Are you a UBC undergrad thinking about going on a student exchange? It can be a daunting decision. You might wonder, what’s it like spending a year or a semester in another country? How can you prepare? And how do you handle it when things go sideways? We talked with UBC undergrads who studied abroad with a Go Global program. They spoke with us candidly, sharing their personal impressions, fears and misgivings, best memories, top tips and advice.
Meet 22-year-old Emma Li, a UBC undergraduate student in International Relations and African Studies in the Faculty of Arts, born and raised in Vancouver, BC. She participated in the month-long Global Seminar “Barcelona: Memory and Modernity” in May 2024.
Before you go
Why did you pick this particular Barcelona Global Seminar? How did you hear about it?
Like other UBC students, I receive many emails on different opportunities throughout the year. The one that especially caught my eye was about Go Global Seminar opportunities, something I had always been interested in, though I never knew whether it could fit within my timeline of academic events. However, this past summer was one where I really wanted to travel. With not a lot of ideas on where I could go—and knowing I needed to do summer school to fulfill some more course credits—the seminar abroad seemed like the perfect chance to get my travel in while receiving an educational and informative experience that would count toward my degree. I’m someone who’s very interested in cultural studies, and saw that the Barcelona seminar would allow me to study the city’s literature, architecture, urbanism and contemporary issues within its unique Catalan and Spanish society.
Some of my classmates and I took a train out of Barcelona for a weekend day trip to Tarragona. This photo was a selfie I took outside Tarragona's most famous site, Amfiteatre de Tarragona, an ancient site built in the 2nd century AD by the Roman Empire. It was an incredible view, backed by Tarragona's well known beaches and coast (photo: Emma Li)
What was the application process like? Any tips?
The application process proved an opportunity for me to share and develop my own personal goals as a student. The questionnaire posed thought-provoking questions that made me contemplate the sensitive and important issues surrounding tourism, and how I could contribute to the educational space abroad in meaningful ways. My tips for students interested in applying for a Global Seminar are to be honest about your curiosities and interests! Personalizing your application by sharing the insights you’ve gained in your own studies is especially important for helping the class understand your academic goals and questions, making you more multidimensional as a person. I would also suggest including what you hope to gain from the experience outcome-wise. Asking yourself this question allows you to offer a more intentional and thoughtful demonstration of what you will bring, and in turn receive, beyond the aspect of “fulfilling degree requirements.”
How did you prepare? Anything to be aware of? (travel, cultural differences, classes, etc.)
The Student Safety Abroad module is a mandatory part of the preparation process for Go Global. I found it extremely helpful in giving me basic answers from travel insurance provided by UBC to packing lists to resources for assistance in emergencies abroad. It also sets you up for asking the right questions pre-departure; such as, what an e-SIM (a digital SIM card for cell phones) is. Getting a SIM card or eSIM is an essential part of travel. In order to not get charged copious amounts by your cellphone provider in Canada, SIM cards or e-SIMs allow you to purchase amounts of cellular data usable for your roaming period in international countries. Each SIM card must be purchased within the country or region it is being used in; for example, a Spain trip would require me to buy a SIM card at a local Spain store that sells SIM cards and other phone accessories. Other helpful questions asked in the Student Safety Abroad included how you are as a roommate, living with others, and also many self-care tips. Aside from the practical elements in pre-departure, it was really important to research about your destination country and what tourism is like there. Finding out current attitudes locals might have towards tourism as a whole can benefit your understanding of the cultural cues and attitudes. It also helped to contextualize contemporary problems surrounding mass tourism for my country of destination, Spain.
What worries did you have beforehand? How did you overcome the anxiety?
Mainly the travel dates: from checking into flights to managing layovers and worrying about losing checked bags—those were all standard travel fears I faced the night before I flew out. Other worries consisted mainly of losing or damaging my passport, or getting pick-pocketed in busy areas of the city. Overcoming those fears involves being as on top of as you can with your pre-departure checklist and personal itinerary. Itineraries were helpful for guiding me each step of the way, down to transportation between places; for example, airport to hostel. In accounting for these aspects and having them ready to go, I felt at ease knowing I had a concrete plan. Another way was asking peers in my course for advice or suggestions. Often, classmates share your questions as well, and so working through those and solving them together provided a lot of support for me. Also, keep in mind that your professor is available by email. Any concerns you have are probably questions they’ve had before and already answered. Lastly, trust the process! Allowing the learning to come as you go is important. Don’t over-stress yourself with the future; try to ground yourself in the moment and enjoy the process.
As a class, one of our site visits was to see a traditional flamenco performance at Palau de la Música, a concert hall designed in the Catalan modernista style by Lluis Domènech. It was easily one of the biggest highlights of the trip for most of the class: being able to witness authentic flamenco in this beautiful theatre engaged all the senses in the rich Catalan culture and the arts (photo: Emma Li)
During the experience
How was the overall experience? What did you learn?
Extremely rewarding, educational and meaningful. The biggest thing I gained from my time in the seminar was how to address and respond to the ways mass tourism impacts and shapes the lives of locals. I felt that travelling with my class and the university offered a unique chance to educate and inform myself on the history, urbanism and contemporary issues of Spain, and especially Barcelona. Spending two whole weeks in the city also gave me a far more in-depth sweep of the city’s cuisines, night-life, entertainment and shopping industries than if I were merely stopping through for a few nights. Considering my own positionality as a tourist and consumer shaped my time abroad for more meaningful conversations with peers, my professor and other hosts who received us.
Often times, students don’t go on exchange because they don’t want to extend their degree or because it’s a really big commitment. I’d suggest Global Seminars as a perfect happy medium.”
If you could change something or do it differently, what would you change or do?
