I learned so much while on my study abroad in Spain. I took two classes, international business and economics of the EU. Both of these classes taught me that doing business abroad, like in the EU, is very different compared to business in the United States. In my economics class, we learned about how once the EU was formed, trade barriers were reduced if not completely eliminated in member countries. The introduction of the Euro also aided in advancing European business and trade because it made for easier transportation of both labor and goods within the EU countries. Our professor made a lot of comparisons between EU countries and the US, Canada, and Mexico. She especially noted how EU countries are more likely to help each other with economic stability since they are tied when compared to the US helping Mexico, which she noted we do not help out as much due to political tension. This is just one example of how politics can affect economic decisions. We also discussed how specialization varies in different areas due to trade difficulties. For instance, it is easier for EU member countries to import and export within the EU than it is for the US to import and export with other countries because we have more trade barriers. In my international business class, we made several trips to local Spanish companies and were able to learn about how they conduct their businesses. It was interesting to see that a lot of the companies we visited started as small family businesses and grew to a much bigger scale due to proper management. The company visits were definitely a favorite part of the trip as they really allowed for some hands-on learning. Overall, I learned a lot about business abroad, and personally, I learned that I love to travel and will definitely want a job that will help me accomplish my new goal of seeing more of the world!
