Author: Spencer Burmingham | Major: Marketing | Semester: Summer 2024

Seeing the artistic world of Spain

I studied abroad in Barcelona Spain this summer with a group of diverse students from the University of Arkansas. We visited several other cities in our time there like Valencia, Girona, and the Ebro Delta. I had studied abroad previously in Seville Spain for the Spring semester of 2023 and fell in love with the country’s culture, gastronomy, and architecture. When I saw an opportunity to return and learn from a business and historic perspective in the country I loved, I simply had to take it.

The real spark of interest for me on this journey was the study we did with Social Businesses. You may be wondering what a “Social Business” is. It is any organization, both for profit and non-profit, that has the aim of improving society. This can be done through improving the environment, educating low-income students, providing affordable housing, and so many other options. We were there to both learn these methods and offer what insights we could from our diverse backgrounds of study. I love social businesses and have a passion both for the unfortunate in this world and the environment, thus, this seemed like the perfect fit for me.

We worked with many different businesses (sometimes 3 in one day). One that jumps out to me is an organization called Oryzite. This company uses rice shell by-product from the largest rice company in Spain to create a substitute for plastics which are more sustainable, cheaper, and (in some cases) better than normal petroleum products. This idea of not taking to make something new, but using what is already being done with rice to do more fascinated me and I would love to see this idea brought to the United States.

An architectural moment that comes to mind is La Sagrada Familia, or The Holy Family. This church which was designed by Gaudi over 100 years ago is still being worked on today. It is a monument to his style and shows changes which reflect the growth of his career. The building almost shouts the biblical story of falling from grace, the coming of Christ, his betrayal, and finally, his death. The doors seem to invite you in, the colorful stained glass catches the eye as it shifts, never the same shape or color at any given hour of the day. This monument was eye opening to me in a way that has changed my life forever. I cannot overemphasize its impact on my appreciation for architecture and Spanish culture.

This study abroad experience was largely boots on the ground in the sense that we did real work, and then wrote about that work. Lectures were non-existent, unless we were listening to professionals explain their fervor for their industry. This differed dramatically from lecture halls and labs I have done commonly at the University of Arkansas. On top of this, the Country is so full of amazing history that many businesses operated within a stone’s throw of some historic landmark which we could visit after meeting the company. The entire trip was right up my alley as far as the way courses were conducted, though sometimes exhaustion could make it difficult to pay attention.

I believe that the most surprising thing about my experiences abroad was discovering how little I knew about Spanish history. I had no idea how impactful the regime of Franco was. I didn’t realize famous artists like Salvador Dali, Gaudi, or Picasso, had all grown up in the days of the revolution against the dictatorship and that their art was so controversial at the time. The social problems, history, and rich culture of the area were something I didn’t even know that I didn’t understand. Discovering them and learning them was a joy.

I think the most valuable lesson I learned was to be totally open to experience, whether or not you’re used to it. Things like attending a Catholic Church were new to me but some of the most invigorating experiences I had while in Barcelona. Be ok with being unsure and embrace the fact that you’re ignorant so that you can learn from the natives and experts around you.

I think that the entire trip is a time to enjoy every moment. Explore. Do not remain in the hotel or sleep through your days because you can. Pursue the moment, research art, cuisines, stores, and other things you may enjoy around you. Do not let the once in a lifetime experience of living abroad slip you by.