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| View From The House |
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| The House From Our Hike |
Studying abroad is often an overwhelming feeling of city lights and a busy classroom. For me that was not my experience at all. My favorite day took place far from the noise and city lights but in the heart of the countryside. Staying at Fede's house, a stunning 14th-century Masia, felt like stepping back in time. The house had remained mostly untouched for centuries with only a few additions. It was inspiring to see how they live sustainably, relying on rainwater for running water and the sun for electricity.
The morning began with a sense of comfort. Since arriving in Barcelona I had been missing out on a few of my comfort foods, especially with breakfast, so I was thrilled when I saw fried eggs and coffee being passed down the table. It sounds small, but after days of trying new things, all I needed was a small glimpse of home. We then went on about a 3-mile-long hike through higher elevations. The views were absolutely amazing, and the small details that went along were even better. We learned about a specific tree that is used to harvest natural cork for wine bottles, and we also passed another home that mirrored Fede's house. We also learned that the path that we walked on was used by a real-life Robin Hood, and it was used to get him back to his house. There were also many landmarks that we passed that were used during wars.
After the hike we returned home to help prepare lunch, which was a delicious roasted chicken that was cooked in a very old oven that was the original 14th-century oven. As the sun set, the day shifted to a celebration. Dinner was a small cozy bowl of soup since our lunch was so big. We also got a dessert that was prepared and tasted just like crème brûlée. The highlight of the evening was participating in a traditional Three Kings Day ceremony. Being a part of the ritual that the locals have performed every year for generations was such a reminder of why I chose to study abroad. I truly experienced culture and didn't just read about it.
The day didn't end after the ceremony. Me and my classmates stayed up late playing mafia with Fede's son, Fredrik. We laughed and bonded in a house that has seen hundreds of years of stories. Looking back, this day had everything, the comfort of a good breakfast, exercise with a view, and the joy of new friendships and celebrations.
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| Cork Tree |
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| View From Hike |
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Spanish 3 Kings Ceremony
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Dessert Making
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