{"id":17043,"date":"2025-06-03T10:28:23","date_gmt":"2025-06-03T08:28:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.unihabit.com\/?p=17043"},"modified":"2025-06-09T14:04:16","modified_gmt":"2025-06-09T12:04:16","slug":"interview-kinjal-chatterjee","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.unihabit.com\/en\/interview-kinjal-chatterjee\/","title":{"rendered":"Interview with Kinjal Chatterjee: \u2018It’s very good because you feel a sense of community\u2019."},"content":{"rendered":"

Kinjal Chatterjee is from Calcutta (India) and has been living at Unihabit Ciutat Vella (Barcelona) for two years. He is studying a double degree in Global BBA and Artificial Intelligence for Business at EADA Business School.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

From Unihabit we have interviewed Kinjal to tell us his story and his experience in the university residence in Barcelona, Unihabit Ciutat Vella.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

Why did you choose to study in Barcelona?<\/b><\/h2><\/div>

I was thinking about what I wanted to study, and I had always known that I would do something related to<\/span> technology or the business world.<\/b> I found this double degree, which was perfect, and also my program director is a lab director at MIT, and I wanted to study with him. That’s why I chose to come to Barcelona. It was <\/span>also influenced by the fact that I’ve been a Bar\u00e7a fan since I was about four years old,<\/b> so it all fit together.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

And, do you like Barcelona?<\/b><\/h2><\/div>

Yes, I love Barcelona.<\/span> It’s never boring, you have so many things to do…\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>

Why did you choose Unihabit to live in?<\/b><\/h2><\/div>

When I was looking for a place to live, first, I saw that<\/span> my university had connections with Unihabit, and I knew that Unihabit was a legitimate place.<\/b> Also, it’s <\/span>very close to the centre of Barcelona and very well connected to everything.<\/b> Plaza Catalu\u00f1a is a ten-minute walk away, Paseo de Gracia is about fifteen minutes away, and it’s also a beautiful place. These were my reasons for choosing Unihabit.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

See Unihabit Ciutat Vella Residence<\/span><\/a><\/div>

You’ve been here for a year and you’ve renewed for a second year…<\/b><\/h2><\/div>

I came to live here for the first year and then I decided to<\/span> renew the contract because I love this place and I love the people.<\/b> A lot of people I met last year also renewed, so I thought: if my friends are staying here, I’m staying here too, why shouldn’t I stay?<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

Do you teach in English?<\/b><\/h2><\/div>

My classes are in English,<\/b> I don’t speak a lot of Spanish, but I understand a lot, about seventy per cent.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

Did you know the language before you came, or did you learn it here?<\/b><\/h2><\/div>

I tried to use Duolingo, like everyone else, but I had problems with the visa because I was 17 when<\/b> I came, and I forgot everything I had learned before. But once I got here, I got used to it, and now<\/span> I can walk around the city and get around in Spanish,<\/b> but I still can’t speak fluently.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

What is your favorite place in the Unihabit Ciutat Vella residence?<\/b><\/h2><\/div>

My favorite place in Unihabit is<\/span> the roof;<\/b> the views are incredible.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the morning, you can go there and it’s sunny, as it is almost always in Barcelona. The terrace is perfect. <\/span>There’s a ping-pong table, great for playing or just sunbathing, <\/b>although I don’t do it much, but it’s a great space. And at night,<\/span> you can see the stars and the whole city lit up. You can even see Montjuic from the terrace, it’s beautiful.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

Apart from that,<\/span> the study room is very good.<\/b> It’s always full because everyone is studying, but it’s very nice because you feel a sense of community.<\/span><\/p>\n

You are far away from home, but<\/span> you see other people who are also far away from their families doing the same as you, and this gives you strength.<\/b><\/p>\n

These two things are what I like the most.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

Was it difficult to move to Barcelona from India to study<\/b><\/h2><\/div>

As I was 17, I <\/span>needed to have legal guardians in Spain to get the visa. <\/b>When I went to the consulate, I didn’t know, and the consulate was not in my city, but in Delhi. It was interesting because they said: <\/span>\u2018OK, we take your documents, but you have two weeks to get legal guardians.\u2019<\/b> We had to run around a bit.<\/span><\/p>\n

The university lawyers said they would do it, so i<\/span>t was quite a process, and my arrival was delayed by about two weeks. But, well, I arrived.<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>

Do you miss your home?<\/b><\/h2><\/div>

I miss the food, I miss my mother. <\/b>But I would say I like Barcelona more than my hometown. I mean, obviously I love my city, but it can get a bit boring, and it’s too hot in summer.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

Do you plan to stay in Barcelona after your studies?<\/b><\/h2><\/div>

I don’t know yet, to be honest. I’ve just <\/span>finished my second year, and the fourth year, I’ll be in France, so I’ll be graduating in France.<\/b><\/p>\n

I’m not quite sure if I’ll come back here, or if, when I find a job, maybe I’ll move there or do a Master’s degree somewhere else. <\/span>But it’s a place where I’ll always be open to coming back.<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>

See the full interview<\/b><\/h2><\/div>
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