All is G?ell here in Spain! This week?s blog post will highlight notable experiences from my third week in Barcelona. While I was busy studying for finals, this week presented many opportunities for me to embrace the culture, political atmosphere, and business environment within the Catalonia region of Spain.?
Our study abroad group?s first excursion took place on Monday after class. We met at Park G?ell, a park in the center of Barcelona that is recognized as an artistic monument. The site was rich in history, and the views of the city from above were breathtaking. I learned that the park was intended by Antoni Gaud? to be a modern housing estate. It is evident in all of Gaud?s works that he was inspired by the elements of nature when creating his designs. The housing estate is far from the chaos of the city below and meaningful structures are featured throughout the park. Arches, stairways, rooftops, and tree-inspired columns resemble components of nature. Multi-colored mosaic tiles covered benches, modernista houses, and a large cross at the park entrance. From my point of view, the main focal point of his creation was the Four Arms Cross. Once again, it was made clear that Gaud?, along with the residents of Catalonia, have regarded religion as a strong part of their culture for centuries.?
A visit to the Port Authority of Barcelona enabled me to understand the region?s role in global market trade practices. First, we had the pleasure of hearing from the director of the Barcelona port?s training program. He provided insight into the reasons why Barcelona is a crucial transport and services infrastructure in the Euro-Mediterranean region. The port?s logistics gateway links markets primarily in central Europe and North Africa. Learning that the number of individuals employed by the port is expected to grow beyond 35,000 this year was impressive. Following the lecture, our group had the opportunity to tour the port on a private boat. The guide identified the different terminals and the significant positioning of structures. The controls instilled to manage the passenger traffic, container traffic, automobile traffic, and vessel traffic allowed me to comprehend the large-scale processes that take place daily. My involvement in BUILD, an organization at Texas A&M University, provoked further interest in the handling of shipping containers at the port. In BUILD, students have a mission to transform retired shipping containers into medical clinics. The complete clinics are sent to poverty-stricken countries around the world. Witnessing the day-to-day transport procedures at the port has given me a greater appreciation for the shipping industry that makes fulfilling the BUILD mission possible.?
In addition to the knowledge I am gaining from immersion activities, I have grown personally. My time in Spain has allowed me to develop my problem-solving and leadership skills. From overcoming communication barriers and making crucial navigation decisions to planning trips for a group of people, I believe I have widened my worldview. This weekend, many of the people on our trip will be traveling by train to Madrid, Spain. I am excited to share my observations with you next week!