For Ms. Thalanthorn “Thalan” Suthanapun, a Travel and Service Business Entrepreneurship sophomore who chose to do her exchange studies in Universitat de Barcelona (CETT), Spain, her first month was truly memorable.

“The city is full of life, with beautiful architecture, lively streets, and amazing weather. I love how easy it is to get around the city using the metro; the system is super easy to navigate. During my first few weeks, I visited so many places, but there are still many more I want to see. The beach is great too and I’ve spent some relaxing afternoons there,” she said.

Also, she was amazed by the local lifestyle. “People here seem to spend more time offline and enjoy their days outside, socializing or relaxing,” she said. “The meal times are also quite different — lunch is usually around 2:00–4:00 p.m. and dinner is as late as 9:00–11:00 p.m.”

Thalanthorn has also experienced a taste of the famous Spanish fiesta. “September was full of local festivals, and one of the most memorable events was La Mercè. I got to see the famous human towers, giant parades, fireworks, drone shows, street performances and tapas and bars,” she said, noting that: “It was an unforgettable way to experience Catalan culture up close. Another highlight was traveling to Italy one weekend to visit a friend. I came to Barcelona alone as a solo traveler, so going on that trip made me realize how independent I’ve become. It was an amazing experience and one of my favorite memories so far.”

Another good news—aside from the locals, she has also met many fellow students from other countries like Finland, Mexico, Belgium, Malaysia, Laos, and many others. “I’ve made a lot of international friends during my first few weeks here!” she enthused. “It’s been really eye opening to see how people from different parts of the world think and live.”

And how did MUIC prepare her for exchange studies? “Being an MUIC student really prepared me well for life abroad. One thing I’m especially grateful for is that MUIC offers many language courses. I took Spanish back at MUIC, and it has been incredibly helpful here in Barcelona. Many local shops mainly use Catalan or Spanish, and not everyone speaks English. Knowing some Spanish words has helped me communicate better and handle daily situations more easily,” she said.

Ms. Natasha “Tasha” Rothhaas is on her second year in the International Relations and Global Affairs major and is spending her exchange studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the United States.

Though she’s only been in the US for just a couple of months, Natasha said she has learned more in one month than she had in over 10 years. “Adapting to the new culture on and off campus has opened a whole new world to me. I would say that it is the best time of my life so far. I have gone to state parks, canoeing, sightseeing, bonfires, picnics, as well as academically charged events such as clubs and attending scholar seminars!”

Not only that, Natasha has already made friends with many Americans and also those from other countries, both students and professionals. “Locals here have been nothing but kind and friendly with a great sense of hospitality. International students and professionals have also been very outgoing and friendly, making it very easy to make friends almost anywhere I go!”

Acknowledging MUIC for preparing her in her exchange studies, Natasha noted, “MUIC has given me a strong foundation of working with people from all over the world, helping me to be very culturally aware. MUIC also has a fast-paced environment due to the trimester system and this has also prepared me for the academic load here.”

Going on exchange studies abroad is indeed a life-changing experience. And for Thalanthorn and Natasha, their academic adventure has just begun—meeting new friends, learning new lessons, enjoying a new environment and others. Would you like to be an exchange student too?