UBC undergraduate student, Loujain Bilal, shares about her experiences studying abroad in Barcelona, Spain through a Global Seminar. The Romance Studies course was taught by Dr. Anna Casas during Summer 2023, where students completed three credits of RMST 390. Through an immersive exploration of the city’s literature, visual arts, cinema, architecture, urbanism, and responses to mass tourism, students reflected on the themes of memory and modernity.
“This was by far the most impactful style of learning I have participated in. The abstract concepts of memory and modernity were scattered all over Barcelona in tangible ways for us to observe, question and discuss.”
What were you hoping to gain by taking a Romance Studies course abroad?
As a Life Sciences student, I took this course with the hopes of broadening my understanding of other cultures and challenging myself to explore new ways of thinking. History is an unexplored passion of mine, and I was incredibly excited at the opportunity to participate in an immersive educational experience like this course.
Also, I wanted to learn how to critically evaluate works of art and literature and thoughtfully connect them back to influential and historical moments. This is something that is quite foreign to me in my studies, as I come from a STEM background. Therefore, through this course, I was hoping to gain the skills to write about culture, history, and art in a compelling and proficient manner. Of course, I also wanted to travel and spend time in a new city and make lasting memories!
What cultural excursions did you go on?
Classes in Barcelona did not take place in a classroom and were typically walking tours with presentations by students or guest lecturers spread throughout. Cultural excursions in the class included trips to Park Güell, Poble Espanyol, El Born Cultural Centre (excavated city ruins), a bomb shelter from the civil war, tours around the gentrified neighbourhood, El Raval, and so much more! Through the cultural excursions, I was able to connect what we studied in class to real life experiences and examples. This was by far the most impactful style of learning I have participated in; the abstract concepts of memory and modernity were scattered all over the city in tangible ways for us to observe, question and discuss.
Outside of class time, my classmates and I spent a lot of time exploring the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona and going to vintage markets. We also took this time to visit any sites we were interested in that we did not cover in class such as Palau de la Música (a concert hall), the Picasso Museum and Moco Museum. I even went to watch a FC Barcelona game at Camp Nou and attended the celebratory parade, which took place in the streets of Barcelona; this was truly a once in a lifetime experience!
There was always something to do or see in Barcelona. In fact, a few of us were just walking around in the evening and came upon a neighbourhood concert! On the weekends or shorter class days, we went on trips outside of Barcelona which included Girona (city with medieval architecture where we stumbled upon a flower festival), Montserrat (monastery in the mountains) and Sitges (a beach town).
How did studying abroad differ from the typical classroom experience?
The time spent preparing for our trip to Barcelona on campus was like other upper-level seminar course regarding its structure. It was primarily discussion-based, which allowed us to engage with the material presented in class. I genuinely enjoyed these classes, as I found our discussions enriching and they helped to broaden my understanding of Catalan culture.
Our time in Barcelona was unlike any other course I have taken at UBC—in fact, it did not necessarily feel like a course, because every aspect of the trip was a learning experience. Even just taking the bus to the beach or visiting a local jewelry store felt like it was entrenched with so much culture, and with that came a better understanding of the Catalan experience.
