What a trip it’s been! I can’t believe that five weeks have already gone by. Barcelona and Spain as a whole has given me such an amazing look at another unique perspective of European culture, and I’ve been able to experience life abroad in a way that will truly shape the rest of my life. Everything was such a culture shock at first, from the way people dressed or ate, but particularly the way I saw Spanish culture in Business. It was easy to see Barcelona through an academic lens because we immediately jumped into classes that taught us all about International Business or European Economics. This transition helped me recognize all the little details about businesses in Barcelona that are different from our normal Texan atmosphere. First of all, the pace of European restaurants is so much different than back home. People spend hours having a leisurely lunch in small local appetizer bars and it’s not customary to tip any of the wait staff. There’s definitely no rushing out the door for coffee or hurrying the waiter to bring you the check. Additionally, it became quickly apparent that most stores or bars took a “break” for a few hours in the afternoon, with a lull in the business life of the city from around 2-3pm. Trying to look bigger picture at some of our company visits such as Moritz Beer Company, Freixenet, or The Barcelona Port, I personally found a stronger commitment to promoting the history and sustainability of the brand/company than in most American companies I could name off the top of my head. Looking back at the smaller differences, I found it most interesting to see how Barcelona has small grocery stores called “Super mercats” everywhere that are almost fully stocked with everything from bread to beer. There aren’t as many gas stations around either and a decent amount of the coffee shop owners can communicate your order in English. Overall, I felt that my business mindset that came with our classes abroad was such a cool factor in letting me find more unique aspects of Spanish culture in Barcelona! Texas A&M you did it again! My education is becoming sub-conscious and I couldn’t be more greatful.
Center for International Business Studies Blog