The two and half weeks that I have spent in Spain so far have been eye opening, culturally enlightening, and so much fun!!? Each day I have realized more and more what a unique opportunity and privilege it is that I have the ability not only to study in another country but also become immersed into its culture and adjust to a lifestyle that is very different to the way I live in the United States. One of my favorite parts of this experience has been getting to feel like a local in Barcelona. I love our little apartment and the neighborhood that it is in. The neighborhood is called Gr?cia and is filled with so many markets, shops, and delicious restaurants. One thing that I have realized living in this neighborhood is how unhurried and slow the Spanish culture is. Every morning on my walk to class, the city is barely awake and it seems as though every person who has started their day is either on a leisurely walk to work or sipping on a cup of coffee at one of the many cafes in this city. In the same way in the evenings, every restaurant is filled with people enjoying a long meal and not being in a rush to get home. I have loved getting to try traditional Spanish cuisine, but also enjoyed getting to experience and become accustomed to the long, extended meal time culture. Definitely trying to soak in the slowness of Spanish culture and want to bring aspects of this pace of life back home with me.
In addition to becoming accustomed to the culture of Barcelona, I have been learning so much through the classes that we are taking and the excursions we get to go on. In one class we are learning about the integration process of the European Union and the application of a single currency. In the other class we are learning about the environment of international business and the theoretical and institutional issues that can come with doing business abroad. It has been so interesting to actually be living in a country with a culture very different from the one I come from back home, while at the same time learning how this difference in cultures among countries impacts both economics and international business. We have also had the opportunity to learn many things outside of the classroom as well. Here is a quick summary of what we have had the opportunity to see and do in Barcelona so far as a class. We toured Montjuic, the sight of the 1992 Olympic games. We visited the Barcelona Port and also got to play volleyball on the beach. We visited a place called Montserrat which is the location of a very well known monastery on a beautiful mountain. Finally, we got to tour a brewery and watch the making, bottling, and transporting process of Estrella Damm Beer. Outside of class, I have also visited other well known sights such as Park and Palace Guell, Turo de Rovira viewpoint, and the Arc de Triunfo. Living in Barcelona for five weeks I have loved having the ability to explore the city and sites slowly and not feeling in a rush to see everything at once! I am excited to see and share what else I am going to learn and visit during my next two weeks!!
