I have always been a person who likes to stay in her comfort zone which is partially why I have never traveled to Europe until this trip. Throwing myself into a new country across the world is a scary experience, but necessary. I found this is one of the best ways to reflect and improve as an individual. 

Cultural differences should be understood before judgement

A cultural difference that stuck out to me was the people selling fake luxury brands on the street. This seemed very normal in Spain even though I had never seen it before. I originally looked down on these people and saw them as distracting from the beautiful cities, but learning about their history offered a different perspective. The majority of them are migrants from Africa who came to Spain hoping for a better life only to find that they can’t get regular jobs without the correct paperwork. This offered a new perspective that even though I may view a cultural element negatively, you can still respect the culture if you take the time to learn.

I need to be more open to new people and experiences

After learning about the migrant street sellers, I understood that I need to be more open to new perspectives especially when abroad. This is a new level of self-awareness that I was able to gain from this trip. I think the best way to learn more about myself is to explore new places. There are so many different people and experiences that I would otherwise never know. For example, visiting La Sagrada Familia opened my mind to the rich history and dedication Spaniards have for creating a beautiful structure. It has been under construction for over a century which was incredible to see. I would have never seen such an inspiring site if it wasn’t for being open to new experiences. 

Cultural curiosity offers new perspectives that will help me grow

I am less fearful to explore new cultures after this experience. Curiosity will allow me to experience new places openly. In my blog 4, I mentioned that “I became impatient” when speakers dragged on, but if I was more understanding I could’ve appreciated their willingness to provide in depth information. Many negative experiences I had would’ve been better if I was genuinely curious and willing to learn from a different culture. This willingness is a lesson I want to take with me from Spain in order to grow into a more globally intelligent person.

When looking back on going out to dinner in Minnesota, my experience was usually a quick meal while having my face in my phone the entire time. Spain had a completely different dinner experience. Meals were longer and more conversation which surprisingly made it so much more fun. I thought I would become impatient at these long dinners, but they unexpectedly became one of the highlights of my trip. This cultural difference left me with a better understanding of the importance of sharing a meal with friends.

The food itself made good conversation at dinner inevitable

The shared meals concept that stems from the tapas culture in Spain made conversation with friends easy. On the other hand, it isn’t very common to share plates in America so it is easy to become stuck in your own world. Everyone taking food from a plate of shared paella is an example of how Spanish food allows for stronger human connections. This dinner structure makes sense since Spain is a collectivist culture that values relationships over individualism. I really appreciated this cultural change because I think it helped me make some great friends on this trip.

Longer dinners allowed for a more relaxed and intimate environment

In America, we would most likely complain if dinner took two hours, but in Spain this is something that is encouraged. I found this concept to be much more enjoyable than expected. There isn’t a strict schedule that you have to follow making the experience much more relaxing. You never see locals looking down at their phones since they truly see dinner as a time to build connections. Servers also don’t check in on you very often which at first seemed very odd to me. I realized that Spanish servers see this as interrupting the customers from important conversations. Erin Meyer explained that Spaniards trust based on personal relationships with others so I understand why these dinners can be so special. I was very surprised that I gained such a large appreciation for this cultural norm.

It is important to me to use aspects of Spanish dinners in the U.S.

I believe I was able to make some of the friendships I did on this trip because of how much we were able to get to know each other at dinner. It helped me understand how little Americans value utilizing situations to build connections. I recall laughing around the dinner table and telling stories while in Spain which doesn’t always happen in America. I have learned that I should be more present and willing to really get to know others. Appreciating the longer dinner culture in Spain was unexpected, but I am very happy I was able to enjoy my time with everyone because of it.

Some of the Spanish site visits did not live up to my expectations. As an American, I believe Erin Meyer’s Culture Map has helped me understand that this is largely due to cultural differences. It’s amazing that companies can work together around the world, but still use greatly different business practices.

