Maria H: A Rocky Start, But We’re Settling in!

Week 1 in Barcelona

I just arrived in Barcelona for a 4-week stay – it’s my third time in this beautiful city, but definitely the most intense so far. I’m here with three friends, and while I was super-excited to come back, the start of the trip wasn’t exactly smooth sailing.

After a long and exhausting journey, we ran into some serious issues with our student residence. The first four days were really stressful – things were broken, the room wasn’t as expected, and communication with the staff was… let’s say, frustrating. But we managed to survive it somehow, and things have calmed down a bit now.

Of course, we’ve already hit the beach (how could we not?) – and yes, I got sunburned. Not horribly, but enough to remind me that the Barcelona sun does not play games. Definitely packing on the sunscreen from now on.

As for my work here – I actually really enjoy it! The atmosphere is relaxed, and I’m doing a lot of research, which gives me the chance to dive into some really interesting topics. I also get to help with creative stuff and learn a lot just by being part of the team. It’s not too demanding, and I still have time to explore the city and enjoy the vibe here.

Overall, it’s been a week full of ups and downs – but that’s what makes trips memorable, right? If you’re thinking about doing something similar next year, here’s one piece of advice: don’t book the student residence. Just trust me on this one – you’ll thank me later.

So, to wrap it up – the first week had some real challenges, but I’m slowly finding my rhythm here. Barcelona still has that magic, even if it started off a bit messy.

Hasta pronto!