Walking through Barcelona’s narrow streets, I was surrounded by the mix of sounds, smells, and colors that carried centuries of history. The sweet aroma of fresh churros mixed with the saltiness of the Mediterranean breeze. The ringing of church bells in the Gothic Quarter blended with conversations in both Catalan and Spanish, reminding me of the layered identity of the city. In the plazas, flags told their own stories: the Spanish national colors alongside the Estelada, a symbol of Catalan independence. History became something I could hear, see, and feel.

Academically, this program deepened my interest in political science and law. Standing in front of the Ayuntamiento de Barcelona and hearing about Catalonia’s resistance to Franco, I connected theory to reality. I saw how John Stuart Mill’s ideas about liberty and the “tyranny of the majority” played out in Spain’s history and in the lived experience of Catalans who secretly preserved their language. This shaped how I think about minority rights and democratic responsibility, ideas I hope to bring into my career in law and public policy.

On a personal level, the experience reminded me of resilience. Coming from a Peruvian immigrant family, I found unexpected parallels between Catalonia’s history and my own heritage. Catalans protected their language during repression, just as Quechua and Aymara speakers in Peru held onto their traditions through colonization. That connection gave me pride in my background and motivated me to keep sharing my story at MSU. I realized that my identity is not a barrier but a way to connect across cultures.

Speaking Spanish every day also pushed me to grow. Even though I am fluent, I had to adjust my Peruvian Spanish to understand Catalan-accented Spanish. I became more attentive when people switched between Catalan and Spanish, and I relied on non-verbal communication when needed. These skills will help me in classrooms and in diverse environments back home.

Before this program, I believed the myth that education abroad was mostly sightseeing or surface-level exposure. What I found was the opposite. The program demanded careful listening, critical reflection, and constant engagement. It was less about being a tourist and more about being a citizen of culture, history, and politics.

As a first-generation, low-income student, I also want to show others like me that education abroad is possible and valuable. I worried at first whether I would belong in such a program, but I left Spain with more confidence in my voice, my background, and my future goals. I hope that other students see themselves in my story: learning, questioning, and growing through experiences that connect the past to the present and the local to the global.

• Name: Melissa Aguilar Gabriel
• Status: Freshman
• Majors: Political Science-Pre Law, Economics, and International Relations
• Hometown: Lima, Peru
• Program: FSA Spain – Track 1 - Spain’s Cultural Mosaic