How to See an FCB Game

If you're studying abroad in Barcelona, at the top of your list of things to do should be an FC Barcelona football game. The famous stadium, Camp Nou, is the largest stadium in all of Europe. Fans come to games willing to live or die for their beloved FCB. The level of camraderie and devotion to Catalonia, as well as to the sport of football, is unmatched in the world. Basically...GO TO A GAME! It's something you won't want to miss.

How to Buy Tickets: There are many online sources for purchasing tickets. I would recommend either BarcelonaTickets.com, SimplyBarcelonaTickets.com or Barcelona-Football-Tickets.com. You can either have them shipped to your residence in Barcelona, or pick them up at the game. I would recommend getting them shipped. Game day is chaotic and you won't want to miss a second of the excitement searching for the ticket office.

Madrid Humbled by Rampant Barcelona

You don't know sports until you know Barcelona's obsession with futbol and you don't know rivalry until you know the FC Barca rivalry with Real Madrid. And this weekend in Barcelona, Camp Nou, the futbol stadium, erupted in insanity as FCB beat RM 5-0. Check out the article at the UEFA - Spanish Football Federation webpage and this video on which demonstrates the intensity, insanity and rivalry of FCB...

To learn more about the history of FCB, visit livesoccertv.com.

Overview of the City

This video is extremely helpful in getting an overview of Barcelona as a place to live, including tourist attractions like La Rambla, which I will discuss in another blog post, and local places to get fresh food like La Boqueria.

A Guide to the Best Barcelona Shopping

Some of my personal favorite stores in Barcelona were found because of pure luck...or because I got lost and was wandering around the city. To help you get right down to business right away, here's a list of some of my favorite places to shop...

Bershka - Great for basics like jeans, tops and purses, and not too expensive, either!

Pull & Bear - Just like Bershka, Pull and Bear sells basic clothes, like skinny jeans, which can be worn with every outfit!

ZARA - Everything from going-out clothes to sheek work attire, ZARA has high fashion clothes at smart prices.


Mango - Owned by the same company as ZARA, Mango sells less going-out clothes and more work clothes.

H&M - Although famous in the U.S., the H&Ms in Barcelona are ten times better than those in The States and way more fashion trendy.

El Corte Ingles - This department store is perhaps the most well-known and largest in Barcelona and although a daunting task to find what you're looking for, it does have everything and anything a girl could want. Hint: Go during a sale to get the best prices!

There are several locations for each of these stores throughout the city, with many of them around the Passeig de Gracia area and the Catalunya metro stop. Although Barcelona certainly offers its shoppers more of the designer shops found in famous Milan and Paris, this guide is for the student studying abroad, who'se probably saving her money for a weekend trip to Milan, not a piece of clothing which costs as much as that weekend trip.

ALSO, check out the Mashable Blog for some helpful tips on the best shopping and in-store savings iPhone applications so you can get the best deals, even on the go!

Okay Ladies, You're in Europe...Let's Talk About Clothes!

You want to make sure that as you immerse yourself into the culture of Barcelona, you don't forget a very important part of that culture: the fashion! Catalans care very much about their personal appearance. It's all about being put together and fashionable. For me, the best example of this is that for the most part, you will never see men walking around in suits and ties in Barcelona. This isn't because it's not a city of business, but it's because men who work in business aren't expected to wear suits and ties like they are in America. In Barcelona, as long as you look presentable and well-dressed, you're golden.

Here are some tips on how to avoid looking like a tourist:

1) DON'T dress casual. Wearing sweatpants and a sweatshirt will automatically point you out as an American tourist. Catalans don't believe in rolling out of bed and getting what you need to get done in a day looking like a slob. They appreciate people taking time to get themselves ready.

2) DON'T wear short shorts or short, tight dresses. The one exception is the beach. Because the older generations were so highly influenced by the church, being conservative is appreciated. This doesn't mean your skirts have to reach your knees and you can't have any chest showing, but it does mean not to dress like your on "The Girls Next Door." Even at clubs, Catalan women might wear a short dress, but they will wear stockings with it to keep it classy.

3) DON'T wear baggy clothing. Catalan women and men consider well-fitted clothes to be sophisticated.  Big, baggy jackets and pants are a sure sign of tourists. During my time in Barcelona, all of my guy friends started off wearing their baggy jeans and pants and by the end of our semester, their pants all miraculously started to get tighter and tighter. This is the way of the Catalans. Just embrace it.

4) DO wear scarves. Scarves in the spring, scarves in the summer, scarves in the fall, scarves in the winter...it's all acceptable in Barcelona. I came to Spain with 2 or 3 scarves and left with 10-12. Catalans wear scarves probably every day and they come in all colors, patterns, materials, fabrics and qualities.

Me wearing typical Catalan garb: skinny jeans, leather jacket, a conservative top and a scarf, of course!

