rana and other students gained valuable lessons and learned new things about themselves that they’ll take back to Columbus and beyond.
“I learned that I really like taking public transportation, as the metros in Barcelona and Madrid were very high quality. I also developed an even greater love for variety and trying new things; those tapas restaurants let me try like six new things at a time!”
Some of Rana’s favorite moments included visiting a modern art museum and a Salvador Dali museum, which resonated with her at an artist, along with incredible restaurants and landmarks.
“My favorite moments definitely included seeing the stained glass of the Sagrada Família, along with trying every new tapas' restaurants take on patatas bravas,” she said.