To celebrate our 30 years in business, we are highlighting stories from our community about the impact of study abroad on their lives.

Name: Malcolm Johnson

Program: SAI Barcelona (RIT –> ELISAVA)

Year: Fall 2023

Thinking back on my time studying abroad with SAI is a flood of great memories but the thing at the core of all of those memories was people. Arriving in Barcelona, as I’m sure most SAI students would agree, was a bit overwhelming but amongst the winding streets in the Gothic quarter and beautiful spacious boulevards in L’Eixample were people. Little did I know that as beautiful and mind blowing as the architecture was, the best part of the trip wasn’t going to be looking at the Sagrada Familia from the balcony in our apartment, but the people.

Having the opportunity to build relationships and share experiences with new friends from the states AND with friends from many countries while exploring a totally new city was so new to me. The group photo is from before a dinner out with friends and together we represent seven different countries! We constantly met new people from widely different backgrounds and cultures. Being able to share our own stories, our own traditions, and (most importantly) FOOD, while learning the same from other people was awesome! I learned the most from people while in Barcelona, but ELISAVA as a first time design student was a strong competitor. Design was entirely new to me as an accounting student, but ELISAVA was a good place to start!

The best part of studying abroad with SAI, which I am so grateful for, was the network of new people and friends I had been able to build. This summer I was able to meet up with my friend Diann while she was on a trip to New York City and spend three days sightseeing with a friend I had met in a hostel all the way in Valencia! I am going back to visit her next year as well and I can’t wait to meet her friends and travel around another new city! SAI was my first, albeit daunting, step into living somewhere so far from home and the people of SAI are who I have to thank for making it so memorable!

Written by: Malcolm, Fall 2023 Barcelona alum