5) DO embrace boots. Another trend Catalans love is boots. From ankle boots to books which go over the knees, Spaniards wear boots with almost everything, especially in the colder weather. Pull some boots on over your leggings or skinny jeans and you're all set!

6) DO dress up. As a rule of thumb, if you're wondering if you look too casual, you probably do. Catalans always dress up as oppose to dressing down so try to embrace that.

Tapas

One of the first things you'll want to do when you arrive in your new city is, of course, EAT! In my opinion, there's no better way to experience a culture than to eat your way through it. And what's one of the foods Spain is most known for? Tapas! Although tapas were originally created in Andalucia, a region of Spain where Sevilla is located, as an American in Barcelona, you still have to try some tapas to really experience Spain (although I highly recommend going to Sevilla for the real stuff).

A meal of tapas in Sevilla -- tortilla de berenjena y queso, croquetas de jamon y queso, pollo, albondiga, queso y jamon con pure de papas, crepe de queso de cabra y frambuesa

Origins of Tapas
There are several theories surrounding the origin of tapas. Perhaps the most famous theory is that when King Alfonso X was drinking a beer, flies and other bugs were flying around the drink so much to his annoyance that he requested a piece of bread or cheese to put on top of the cup to keep the bugs out. This practice was then repeated and spread vastly. In Castellano, or Spanish, tapear means "to cover," and the word tapa means "lid,"which is perhaps how tapas originated.

So...What Exactly is a Tapa?
Tapas are small plates of food which can range from anything from cheese on a small piece of toast, to roasted potatoes with a special sauce. My favorite tapas are croquettas de jamon y queso and patatas bravas. I highly recommend you try both of these as they are Catalan specialties and can be found at almost every restaurant in Barcelona. Tapas aren't a specific type of food, but a way of serving food. Tapas are also not appetizers. In Spanish culture, it is customary to make an entire meal out of tapas -- you don't stop eating and ordering tapas until you are full.

   

The Best Tapas in Barcelona...
Cal Pep -- located in El Born district at Placa de les Olles 8, Cal Pep is legendary, and the prices reflect that status! But the tapas are all fresh seafood and well-worth the price.

Can Paixano -- a cava bar located by Playa Barceloneta, Can Paixano is always crowded with young people. The environment is always extremely crowded and you can never get a waiter, but once you do....order up! The tapas are worth the wait!

You've Landed. Now What?

So you kicked back a few mini bottles of wine, you watched a few movies, read a book or two and tried to ignore the fat snoring man sleeping next to you. And finally, you've arrive in Barcelona at El Prat airport!

El Prat Airport
The airport itself isn't that big, and the signs are in Castellano, or Spanish, Catalan, and English, so you'll be able to get around just fine. For more information on the aeropuerto, including the new Terminal, click HERE.

Getting to the City

The first thing you should do when you get your luggage is go to an ATM and get Euros so you can pay for either a taxi or a bus to the heart of the city, where you'll be staying. The Aerobus is only 5 euros one-way and will take you to Plaza Catalunya, in the heart of the new city. But if you have a lot of luggage, you may want to simply hail a taxi. Taxi's in Barcelona sometimes don't stop unless you're at a Taxi Stand, so go to one and hail a cab. Depending what part of the city you are travelling to, your taxi should cost somewhere between 25 and 40 euros. Remember: do not tip! Tipping is not customary in Barcelona, even with taxis. Sometimes, it's even considered to be an insult. For dollar to euro conversation rates, click HERE.

The Aerobus -- a cheaper way to get around

Welcome Home!
Now you've (hopefully) arrived safe and sound at your new dorm, apartment or home stay. Don't forget to greet your roommates with some key phrases in Spanish:

Hello - Hola (oh-lah)
Nice to meet you - Mucho gusto (moo-choh goo-stoh)
My name is _____ - Me llamo _______ (may yah-moh ________)
What is your name? - Como te llamas? (koh-moh tay yah-mahs)

Now you're ready to begin your semester in Barcelona. All you have to do is unpack. Remember to use your converters and adaptors so you don't blow a fuse! Good luck!

Time to Pack!

Packing for four months in a foreign country is a daunting task. If you are flying economy, like I did, you're allowed two suitcases and a carryon, which is not a lot to fit your entire life in, especially if you don't know what the next few months are going to be like. What do people wear? What do I need to bring? What can I buy there? What won't I need? What will the weather be like? These questions were floating around my head as I was trying to pack and it would have been useful to know some answers. So here they are!

