This trip has truly been the best month of my life and I have learned so much about myself, Spain?s culture, and international business. Our professors did such a great job of explaining such complex and broad subjects over the course of a few weeks. It was fascinating to learn about the formation of the European Union, the economic conditions of these countries, and how they interact with each other. From the company visits and what we learned in the classroom, it was interesting to see how much American values differ from those in Europe. During the last few days of school, we learned that one of the main reasons Europe has a lower GDP growth rate than the United States is because they prefer a longer holiday (more vacation days). In the United States, we are definitely more money-driven and tend to focus less on the laid-back lifestyle which is very prominent in Spain.
This experience has made me more independent and I definitely caught on to the laid-back lifestyle. I am so used to having every detail of every day planned but in Spain, it was a new adventure each and every day. I said yes to everything I could and let the day take me. Because of this, I was able to make some amazing memories. Their lifestyle also taught me to do what makes me happy and keep life simple. It is so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of internships, school, life after college, etc, but I learned that what is most important is your happiness at the end of the day. The month I spent abroad broadened my outlook and I discovered a passion for traveling and exploring different cultures. I am already looking forward to the next time I can return to Europe and possibly explore master’s programs abroad.
