Author: Ben Walworth                        Major: Marketing

Coca de Escalivada – a traditional Catalan bread and vegetable appetizer/tapa

In spring 2021 I took the Honors Signature Seminar course: Global Social Change, taught by Dr. Laurence Hare, Dr. Jared Phillips, and Dr. Rogelio Garcia Contreras. This course had three primary sections: global integration, food security, and social innovation. I was challenged to think critically about the complexities of issues in both local and global contexts, which led to me realizing my true interest in civil society work.

This Honors Signature Seminar prompted me to apply for and participate in the May Intersession Virtual Global Changemakers Barcelona program, led by Dr. Hare and Dr. Contreras. This experience helped fill a requirement for my global studies minor. I was eager to examine nonprofit organizations and social businesses within Catalonia, as well as to learn more about the region’s history and culture.

At first, I was somewhat skeptical about participating in a Virtual Study Abroad program. I was unsure how I would be able to immerse myself and learn about another culture, simply through a zoom call from my house in Branson, Missouri. To my surprise, through this nontraditional study abroad format, I was able to absorb even more of the historical and cultural intricacies than I might have if the experience was in person. Because I was not able to truly see and experience the sites of the city, I was able to focus more on having meaningful dialogue with our tour guide, representatives from various social businesses and nonprofit organizations within Catalonia, and graduate students at the Abat Oliba CEU University in Barcelona.

Another benefit of the virtual study abroad program was the ability to have articles to read each night that familiarized us and prepared us for our cultural tours the next day. We were able to take what we had learned through our readings and ask our guide more detailed and nuanced questions regarding topics such as art nouveau architecture in Barcelona, the role of the Catalan language in social cohesion, and the relation of art to nationalism and political differences within the region. By having some sense of limited familiarity with the topics, we were able to appreciate and retain more of what we encountered through our tours. Additionally, we were able to have discussions about the readings prior to meeting with our partners in Barcelona to bring up any specific areas of inquiry we wanted to learn more about or other questions we had. This also helped me grow my intercultural competence and communication skills since we were constantly meeting with individuals based in the Catalonia region.

Additionally, through reading responses and journal entries, I was able to reflect on my learning throughout the experience. The course culminated in a team project where we crafted a 25-page report that evaluated and analyzed one of the nonprofit organizations in Catalonia that we had the opportunity to meet with during the program.

The most impactful concept I learned in this experience was the importance and power of rhetoric and communication framing techniques between cultures as well as languages. Many of the social businesses we met with had a mission of labor force integration, providing jobs to those who were at risk of social exclusion. In the United States, we usually refer to these individuals as having a disability. This stark difference in labeling reveals several cultural and ideological differences. The phrase “at risk of social exclusion” helps promote the notion that it is society’s responsibility to aid these individuals and work to integrate them in their own unique
way, rather than cast them away. It creates a greater sense of commitment to provide these individuals with meaningful work so they are able to make a sustainable living.

Another key difference in terminology that came up several times was solidarity versus charity. In Catalonia, there is a great emphasis on unity and working with one another to help each other, promoting solidarity and common aid. This is perceived much more positively than charity, which has a rather negative connotation. In the United States, the sense of solidarity is not nearly as prevalent. In my opinion, this is a great opportunity for a meaningful cultural exchange. We need to work on changing the narrative associated with civil society organizations, promoting more partnerships and cooperation rather than competition, in order to increase this sense of solidarity and unification.

Even though this experience was heavily focused on academics and practical experiences, we were also able to participate in fun cultural programs such as a flamenco lesson, learning some basic Catalan, and even a cooking class where we made Coca de Escalivada—a traditional Catalan bread and vegetable appetizer/tapa—from the comfort of our own kitchen.

Despite my initial reservations about the virtual setting, I am extremely grateful I was able to participate in this study abroad program. The format of the program also will help me have a higher impact experience when I (hopefully) travel to Barcelona in the future, for I will already have a beginning knowledge of certain aspects of the city’s history, culture, and notable sites. I highly recommend this program—and other virtual study abroad experiences—especially to college freshman and sophomores, for they allow a study abroad experience at a reduced cost, that will allow for a more tailored and specific future endeavor.