Final Reflection

During my time in Spain, I was fortunate enough to visit a lot of very cool places around the country. I was able to make meaningful connections to what we learned in class. I was able to take two different classes while on this wonderful trip, a history class and a sports business class. While there are not many connections between the two, it was interesting to be able to see two different sides of Spain. I really enjoyed the entire trip and would love to come back to Madrid again if I get the opportunity. Living abroad has always been a bucket list item for me, so I am very grateful for this opportunity and the time spent.

In the history class, Spain Past and Present, we spent time learning about the entire history of Spain as well as the current political climate. Through site visits and lectures, I was able to connect what I was learning in the classroom with real-world examples. My favorite visit that I took was to the Royal Collections of Madrid. This museum holds the valuables of the Royal family, spanning from the Habsburgs to the Bourbons. This allowed me to see the change in Royal life throughout time. I also got the chance to visit different regional cities throughout Spain. I visited Toledo, which was very interesting because it exemplified the religious history of the country, with the shifts in power between the Romans, Muslims, and Catholics, as learned in class. 

In my sports class, I learned about the business of sports in general, but also with an emphasis on European sports. We learned sports history and studied different cases of teams and clubs, and what has happened to sports in Europe. I enjoyed this class because I am studying Sport Management, so this connected to my studies. The ideas and experiences shared in this class will last with me moving through my academic and professional careers. This class also included site visits, my favorite of the entire trip being the Spanish Golf Federation National Center. This facility is the hub for golf in Spain. My goal for my career is to work in the golf industry, so being able to gain knowledge about the industry at an international level will give me more insight into how things operate as my career begins.  

My cultural experience of Spain is one that I will never forget. The culture in Spain is very different from that in the US. Overall, I learned that Spain moves a little bit slower and everything lasts much later in the day. The Spanish culture is very easy-going and slow-paced, which is not something that I am typically used to. I enjoyed the leisurely vibe of Spain with the “go with the flow” attitude. One of my favorite experiences from the trip was learning how to cook traditional Spanish foods. I learned how to make paella and tortilla, which I plan on bringing back to the US to share with my family and friends. 

This trip has been an experience that I will never forget. History, sports, and food are three of my favorite things, and this experience encompassed them. Something that I have always valued is being able to have meaningful and intellectual conversations about history and politics, and I feel that the class and experiences have provided me with that new opportunity. I am excited to share my experiences with my friends and family, and hope to one day come back to Spain.