Hey everyone! I'm the President of AIAS at CUA for the 2008-2009 year and I spent the spring semester studying abroad in Barcelona. Just wanted to share some of my experience!
The Mediterranean breeze blew across the beach as our group walked to the glinting fish sculpture designed by Frank Gehry. It’s the middle of January and seventeen of us, all architecture students from Catholic University, began to explore our new home in Barcelona. Lindsey Dehenzel, one of the juniors studying here, called the beginning of our trip our “honeymoon period” filled with naïve bliss and joy in everything we find. Slowly as the weeks passed we waited for life and reality to fall around us, and for our love for the city to dim, signaling an end to the honeymoon.
In Barcelona, we took classes under the direction of Eric Jenkins and Christy Cole, both traveling with us from CUA. Eric ran our studio class, while Christy directed our sketching and field trip adventures. They worked together to create an incredible experience for us as we learn about urban design. We were able to walk through the old parts of the city and soak in the sunny Placas and courtyards in the morning and then dissect urban history with Cece Tham, a Harvard graduate and practicing architect in Barcelona, in the afternoon. They layer their classes so that all our learning is very cohesive.
We visit iconic architecture by Mies van de Rohe, Callatrava, and Gaudi. One day we even traveled below the street level to explore the Roman ruins of the city that have been built upon. Our classes also explored the dynamics of other urban environments, through extended field trips. We had a week of touring Spain; exploring Madrid and its famous housing projects; Cordoba and its Arab bath; Granada and the Alhambra; and finally, the historical and pastoral Seville. Our adventures also took us to Morocco in the Spring, a highlight of the semester.
On the roof of Sagrada Familia by Gaudi on our hard hat tour
We enjoyed our café con leches and croissants, and most afternoons we stopped by the Boccaria market to pick up fresh produce for dinner. We picked up wine at the corner market for a few Euros and every evening we looked out over the Plaza Universitat and its ever changing inhabitants; whether they were skateboarders, acrobats, Evangelical Christians, or just families strolling with their children on bicycles. The city has a pace much slower than D.C.’s. In some cases, like when we wanted our Internet fixed, the lack of urgency is a nuisance. Most of the time, however, we just enjoyed our siestas.
During our free time on the weekends we explored more of the city. One of the first weekends in the city we took an adventure up to Montjuic, the Mountain of the Jews, to explore a
fortress built in the 17th century. The view was amazing. We could see the whole city before us and as we began to travel down the mountain, we venture through the Olympic Village and the MNAC, Barcelona’s National Art Museum, and finally arriving at Mies van de Rohe’s Pavilion. The iconic building makes for a graceful walk-through experience.
Skipping around the MNAC
Being in Europe we also take the time to country hop. I was able to visit out other program in Rome one weekend to celebrate my birthday. I was able to explore the history of the city and sample Italian culture and cuisine. My Easter break was spent in the Muslim county of Turkey, discovering the beauty of the ancient mosques of Istanbul.
When we stayed in the city we'd sometimes go out to enjoy the Barcelona nightlife- clubs that spill out onto the beach, or pubs that line pedestrian streets and spill into each other. If you come home before 5 AM, you’re obviously not a local. Locals themselves are usually friendly and considerate, especially since the majority of us absolutely butcher their language.
After almost four months in this "foreign land" I decided that I have found a perfect match with Barcelona and consider it another home. The honeymoon lasted until the day I had to leave and I hope to return soon, to visit the friends I made and the city I fell in love with.
To learn more about our love for this wonderful city you can read our student blogs. Links for all the student’s blogs can be found at http://cuabarcelona2008.blogspot.com/….and since I’m a total nerd and self promoter, read mine: jordenbcn2008.blogspot.com.
In Barcelona, we took classes under the direction of Eric Jenkins and Christy Cole, both traveling with us from CUA. Eric ran our studio class, while Christy directed our sketching and field trip adventures. They worked together to create an incredible experience for us as we learn about urban design. We were able to walk through the old parts of the city and soak in the sunny Placas and courtyards in the morning and then dissect urban history with Cece Tham, a Harvard graduate and practicing architect in Barcelona, in the afternoon. They layer their classes so that all our learning is very cohesive.
We visit iconic architecture by Mies van de Rohe, Callatrava, and Gaudi. One day we even traveled below the street level to explore the Roman ruins of the city that have been built upon. Our classes also explored the dynamics of other urban environments, through extended field trips. We had a week of touring Spain; exploring Madrid and its famous housing projects; Cordoba and its Arab bath; Granada and the Alhambra; and finally, the historical and pastoral Seville. Our adventures also took us to Morocco in the Spring, a highlight of the semester.
On the roof of Sagrada Familia by Gaudi on our hard hat tourDuring our free time on the weekends we explored more of the city. One of the first weekends in the city we took an adventure up to Montjuic, the Mountain of the Jews, to explore a
fortress built in the 17th century. The view was amazing. We could see the whole city before us and as we began to travel down the mountain, we venture through the Olympic Village and the MNAC, Barcelona’s National Art Museum, and finally arriving at Mies van de Rohe’s Pavilion. The iconic building makes for a graceful walk-through experience.
Skipping around the MNACBeing in Europe we also take the time to country hop. I was able to visit out other program in Rome one weekend to celebrate my birthday. I was able to explore the history of the city and sample Italian culture and cuisine. My Easter break was spent in the Muslim county of Turkey, discovering the beauty of the ancient mosques of Istanbul.
When we stayed in the city we'd sometimes go out to enjoy the Barcelona nightlife- clubs that spill out onto the beach, or pubs that line pedestrian streets and spill into each other. If you come home before 5 AM, you’re obviously not a local. Locals themselves are usually friendly and considerate, especially since the majority of us absolutely butcher their language.
After almost four months in this "foreign land" I decided that I have found a perfect match with Barcelona and consider it another home. The honeymoon lasted until the day I had to leave and I hope to return soon, to visit the friends I made and the city I fell in love with.
To learn more about our love for this wonderful city you can read our student blogs. Links for all the student’s blogs can be found at http://cuabarcelona2008.blogspot.com/….and since I’m a total nerd and self promoter, read mine: jordenbcn2008.blogspot.com.
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