After spending a month in Barcelona, my perspective on both the social and business world has shifted. I observed so much – from how Barcelonans go about their daily lives, to how they run their companies and approach work-life balance. My first impressions turned out to be mostly accurate: people here truly work to live rather than live to work. Life outside of the job is just as important, if not more so. The city is always buzzing with energy, yet people seem to take things in stride – except during rush hour, of course! Our chaperone for the month, Tomas, gave us an incredible look into what living in Barcelona is really about. Talking with him about the differences between city life and life in College Station was eye-opening. He highlighted so many cultural contrasts, but rather than divide us, those differences brought us closer. One of the most inspiring aspects of the experience was seeing how many companies in Barcelona are committed to sustainability. They don’t just talk about it — it’s embedded in their business models. Hearing the “why” behind each company we visited made us reflect on our paths: What is our why? Are we pursuing careers to get rich, or to make an impact? It’s a deeper question than it seems, and it influences how we choose to live. All in all, living in Barcelona this past July was a blessing and a major learning experience — one I won’t forget.
