Hello! My name’s Finn, and I’m a fourth-year Industrial Engineering major. I spent Fall 2024 studying abroad in San Sebastián, Spain through an international exchange program at Tecnun. It was the highlight of my college experience because it pushed me to grow both academically and personally. I took challenging engineering coursework while immersing myself in the Basque culture. I tried so many new things, learned a ton of Spanish, and returned a more confident and independent person.

I studied abroad in Barcelona, Spain, as a junior during my fall quarter through the CEA CAPA program. I lived about a 10-minute walk from Plaça de Catalunya, the heart of Barcelona, and the location of my school. My housing selection placed me with other study abroad students in a dorm-like setting, though it was more like a hotel. The metro system is vast and affordable, and the city is so walkable that I was able to visit every inch of it. Exploring the city and its countless historic monuments, buildings, churches, beaches, cafes, and food spots always gave you something to do. I met people from all around, for instance, I met a group of Germans from Munich playing beach volleyball, and I met a bunch of Italians from Calabria at a cafe. I also met a Norwegian competitive sailor who was competing in Barcelona that weekend. The education was equally amazing. Notably, I took Spanish Art and Catalan, learning all about the different art in Barcelona and Barcelona's native language. During Spanish, we would learn about specific art pieces, then actually visit the museum and see the painting. While learning Catalan, we would go to local food spots and practice speaking it with locals. Studying abroad was the most fulfilling time of my life, and there's no doubt you will have just as good of a time studying in Barcelona.