The experience of studying abroad is something that I am very grateful for and will never forget. It’s easy to see why the Carlson School values this experience after learning for myself what it’s like to do business cross-culturally. This was made clear through the class site visits and by everyday experiences that I had while I was in Spain.

Not All Stereotypes are True

After my experience talking with business people in Spain, it became clear to me that not everything we learn about in class is true. A great majority of the things we learned were extremely accurate, but one that wasn’t and really stood out to me was that siestas aren’t as common as Americans believe. I spoke with people at HP and Abertis in Barcelona and all of the people shared that they don’t take siestas. They talked about how it is a Spanish stereotype similar to how Americans wear cowboy hats. I was able to practice the Global Intelligence quality of cultural curiosity by having these conversations. I find it interesting to learn about the false stereotypes given to others and it was even more interesting to hear about the stereotypes given to Americans.

Cultural Differences can be Small but Feel Significant

There were many everyday moments during my time in Spain that I was able to practice many of the Global Intelligence qualities. The one that was most evident during my trip was self-awareness. Americans often travel abroad and make little to no effort to understand the culture that they are visiting. But this is my favorite part of traveling. I love learning parts of a new language and practicing the customs of a new culture. I didn’t know any Spanish before this trip, and I was very eager to learn all that I could.

Another quality that was evident was worldview. One easy example of this is the custom regarding the escalator in Europe. I will never forget the first time I was yelled at for standing on the left side of the escalator but not walking up it. Another example is accommodating the way to pay the bill at a restaurant. Unlike the USA, many restaurants won’t split the bill. Learning about these customs that differ from my own is an amazing way to experience the world around me in a new way. Even small differences such as these cause me to stop and think about how we see the world differently. And while it might be different, it just takes a little willingness to learn about a new culture.

I did lots of research before I left for Spain. I knew what tourist sites I wanted to visit and what cities I wanted to take day trips to. I bought train tickets ahead of time and researched how much various excursions would cost. But the one thing I did not research was the kinds of food I wanted to eat and where I could eat them.

Researching Restaurants will be Worth Your Time

The one biggest piece of advice that I wish I had been given going into this trip is that you should research restaurants before you go. I thought I would arrive in Spain and it would be obvious what restaurants were good. I thought there would be a lot of options close to our hotel. But this is not always the case. I wasted a lot of my time walking around and looking for a decent place to eat that was at my desired price point. The best advice I can give to future students is to do even just a little bit of research about restaurants before you go. Decide how much money you are willing to spend on a meal and then look up the areas around your hotel and the CIEE buildings so that you have a few options you are comfortable with when you arrive.

Get to Know the Specialties of the Area

I also recommend doing some research on what foods you are interested in eating. I knew that I wanted to try tapas, but I had no idea just how many different types of tapas existed. I should have looked deeper into what the specialties of each city and restaurant were. This could have saved a lot of time and effort trying to communicate with a server that usually did not speak much English. After going to Spain and tasting some of the specialties, I highly recommend ordering patatas bravas and tinto de verano whenever possible. These are two menu items that never seem to disappoint.

Restaurants with Good Food and Better Views

With this information, I have some recommendations for places to eat in both Madrid and Barcelona. One of my favorite meals I ate in Spain was at a tapas restaurant in Madrid called Morao. It had an extensive offering of unique tapas that made me feel like I was really eating Spanish food. I highly recommend ordering patatas bravas as this was my favorite place for this particular dish. Another one of my favorite meals I ate was a at a restaurant on the beach in Barcelona called El Pacifico. Not only did it have amazing food, but also a beautiful view of the water and plenty of outdoor seating.

I am very thankful for the amount of information we were given about Spain’s culture before we left the country. There were things that I never would have thought about regarding their business culture without learning about it in class. It was an amazing experience to witness first hand many of these practices that we learned about them class.

