Taylor HigginsParticipated in 2020Study Abroad | Spain
Taylor originally from New Jersey, but she is currently attending the University of Tampa in Florida where she is pursuing a bachelor’s degree of Business Information Technology. She also works as a customer service associate at CVS Health. Taylor hopes to continue to grow and advance in her career, building on her experience studying abroad with AIFS.
What inspired you to travel abroad?
My mom grew up in Israel, my grandmother is from Poland, and my grandfather is from Bulgaria, and because of that I knew that I wanted to explore culture, not just within my family's heritage, but also so many others. One day I was sitting in my high school Spanish class when my teacher said that if you ever get the chance to go abroad, that you should definitely take advantage of that opportunity. Ever since then, I had always thought about going abroad, but I never thought that I actually would. I really just wanted to challenge myself to go out and explore the world, and to not just stay within my comfort bubble at home.
Why did you choose a program offered by the American Institute For Foreign Study (AIFS)?
I chose AIFS initially because it had the courses that I was required to take and it was in the location which I preferred, but I can say now that I chose this program because of the amount of support they offered. I would have never expected to feel so safe and comfortable in a foreign country as I did. They also offered so many different trips or events which were planned almost every single weekend to bring students together and to further push everyone to experience new cultures.
What was your favorite part about studying abroad in Barcelona?
My favorite part about studying abroad in Barcelona, Spain was just seeing the amount of amazing architecture I would walk past everyday and say to myself "Wow, I really live here." It was breathtaking and I could not put into words the way I felt; it was so freeing and magical just to be so independent and immersed in the culture of the city. I also loved that I could take a metro and easily be at the beach, a park, a restaurant, or a bar. Everything was so convenient, and beautiful.
What made your experience abroad extraordinary?
I think the program I chose is what really made my experience so amazing. They offered so many events that I would have never done myself if it was not for AIFS. For example, I went to a cooking class, and I also went to Morocco, Africa. With my program, I also went to Girona, Besalu, La Sagrada Familia, etc. They planned many more events in which I went to that really let me experience so much more than what I had expected. I also met many friends through my program. I would pick this program again every-time!
How did the local program staff support you throughout your program?
The local staff throughout Barcelona were extremely supportive, many gave recommendations about places everyone should go or where to eat, and even what to eat. I learned about the mediterranean diet through the local staff. The local staff were also really friendly. They wanted you to know about their culture, they wanted to teach you the language, and they wanted you to eat the best food.
I am so grateful for all of the support that I received from local staff throughout my experience with this program.Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.
First, I would wake up and walk to my first class, which was at 9 a.m. After this class, I would go out to a new breakfast place with my friends that I met abroad. We usually took the metro to get to a restaurant. After we ate, I would then take the metro back to go to my next class. After this class, I would go home and eat lunch, which would usually be a part of a baguette that I bought from any store on the way home and I would put avocado on it. Then, I would go out to eat for dinner with my roommates from my apartment. We would buy cheap wine after dinner and then we would go to the beach to drink and watch the sunset.
What did you enjoy doing in your free time abroad?
During my free time abroad I really enjoyed walking around the city or going to a bar with my friends and ordering tapas for a quick snack. I also loved meeting people from different countries at the places I went to. I especially enjoyed going to explore Las Ramblas, Citadel Park, the beach, the bunkers, and so many other places with amazing views as well as incredible architecture. I also loved planning for my weekend trips as well as planning which restaurants, clubs, and bars I wanted to explore.
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad?
I personally wish that I went out more on the days I was so tired and stayed in and slept. I wish I went out by myself on the days that I just didn't have anyone to go out with so I stayed in. I got to do so many things, but I know that I could've done more. You are only abroad for four months, and though it seems like you will be there forever in the moment, it is such a short period of time to squeeze in visiting all of the places that you want to go to and see.
I also wish that I ate out more. I was so worried about saving my money and getting by with eating a peanut butter and jelly, but food is a huge part of the culture. When will I ever get Patas Bravas from Spain again?
What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?
I was assigned a single-room in a four room apartment. There were three other girls there, two from Illinois and one from Washington. I am from New Jersey, so it was also cool getting to know about life where they were from. We also shared a kitchen space, living room, and bathroom, as well as a washer and dryer. We were extremely lucky because many people don't have dryers in Spain. Not only this, but we could see La Sagrada Famila from our apartment window; we were only a seven minute walk from the most beautiful church.
What is one thing every future participant should know about your program before their program begins?
I would say that everyone should pack lightly. Bring only the shoes and clothes that you WILL wear. Bring a pencil and a notebook just to be a little bit prepared for classes. Another thing is to be open minded. Try new things and meet new people, even if you have already found comfort in the things that you have done and the people you have already met. It's so important to really experience everything you possibly can while you are there, because you don't want to look back and think about all of the things that you did not do; you want to think about all of the things that you did do.
Would you recommend your program to others? Why?
I would recommend this program to every single person that is considering going abroad a thousand times. This program has changed my life; it made the transition for me, as someone who has never really been outside of the country, so comfortable and easy. I would've never thought that the transition of living in another country for four months could feel so seamless and safe. This program has provided so much support and the staff is so caring and genuine; they truly want the best for you and make it happen through the countless trips and activities that they plan throughout the span of the semester.
What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is for you?
The biggest benefit of traveling abroad was definitely being immersed in new cultures. I visited Switzerland, Paris, Africa, London, Valencia, Madrid, Girona, Besalu, Figueres, and other places. In all of these places I got to see the architecture, explore the cities, the mountains, the food, the drinks, the people, and the atmosphere. Nothing is more exciting to me than just being in the moment of seeing a whole new perspective of the way people live and personally being able to live and see how they see the world.
Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?
Now that I am home, I appreciate other cultures and foods so much more than I ever have. I have adjusted my diet a little bit based off of the Mediterranean diet. Certain foods just don't taste as good here as they did in Spain. I am also so much more open minded to trying new things, especially food. I am so much more capable of planning trips and being more independent than I was before, because I was put in situations abroad where I could only rely on myself. I am also more careful than I have ever been regarding pickpockets!
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
Meaningful travel means pushing yourself to go out of your comfort zone and maybe exploring local places and trying to live as a local would, including food, visiting parks, taking in the architecture, and meeting other people from the places you travel, so that they can share personal recommendations and experiences with you. Meaningful travel would be spending all of the time you can in places to go out and explore all of the different places, food, and people that are there while you are there.
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