I live in the l'Eixample Dreta district in Barcelona, Spain on Passeig de Sant Joan. In Catalan, Eixample means the extension. This is the district between Ciutat Vella (old city) and Gracia. It is the area to the right of Passeig de Gracia. It is in walking distance of central Place Catalunya and La Sagrada Familia. This is the area to which modernism was born. It was considered to be a new form of architecture, and new way from the medieval style. This area was built in the mid-19th century when the old town area started to reach maximum capacity. The first homes were build at the intersection of Consell de Cent and Roger de Lluria. This area was designed by Cerdá who was an engineer and urban planner. The streets broaden at every intersection to provide enhanced visibility and more space for short term parking. Passeig de Sant Joan is one of the main avenues in the Eixample district. It from from the lower end of Barrio Gracia to the Arc del Triumph. There are a variety of way of transportation everywhere from buses, trains, taxi's, to even my own two feet. This neighborhood has so much to offer from a public library, a hospital, a public market, a flower store, and so much more. 
This neighborhood has made my abroad experience the most amazing it could have possibly been. Living in a residential area, at night the streets are incredibly quite and safe. I would not be afraid to walk through the streets at any given hour of the day or night. My favorite thing to do is explore. Walking through the streets and finding cute cafes and restaurants to try gets more and more exciting. My favorite places in the neighborhood are Creyon Cafe, which I go to at least once a day, and Dow Jones Bar.
Upon arrival to Barcelona, this was the first place that I wanted to visit. When I would see pictures online on social media websites of students from previous years, I knew that this was gonna be an experience that I would never forget. The first time that I went to Sagrada familia the line was down the block and around the corner, at least a 30-45 minute wait to get into church. The second time I went, I had the same problem. The third time I visited, I was told that you can buy and print the tickets for a specific time to go inside, without waiting on a line. I couldn't even imagine what the inside of the church was going to look like. Upon entering, my mouth dropped. It was nothing like I imagined. By looking up at the ceiling, you are able to picture exactly what Gaudi had put in his plans. He designed the roof to look like trees and branches. The details at the top of the nave are impecable. Every detail was incredibly well thought out, and you tell just by looking at this church from the outside. The stain glass windows also reflect the sun light into the church allowing it the brighten on the inside. This church was something remarkable. Its size, modernism, its beauty, all are incredibly breathtaking. The most interesting aspect of this church, is that Gaudi is buried on the bottom floor. This is not an area that the public is allowed to enter, but are able to see from a distance. This is by far one of the most amazing sites in Barcelona, and something that shouldn't be missed out on. Its history and relevance to the world is amazing. I would definitely recommend a visit to this masterpiece. 
Before coming to live in Barcelona, I was alway told that I could not live here for four months without attending one of the amazing FC Barcelona soccer games. Not only was this an incredible cultural experience, but Barcelona is known to be one of the best teams in the world. My jaw dropped as I first walked into the stadium. I had never experienced something like this before. The stands were filled with an overflow of screaming and cheering fans. These fans, are not fans that you would ever find in the United States. The passion that these fans have for their team makes the game incredibly exciting to watch. Many of the fans were decked out in FC Barcelona apparel, from scarves to jerseys. I was lucky that the first game that I was able to attend, I was fortunate enough to sit in the 10th row. I was able to enjoy this experience up close and personal. 
The southern part of El Raval, near the port also used to be famous and the cities red-light district. However in 1988, the government started a huge regeneration project and invested a lot of money in cleaning up the area, making it also become a lot safer. Approximately 15 years ago, this area that we visited was not the way it is today. Years ago, this area acted as a boarder that ended the city. Any streets existing beyond these streets, were not considered to be a part of the city. 
During this field trip, we were also brought to the University of Barcelona. The University of Barcelona is a public university, located inside the city of Barcelona. Students are able to walk into classes without prior knowledge of the profesor. They combine the values of tradition with its position as a university dedicated to innovation and teaching excellence. 
After each field trip that I have been on this semester, I feel as though I have explored Barcelona to a new level. I enjoy learning about the streets and significance of each building. It has really made my experience here a rememberable one. It is interesting to be immersed into a new culture and be educated on the place that us abroad students have been living in for the past four months.