• What clothes should I bring? When you're trying to immerse yourself in a foreign culture (and also not trying to look like an obvious American target for pickpocketers, or carteristas, you want to blend in and dress how the locals dress. So...during the day when you're out-and-about or walking to class, the top word I would use to describe Catalonians is "well-dressed." Man, do these people know how to dress! You will never see anyone walking around in sweatpants, or wearing an outfit which isn't perfectly matching, or a shirt which isn't perfectly pressed. Whatever you wear, don't be a slob. Europeans are all about dressing to impress. For ladies, during the day, I would bring a few good pairs of skinny jeans and skinny pants to wear constantly with either flats or tall, leather boots. On the top, a nice flowy top with a scarf to match. You will learn this when you arrive in Spain but scarves are like a way of life. I left for Spain with 2 scarves and came back with 10. Gentlemen, you will resent this initially, but eventually you will succumb to European way of wearing their pants: tight. You can't avoid it. Even my friends who wore the baggiest jeans at the beginning of our semester eventually gave in. You can't help it. At night, when going out, Catalonians tend to be more casual than Americans. You'll be fine with wearing flat boots or flats and a fashionable but simple dress or dress and jeans. Bring a pair of heels for fancier nights. Men wear nice jeans with long-sleeve collared shirts.

• What should I bring for school? The number-one suggestion I have is to bring looseleaf paper and notebooks. Looseleaf paper does not exist in Spain and they all use graph paper to take notes on. If you're like me and you hate graph paper, bring paper with you or you'll be screwed for the rest of the semester.

• What should I bring for my apartment/home stay/dorm? Every living situation is different and has different requirements for what to bring, but I would recommend your own mattress cover, sheets and pillow cases if you can fit it. Most likely, they will provide you with bedding, but if you're like me and you love to lounge around in bed, I'd probably bring your own stuff so you feel right at home. Also, leave the blow-dryer and straightener at home. They'll blow the European outlets even if you have a converter (which is what happened to me my first night in Barcelona) and they're too bulky to take with you. Buy some at your local El Corte Ingles shopping center and pick some up. Not worth bringing with you. One thing you do want to bring with you though is tons of converters and adaptors. One of the first things you're going to want to do when you unpack is pull out your laptop and let your parents know you're alive. Without converters and adaptors, you won't be able to do this. It's much easier if you bring them from The States than have to deal with buying them once you land. Try this converter and adaptor kit from Going In Style Travel Acessories, which comes with everything you need in a nice carrying case.

• What's the weather like? Spain is a wonderful, wonderful place in that it's the sunniest country in Europe. So, even when it's cold and windy, the sun will still be shining. Another wonderful thing about Barcelona is that it's located on the Iberian Peninsula and on the Mediterranean Ocean, which means a Mediterranean climate! When you arrive in January, it will definitely be cold enough for a winter jacket and scarf, but it will never be frigid or uncomfortable. It will be a mild cold temperature (typically no colder than 35 degrees Fahrenheit) until March, at which point it will start to warm up very quickly. Before you know it, by the end of March, you'll be prancing around Playa Barceloneta, the main beach, in a bikini! Although Barcelona's climate is extremely warm, if you plan to travel, be aware that other countries, especially those in central  and eastern Europe, can get very cold, so I would bring some warm layers and clothes for traveling.

My friends & I at Playa Barceloneta - typical weekend

Thinking About Going Abroad?

Deciding whether or not you want to go abroad is a personal decision. There are some who have known all their lives that they were going to study abroad and there are others who were never quite sure how they'd feel until the time came. If you're in that second category, let me try and convince you that going abroad will be the single best decision of your entire life. Of course, I am biased. I recently returned from studying abroad in Barcelona, Spain, where I spent the best 4 months of my life. I want this post to help convince others who are hesitating to take a leap of faith.

                           My first glimpse of Barcelona out the plane window

So, why study abroad? There are obvious reasons which you can find by doing a Google search, but here are some of my own...

1. It's important to step outside your element and experience a culture completely different from your own. America is a very sheltered place and we often don't realize there's a whole other world out there. Living in another country will allow you to experience things you never could have while reading books and watching movies, or even while traveling on vacation for a short period of time. Culture, can only be truly experienced when you are immersed in it.

2. You can learn a new language or improve your current language skills. If you chose to study in a country where English is not the first language, like I did, living in that country will literally force you to become better. Whether you're trying to figure out the Metro system, using the ATMs or going food shopping, you will be forced to improve your language skills. You won't even realize how much you've improved until the end of your time abroad.

3. Studying abroad will be a catalyst for other abroad travels. Wherever you chose to study abroad, there will be opportunities for travel. At no other time in your life will you be able to so cheaply and quickly travel to so many different countries in such a short period of time. When booking flights within Europe, I would recommend Vueling or Ryan Air and for train passes and tickets use EuroRail. The possibilities for travel are endless and studying abroad will allow you to visit more places than you ever thought possible.

For me, the best 4 months of my life were when I was studying, living, learning, socializing and traveling during my time in Barcelona. I met friends who I know I will be close with for life. I had experiences which I will never even come close to re-living again. I saw people, places and things which were unique and unable to be replicated. I fell in love with Barcelona, my study abroad city. If you go, I promise, you will fall in love with your city too. Don't be afraid to leave your friends and your school behind -- they will be there when you get back. Take a leap, hop on a plane and GO!