My time abroad in Barcelona has by far been one of the best experiences of my life. Through both my classes I have learned about the importance of understanding other cultures and their way of life to be able to succeed in the international business world. In our class taught by a professor from Spain we learned about the differences between the European Union and the United States. The main difference that I wanted to highlight is the contrast between European lifestyles and American lifestyles. In Europe, especially Spain, people are more focused on their welfare rather than how much they make. For example, it is popular in Spain to have a whole month off of work. It is also likely to have long-term job contracts that make it hard for companies to fire you. On the other hand, this is not the case in the US. The US is more focused on improving their economy and making money. In addition to this, in Spain it is normal to be unemployed, which in the US seems so wrong.
Prior to my trip, I did not know what to expect out of this experience. Specifically, I did not know how different the way of living in Spain would be compared to the US. I now love to take ?siestas? which are basically naps in the middle of the day. It feels like everything is slower in a way as well. No one is in a rush. It has also been really fun speaking Spanish and learning how different it is compared to Catalan. It has been interesting to live the way a typical person from Spain does, this means a lot of walking. Overall, I have noticed so many differences between Spain and the US throughout my time abroad and I am so happy I had this opportunity because I have made many great memories and friends.
