Amanda De Lima Denny
BA Spanish and Linguistics – Year Abroad
Exchange institution: Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain.
Arriving in Barcelona for the first time was a little bit scary. I had no idea what to expect, other than improving my Spanish… However experiencing the new culture and new people was a experience I really enjoyed. I didn’t expect that this experience would make me grow as much as I have!
Alongside my daily spanish studies, I completed a teaching course that the university offered. This opportunity was the highlight of my academic year as I experienced practical classroom experience and I felt truly challenged to communicate and teach confidently in Spanish. Outside of my studies, the big city of Barcelona became the ideal location for self exploration and solo travelling. I explored the beaches of the Costa Brava and the historic streets and architecture of both Girona and Barcelona. For the first time, I became completely comfortable spending time alone. Travelling around Spain infactuated me with the gastronomy and culture. While spending time in Seville and the Andalusian countryside with friends and family, I was reminded how important meaningful relationships are. My year abroad also unexpectedly gave me the greatest opportunity to explore my faith in a way I had never done so before. La Sagrada Familia, Montserrat and Tibidado all allowed me to appreciate moments of faith by myself, away from the city life pace.
Noticeably, my passion and discipline in the fitness world only grew during my time in Barcelona. Living independently allowed me to enhance my cooking skills and take more time investing in my wellbeing. My food shops focused on simple and highly nutrious meals that targeted my protein, carbohydrate, vegetable and fresh ingredient goals. Providing me with the energy to enjoy and execute my favourite hobbies: gym, pilates and yoga. The fitness community in this big city was vibrant, exploring different studios and gyms through ClassPass made it easy and cost effective. I explored activities that were challenging for me, such as reformer pilates, yoga, and rock climbing. All of these became great staples in my routine to keep me grounded and relaxed mentally. As my devotion for health and fitness only grew, I decided I would share my experiences through TikTok and Instagram. I posted videos about my fitness outfits, trying studios and new classes as well as general life in Barcelona. I never imagined that these videos would create so many opportunities for me. Many of my videos led me to collaborate with amazing brands and studios including the Spanish yoga brand ‘Yoga Born’ and ‘Sabda’ the Yoga Studio in the heart of city centre. I was invited to attend events, create content, and meet many other woman who shared the same passions.
Although my content creating experience was exciting, the biggest learning curve was neither social media or my solo travels. My self growth and discovery led me to become a more confident person. I am independent and open to new experiences because I stepped outside of my comfort zone through travelling alone, speaking Spanish in everyday life, completing new challenging hobbies and saying ‘yes’ more times than I can remember. This year abroad was more than an academic experience, it pushed me beyond my comfort zone, helped me discover who I am, what i’m passion about, and what life I want to work towards after graduation.
My advice for students considering a year abroad:
Everyday won’t feel super crazy and exciting, some of my favourite things to think back on were the simple walks to uni, and my weekly food shops or sitting at the beach after a workout. Say yes, yes and yes to the opportunities that present themselves especially if they’re outside your comfort zone. And most importantly, make sure to appreciate everyday life whilst you’re out there, especially the days alone where you might discover something new about yourself.