Concept-first persuasion techniques lead to boring speeches

I found that some of the speakers were boring because they seemed to ramble on about topics instead of getting to the point. The speeches could easily be given in half the time if done by an American speaker. This can be explained by using Erin Meyer’s persuasion scale. Spain in much more concept-based whereas American’s explain things by giving the applications first. In our site visit to Sphera Global Healthcare, I felt the speech unnecessarily dragged on even though the company was conceptually very interesting. Spaniards appreciate having all the details before the speaker moves on to a conclusion. Americans are the opposite and prefer the conclusion first. I think this is why I enjoyed the Quadpack presentation so much. The main speaker was American and got right to the point. Realizing that this difference is cultural helped me be more understanding of the speaker’s intentions even if I didn’t agree with the approach.

Flexible Spanish timing became frustrating at times

Spaniards are more flexible than the U.S. with time and I observed this in some site visits. I noticed we were always typical Americans showing up to site visits early even though some visits started late. We waited past our start time at HP which to me seemed unprofessional, but it is much more normal there. Some site visits also went over time. I can appreciate Spaniards wanting to answer all questions no matter how long it takes, but I definitely became impatient. This is one of the most common cultural differences noticed when doing business in another country.

Context was sometimes needed but not given by Spanish speakers

Spain falls close to the global median on the communication scale, but it is still much more of a high-context society compared to America. Erin Meyers explained that “the United States is the lowest-context culture in the world” so I was definitely able to notice some differences in Spain. For example, the Recyclia speaker tended to assume we understood aspects of his business which made for a confusing presentation. His explanation of how the recycling program works was very disorganized and did not give all the details needed to understand. A company with so many different segments as shown on their website would’ve had more detailed information if we were in America. It is important to understand that neither of these perspectives on communication are wrong, they are just culturally different.

Els Encants Vells is the largest flea market in Barcelona and has been open since the 14^th century. Even if you don’t want to buy anything, the stunning architecture is enough to make this an important stop on your trip. The 500 vendors sell everything from antiques to mattresses, so you are bound to find something.

The long history of the market

Els Encants Vells dates back to medieval times in the 14^thcentury making it one of the oldest markets in Europe. It maintains many traditional values of second-hand markets such as still offering auctions. It resided at a previous location in Encants for 80 years before moving to its current location. The old market was always very crowded and had no roof overhead making the weather very impactful on sales. 

Els Encants Vells has built a modern structure at a new location

The new location was built in 2013 next to La Placa de les Glories. Although it is unusual to see a multi-level market, this one was built as a 3-story structure. A metal canopy covers the market so that shoppers can enjoy the open environment without having to worry about the weather. The modern structure was designed by Fermin Vazquez. The canopy is mirrored which offers a very interesting visual that I would love to see.

The flea market sells everything you could imagine on a budget

Els Encants Vells is known for carrying second-hand goods, but also has a lot of new products. You can find vintage clothing, jewelry, records, bikes, and pretty much anything else you could imagine. I would be interested in Spanish items that I can bring back as souveniors. Often these items will be displayed in a big pile with sellers yelling for your attention. This can be overwhelming, but I plan on getting away by enjoying a bite to eat at one of the 8 eateries.

The metro line makes this a very easy attraction to visit

You can take the Metro red line 1 to station Glories. Once you arrive, the market is at the intersection of Av. Meridiana and C/Castillejos. There is the Urquinaona metro stop right next to our Barcelona hotel making this an easy commute.The market is open to the public for free.

Els Encants Vells is open several times a week 

The market is openMondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 9am to 8 pm. If you would like to experience the auctions you can visit from 7:15am until 8:30am on Mondays, Wednesdays, or Fridays. It is best to go at the end of the day since this is when you are most likely to get the best deals. 

Watch out for pick pocketers since crowds are common

Over 100,000 people visit Els Encants Vells each week making it a very busy attraction. This means pickpocketing is common, but they have improved security to deter this. Saturdays are the busiest so I would expect more pickpocketing activity.

Codorniu has over 450 years of history making it older than America. This vineyard is world renowned for its meticulous winegrowing practices. It has been headquartered in Catalonia until recently deciding to move to Rioja. This family-owned business created its own industry by being the first to produce cava.

Innovation has been constant for the last 450 years at Codorniu

The business has been perfecting its wine since the beginning. In 1872, Josp Reventos used the traditional method of blending grapes to create Cava. Manuel Reventos launched Codorniu on a larger scale in 1885. Now the cava made at Codorniu is the leading cava in Spain and recently has been working on more sustainable winegrowing practices. 

