My month in Spain has been everything I had hoped for! I have gained a greater understanding of international business, fully immersed myself in another culture, and explored the countries I had dreamed of visiting. My time in Spain has taught me so much beyond the classroom as well. I have learned that a siesta in the middle of the day is a necessary thing! I have also learned how to slow down and live a more simplistic lifestyle while enjoying the company around me. But most importantly, I have learned that this experience is something I want to do more. I want to seek out every opportunity possible to immerse myself in another culture and explore those different from mine.
While I have missed the US and cannot wait to eat some Chick-Fil-A, I am going to tell you the reasons I think you should take a month to explore Spain and the rest of Europe! First, learning about the EU was fascinating. Being able to compare the EU to the US and their different structures was my favorite part of the class. I was able to learn about the connections they have with one another and how the EU functions with so many different countries as its members.
Beyond the classroom, I got to see a lot of the things I learned applied. I saw the differences in cultures we had discussed and the ways people interact in Spain versus the US, and why that is the case. I had the opportunity to visit another EU country (France) and see similarities to Spain while also noticing drastic differences. I also had the privilege of visiting Switzerland, an independent country surrounded by all EU countries. It was so cool to see how differently Switzerland operated and to learn more about their culture too. Overall, this trip was an experience of a lifetime! I was able to learn so much, explore many different places I had dreamed of going, and make friendships with those in my class. If you are looking for a study abroad trip, I highly recommend this journey!
