My study abroad in Barcelona, Spain was one for the books, to say the least. From cultural excursions to day trips to getting to partner with local entrepreneurs, this trip has allowed me to gain valuable life skills and business experiences that I will be able to use way beyond my time here. One of the most influential parts of my time here has to be my group?s partnership with a local restaurant, Aitor Restaurant, for our consulting project. Aitor Restaurant is owned by Nadia and Karam Guerfi, and they have served authentic cuisine from the Basque, Catalan, and Spanish regions at their restaurant near La Sagrada Familia for 3 years. For our project, we had the opportunity to create a problem statement and come up with innovative solutions for our entrepreneur to implement. In our case, Nadia?s main concern that she brought to us was navigating how to advertise their low-priced and culturally-diverse food to both locals and tourists, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the course of a couple weeks, we created multiple deliverables for Aitor, including the creation of an Instagram for the business, a website redesign, TripAdvisor recommendations, and outdoor signage designs. At the end of the trip, we had the chance to present our research findings and recommendations to Nadia and the rest of the class.
This experience has taught me imperative business skills that I can use both inside and outside the classroom. Prior to this trip, I did not have any experience with consulting of any kind, so this opportunity to brush up on my problem-solving skills was very beneficial to me. I?m very used to courses consisting mainly of tests or essays over topics that I learn about in detail, so having a class that relied on my ability to think outside the box and come up with creative solutions was a real (although appreciated) challenge for me. In the professional world, I would assume that these consulting-esque projects are common, so the ability to think critically and come up with innovative solutions to existing problems will be useful.
Overall, this trip was the experience of a lifetime, and I wouldn?t trade my time here for the world. While living in a foreign country, even for only a month, can seem daunting, I encourage all those who are able to embark on a study abroad experience. It can (and likely will) change your life. ?Hasta luego, Barcelona!