Codorniu is a family business spanning across the world

The Codorniu family started the business, but it didn’t grow until Anna Codorniu married Miquel Reventos. She inherited the vineyard estate and he was a vinedresser which created the perfect combination. An estimated 500 employeeswork for the Codorniu Reventos Group across all locations. It has 10 wineriesin Spain, California, and Argentina. These wineries span over 3,000 hectares of land.

Cava is a sparkling wine that was created by Codorniu

This land is known for producing exceptional cava. Sparkling wine is very important to Spaniards and is mostly produced in Catalonia. It is similar to champagne, but enjoyed for its cheaper price. Codorniu prides itself on producing good cava by using quality grapes and traditional production methods. 

Codorniu is moving headquarters out of Catalonia due to the instability in the region

Codorniu is one of the many wineries deciding to move out of the Catalan region. The independence movement has created instability in the area that is impacting companies. Codorniu representatives claim they are moving with “the objective of guaranteeing the interests of its workers and clients”which is being challenged by the current political uncertainty. The headquarters will be moving to La Rioja, but other facilities will stay in Catalonia.

The Carlyle group recently acquired a majority stake in Codorniu

In October 2018, The Carlyle Group acquired 68% of shares in the parent company of Codorniu. The Carlyle Group has expertise in global expansion which is Codorniu’s goal for the acquisition. Expansion is an obvious next step for the successful business.

Questions to ask Codorniu representatives

1. How do you make sure the strong family values of Codorniu stay prominent?
2. Are there any new business ventures Codorniu plans on investing in?
3. What cultural adaptations are made when handling business with California and Argentina partners? 
4. How does Codorniu’s cava production differ from others?
5. What sustainable winegrowing practices are being implemented?

Imagine having seven political candidates to choose from instead of two as we do in the U.S. presidential election. It may sound nice to have more options, but it is not that simple. According to a recent survey, four-in-ten voters are still unsure who they will vote for on the April 28th election. Political agendas and the upcoming Easter weekend are making decisions difficult. In this post, I will introduce the main political candidates and how the outcome will affect Spain. 

Political agendas are trying to divide voters in the upcoming election

The current prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, has announced that he will allow a five-way debate instead of the usually four-candidate debate. This will include the controversial, right-wing Vox party. Socialist Sanchez has made this decision to support his political agenda of dividing the right-wing votes. He hopes having three right-wing contenders in the debate will mobilize left-wing citizens to vote in fear of the socialist party losing. Unfortunately, this is causing many citizens to be confused since so many candidates are trying to promote their platforms. The photo below shows the large divide the election is projected to have with so many party options. I believe this ambiguity shows how fractured Spain’s government is.

The incumbent socialist party is the projected election winner

The current socialist prime minister, Pedro Sanchez is projected winner with around 30% of the votes as shown in the above image. However, it is unlikely this win will give Sanchez, shown below, the majority seats. The socialist party is focused on rebuilding relationships with the separatist parties in Catalonia as well as initiating a social-spending budget to help Spanish citizens reach equality. 

Even with a left-wing victory, the right-wing Vox party will reach significant milestones

The Vox party is a platform founded six years ago by unhappy members of the People’s Party. Expelling illegal immigrants and repealing gender equality laws are just a couple of the actions this severely right-winged party wants to take. They surprised the public by gaining twelve seats in last year’s election and this year they may receive as much as 12% of the votes. The rise in popularity of the Vox party shows that some citizens are hoping for a radical change in their leadership. 

The election could negatively impact Spanish business

The discourse in the upcoming election could negatively affect businesses. Erin Meyer’s, The Culture Map, refers to Spain’s affective-based trust which means Spaniards trust based on emotion closeness. Citizens are not able to make a personal connection with the wide range of candidates which is leaving them wary of the government. Uncertainty in elections can lead to uncertainty in the economy which doesn’t allow businesses to prosper. As a culture that avoids the unknown, this may cause Spaniards to avoid investing during this political climate. Either way, this impacts my initial impressions of Spain. As a future business professional, I would be wary of partnering with Spaniards since their political structure is so weak. The election will be over when we visit, so we should look out for possible protests that may arise. Overall, Spain’s divided votes show that Spaniards have different ideas of how their country should run and are actively seeking a change.