Pack lighter! Doing research on the climate of your destination, its usual seasons and expected temperatures is ideal. That way, you can avoid overpacking or under packing, depending on where you are going. I didn’t end up wearing the warmer clothing items I brought, and it ended up taking room in my carry-on that could’ve been devoted to souvenirs and other items bought in Barcelona. Otherwise, another thing I would do differently is prepare a list of sites, neighbouring cities or important landmarks not included in the course itinerary to see before flying out. I’m grateful that many classmates already had itineraries of their own that they shared with the group, but customizing and catering an itinerary suitable to your personal interests and capacities is a really great way to know how to fill your free time on the trip productively.
A photograph of the Amfiteatre de Tarragona, an ancient site built in the 2nd century AD by the Roman Empire. It was traditionally used for public executions, gladiator battles or mock naval battles (photo: Emma Li)
A little produce market located in the Plaza del Diamant in Barcelona. I snapped this photo of a dog waiting patiently outside for its owner before we began our daily site presentations, and it became one of my favourites from the trip just given how much it captures Barcelona's charm and agedness (photo: Emma Li)
Park Güell is one of the most famous attractions in Barcelona, designed by architect, Antoni Guadí, well known for his other famous sites in Barcelona including the Basílica de la Sagrada Família. Originally created as a privatized park system for the upper class, Park Güell now serves as an important site that represents the urbanization, mass tourism and social class changes of the city over time (photo: Emma Li)
How were the academics?
Because my Global Seminar was structured in two parts—the first as in-person class on the UBC Vancouver campus and the other in Barcelona onsite—I felt like the academics were balanced well with the experiential element of actually being at the sites we studied and discussed together. Professor Anna Casas Aguilar offered us a very thorough overview of Catalan history, culture and language during our campus classes together, and it equipped us very well for our application of those considerations and contemporary implications while we were in Barcelona. She assigned two papers before the trip that were more reflection-based, and most of our class time was devoted to discussion, participation and group work. At the end of the seminar, we had to develop a final project of our choosing. It had the flexibility of being more creative or more research-focused, and this was suitable for the diverse range of learners within our class. Overall, I deeply appreciated how well-rounded the seminar was: the academic elements of it provided a reflective opportunity to apply our learnings in the classroom to our experiences in the city itself.
How was the social aspect?
The beauty of my seminar format was that there was a perfect balance between class-time and individual time. Starting our days off with breakfast together was a great way to chat and talk about what we were learning and looking forward most to as a class. From there, we usually spent the mornings and early afternoons together as a class, visiting famous spots and going on guided site-visits and tours. After these designated “class times,” we would have the flexibility of breaking off into free time. Free time was a chance to visit spots that we wouldn’t visit as a class, and also independently roam around to go places that interested you personally. Many people would shop, go to museums, find good food to try or even return to the hostel to catch up on sleep. This flexibility was great for wellbeing and balance, and it offered room for you to personalize your own itinerary.
Favourite memory?
One of my favourites was visiting the famous Park Güell in Barcelona. As a class, we explored the park, created by Antoni Gaudí i Cornet, a renowned Catalan architect whose works in Barcelona are highly notable. We had some students present on the park while we walked through and took in the stunning view of the city. Enjoying the nature, the architecture and the sunset, there was something so serene and restful in our visit there that made it unforgettable.
After the experience
Would you recommend this experience to others? What can they look forward to?
Absolutely! A student interested in travel or studying abroad should definitely consider an exchange or a Global Seminar. Often times, students don’t go on exchange because they don’t want to extend their degree or because it’s a really big commitment. I’d suggest Global Seminars as a perfect happy medium—because they offer a catered educational experience to a country while also enhancing a summer experience through travel. Students can look forward to fairly small class sizes with sufficient time to get to know other students and the instructor. Experiences like these shape your adaptability to new environments—living alongside others and navigating a foreign country—which are all beneficial for the long-term. It also opens new doors of opportunity because it challenges you to literally step outside your comfort zone and see what else the world has to offer beyond your university campus.
Our class poses with Jordi Honey-Rosés, a guest lecturer and associate professor at UBC. His current research studies the urban planning and urbanization of Catalonia, and we had a walking tour on this day to get a better sense of the different plazas located throughout Barcelona (photo: Emma Li)
What was the impact on your academic and personal development?
My time in the Barcelona Global Seminar contributed to my development both academically and personally. Academically, it broadened my scope of study beyond what I was most accustomed to learning within my major and minor. As an International Relations major with more insight into African countries, cultures and languages, my experience in the seminar as an elective pushed me beyond my comfort zone and allowed me to apply my perspective on what I have learned about Spanish history and politics. As someone who hasn’t taken very many urban study-related courses in my past, the Barcelona seminar was also very urban-study heavy, which actually became a topic and study-focus that I enjoyed and found extremely enlightening. Because the Barcelona seminar tied together effectively the idea that history informs contemporary considerations of places and people, I felt that my own major and minor benefitted by reflections of modernity and memory as being such a driving force in topics such as politics, history and social justice.
Personally, my time in Barcelona allowed me to take a leap into the real world as a learner. Having only travelled for leisure in the past, this seminar allowed me to grow a consciousness towards the ethics of tourism, of consumption and of the idea of “bearing witness” to the world in my identity as a Chinese-Canadian student. Stepping outside my day-to-day life to meet new people, network with professionals within a field, and travel to a country with a different language, all informed me about my own budding curiosities and personal ambitious that I’d like to devote more time to develop into my future.
A selfie taken at the top of Parc Güell with the entire class, including Professor, Anna Casas Aguilar. The park is also located atop Carmel Hill with a scenic view of Barcelona (photo: Emma Li)
Read more Go Global student stories.