Relationships Mean Everything in Spain

One thing that I noticed many times was the importance of building relationships in Spanish culture, especially in the work place. During our tour of the Gothic Quarter in Barcelona, Tony the tour guide talked about how important it is to network. He said that it didn’t really matter what your skills are as long as you know the right people. This point illustrated Erin Meyer’s cultural dimension of trusting. Spain is very high on the trusting scale, which means that they must form a personal relationship with someone before they fully trust them in the work place

Experiencing Spain Time can be Frustrating

Another thing I noticed was Spain’s approach to time, which is very different from the way Americans view time. It was clear after the first few site visits that our speakers didn’t mind going beyond our scheduled time to answer all of our questions. It was easy to tell that they were excited that we were interested in what they had to say, so they didn’t mind spending extra time with us. This experience clearly showed what Erin Meyer meant when she placed Spain high on the scheduling scale. Spanish people see time as flexible and don’t mind making changes as they go. While I really enjoyed our speakers, there were times that I felt frustrated by this cultural difference. I see time how a typical American sees it, which is linear. We should make a schedule and stick to it. Experiencing time how the Spanish see it was a way for me to get out of my comfort zone and begin to understand Spain’s culture in a new way.

Direct Negative Feedback is Scary but Effective

One final cultural dimension that I noticed was Erin Meyer’s evaluating scale. According to this scale, Spanish people prefer giving more direct feedback than compared to Americans. This was evident during our site visit to Tetuan Valley. During our activity to map a start-up, Sergio was not afraid to tell us when we were wrong. He would look right at us and say, “this is bad information, do it again.” While it was not my natural way to receive feedback, it was effective and made our final product a lot better. I don’t know if I would ever be comfortable giving feedback in this style, but I see the positive side of this practice.

Montjuïc Castle is a defensive castle located in Barcelona, Spain. The castle is known for its panoramic views of Barcelona and the surrounding landscape. It also has a beautiful garden growing in what was once the moat surrounding the castle. I am most excited to visit Montjuïc Castle because of the extensive view it offers. I am also excited to learn more about the history of this city.

Montjuïc Castle Has Played Many Roles in History

The castle is located at the peak of Montjuïc Mountain. It boasts 360 degree views of Barcelona and the surrounding area, which creates a perfect position for a defensive castle. The original structure was built in 1640 during the Reapers’ War, which is commonly referred to as the Revolt of Catalonia. The castle has endured many renovations over time mostly due to damage done during times of war.

Montjuïc Castle has had many roles in history. It has served to protect Barcelona from attacks, and it has also been the one attacking the city. It served as a prison in its later years and then became a military museum under the Franco regime. Montjuïc Castle is now owned by the Barcelona City Council and is open for tourists to visit.

Montjuïc is Easily Accessible by Public Transportation

The easiest way to get from our hotel to Montjuïc Castle is to take public transportation. You will first need to walk about three minutes to the metro stop called Urquinaona. You will take the L1 train going towards Hospital de Bellvitge for five stops, which takes about seven minutes. You will get off at the stop called Pl. Espanya – Centre Comercial Las Arenas and transfer to the 150 bus towards Castell de Montjuïc. You will ride for thirteen stops, which takes about twenty-one minutes, and then get off at the stop called Castell. The castle is a short two minute was from this bus stop.

Student Tickets are Available and Affordable

The castle is open Monday-Sunday from 10AM-8PM. The last tickets of the day are sold at 7:30PM. I recommend that you buy your tickets online before you go in order to skip the line and make sure there are tickets available. A student ticket (ages 16-29) costs 3€. A student ticket that includes a guided tour in English costs 7€. You can buy your tickets online here. There is also free admission on Sundays after 3PM and all day on the first Sunday of the month. Unfortunately, online tickets are already sold out for the first Sunday in June.

The Sagrada Família is a basilica located in Barcelona, Spain. It is officially a Roman Catholic church and holds mass every Sunday. The architect, Antoni Gaudí, began work on this masterpiece over 135 years ago. It is expected to be completed completed in 2026.

