This has been one of the best months of my life and I am so sad to say that it is over. I am so grateful that I was able to travel to Barcelona and have this experience!
Throughout my time in Barcelona, I have learned so much about the city, culture, business, and more. Prior to this trip, I did not have a deep understanding of the European Union or international business however, Dr. Panina and Professor Maria have done a great job at teaching me everything I need to know. Overall, these classes required a lot of time and dedication but were doable. Every day, we had classes from 9am to 2pm so afterward we were able to explore the city or take a siesta.
As for the culture, there are numerous things I did not know prior to coming?the first one being the fact that people in Spain do not take work seriously. In fact, businesses will often close for a few hours to take a break or close early because of the heat/weather. Another thing I saw was that most people speak at least two languages that they were taught in school. This was shocking for me because I have taken four years of Spanish and am nowhere close to being fluent. A third thing that I learned was their A.C. and washing machines are very different from the U.S.’s machinery. For instance, the A.C. might be one but that does not mean that it is cool and their dryers heat the clothes so they are warm and damp when the cycle is over.
Overall, this was completely different than everything that I have ever done before. I have made good friendships, formed memories I will cherish forever, and have learned so much. It has made me want to travel more and even consider doing international business.
