The first day in Barcelona was a whirlwind of activities. We arrived this morning at 8 AM and started adventuring immediately. We checked into our apartment then ate at Fabrica Moritz. The food was traditional Catalan and it was amazing! Then we all took a siesta and met back up at 5 PM for a scavenger hunt in downtown Barcelona. After that, we all finished the night by eating another traditional, Catalan meal at La Cuina de Laietana via Laietana. I had seafood paella, which is a kind of Spanish rice plate. Although I didn’t love it, I was glad I tried a traditional dish that was new to me. The entire purpose of studying abroad is to experience new cultures and appreciate them. This belief is the driving force behind everything I experience on this trip and I have this mindset no matter what I’m doing.
On the second day, we had our first day of class at the OneCo work building. Professor Pace is teaching us MGMT 457, which is Global Entrepreneurship. First, we had an orientation and discussed some rules and regulations for a class abroad. Then, we began to dive into the differences we noticed between the US and Spain. We discussed collectivism vs individualism and discovered what systems thinking is truly about. The discussion we had in class was important in understanding not only the surface level differences but the way we as a people process ideas as well. For example, Spain is more motherly as a culture, with more emphasis on taking care of one another, and high quality of life. The United States on the other hand is more competitive and focused on material success. Either way, my favorite part of the day was that OneCo offered free coffee and had an espresso machine.
On the third day, we visited Park Guell. This cultural site features architecture from Antoni Gaudi. His use of natural forms shaped into covered walkways, galleries, and archways beautifully camouflage the artificial structures into the surrounding Mediterranean hillside. We saw his house, which he lived in for about 20 years. The patterns on his house are actually carved into the wall, which is a moderniste art style. The view of Park Guell overlooks all of Barcelona. We had a great time learning about all of the history and culture this park showcases. After that, we finished the day with a late lunch.
The Spain Entrepreneurship program has already fulfilled my expectations and provided me with so much academic enrichment. I can’t wait to see what else I will discover next week.
Adios,
Erika Reinartz