The Sagrada Família has Experienced Many Delays in Construction

Construction began on the Sagrada Família on March 19, 1882. The original architect was a man named Francisco de Paula del Villar y Lozano, but he stepped down from the position shortly after construction began due to differences of opinion with the developers. He was quickly replaced by Antoni Gaudí. He began constructing the original design plan, but he ultimately rejected the original design in favor of his own innovative design.

Antoni Gaudí would not live to see his glorious basilica finished. He passed away on June 10, 1926 and was buried in the crypt of the unfinished Sagrada Família. Despite his death, construction never stopped.

Sometime between 1936 and 1939, some of the buildings near the Sagrada Família were set on fire. This included the workshop that housed the original plans, drawings, and photographs of the basilica. Despite this setback, construction continued. Although the original plans were lost, Gaudí’s innovative design has been respected by all who have worked on the basilica.

The Sagrada Família is currently 70% completed. It is said that the basilica will finally be completed in 2026, which will be 100 years after Gaudí’s death.

Funding for the Sagrada Família Comes from Donations and Ticket Sales

The Junta Constructora del Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família is a non-profit foundation that funds the continued construction and restoration of the Sagrada Família. The church has always been funded by private funds and donations. In more recent times, funding has come from the profits made from tickets sold to visit the church.

The price of your ticket depends on how large your group is and what type of ticket you would like to purchase. Individual tickets range from 17€ to 32€. More expensive tickets offer extra features such as audioguides, guided tours, and exclusive access to the towers. Tickets for groups are slightly less expensive and offer a similar range of options for extra features.

Questions for the Sagrada Família Site Visit

• What is it like to attend mass at the Sagrada Família as a member of the Catholic faith?
• How does the experience of attending mass here differ if you are not a member of the Catholic faith?
• How would the culture in Barcelona change if the Sagrada Família did not exist?
• How has the untraditional architecture of the Sagrada Família affected how members of the Catholic church view the basilica?
• What are the chances that the church is actually finished by 2026?

Nearly 500 years after Spanish conquistadors landed in Mexico and conquered the indigenous people, Mexico’s president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, calls for an apology from Spain. Mr. López Obrador has personally written to King Felipe VI of Spain and Pope Francis and urged them to ask forgiveness of the crimes that had been committed against the indigenous people of Mexico. The request has been responded to negatively by the people of Spain.

Political Left and Right Respond Negatively

The conservative People’s party in Spain has responded to the call to action saying that this request is “a real affront to Spain and its history.” The leader of this party, Pablo Casado, claims that Spain should celebrate its role in Mexico’s history the way that other great nations celebrate their role in the discovery of other people.

The socialist response was less aggressive than the conservative party. They described the request as “weird to receive now this request for an apology for events that occurred 500 years ago.” Another politically left party, the Podemos Party, announced that Mexico had every right to ask for an apology.

Spain Officially Refuses to Apologize

The Spanish government responded to the request shortly after President López Obrador of Mexico shared his letters with the world and made the request public. Spain responded by rejecting the request emphatically and saying that “there is a great store of affection” between the people of Spain and Mexico. The response claimed that the people of these two countries think of their shared past without anger and instead choose to think of it in a constructive way.

Spain and Mexico are on Opposite Sides of the Disagreeing Scale

The disagreeing scale measures how you view confrontation and whether you see it as a way to improve group dynamics or as a way to harm relationships within the team. Spain is found on the confrontational side of the scale, which means that they are not afraid of confrontation and even choose to embrace it. This is no surprised based on the vocal response that Spain has given to the request from Mexico. Mexico is found closer to the middle but leaning towards the side of the scale that avoids confrontation. It is surprising that Mexico would confront Spain with the request for an apology because of their position on this scale. I am interested to see how this will impact the relationship between these two countries.