Nothing compares to studying abroad in a foreign country. Everyone always talks about the experiences and knowledge you gain while being abroad. What people often forget to discuss is the actual “school” portion. After taking classes in Spain for a few months, I can say the knowledge I am gaining from my professors and classmates is truly amazing.
It seems like a lot of students study abroad to take elective credits, which is totally okay, but one thing I am loving about my abroad experience is that I am taking three classes that go towards my majors, finance and marketing. The three classes are international finance, sports marketing, and international marketing. One fun thing I noticed is that all three of these classes are offered at my home university, Iowa State. I could have easily stayed in Ames, Iowa this semester and taken the same classes, but I guarantee I would not have learned as much as I am learning here in Barcelona from my CEA professors. This is not because the classes themselves are different, but instead, the fact that I am learning from another perspective is where the extra knowledge is gained.
My sports marketing class is one of my favorites because my professor, Aarthi Rajaraman, has spent the majority of her career actually working in the sports marketing industry. I am confident that I am receiving real industry knowledge and advice from her because of her real life experiences. Aarthi is from San Francisco, but moved to Barcelona several years ago. A part of her career path that sticks out to me is she currently works for 60 Minutes. Clearly, she is a very accomplished woman and I look up to her for her drive and dedication to her career.
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| This was my view on my way home when I walked up the stairs from the metro. The Sagrada Família will always take my breath away. |
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| I took a day trip to Montserrat with my family and hiked around the mountains. |
It seems like a lot of students study abroad to take elective credits, which is totally okay, but one thing I am loving about my abroad experience is that I am taking three classes that go towards my majors, finance and marketing. The three classes are international finance, sports marketing, and international marketing. One fun thing I noticed is that all three of these classes are offered at my home university, Iowa State. I could have easily stayed in Ames, Iowa this semester and taken the same classes, but I guarantee I would not have learned as much as I am learning here in Barcelona from my CEA professors. This is not because the classes themselves are different, but instead, the fact that I am learning from another perspective is where the extra knowledge is gained.
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| This is another one of Gaudí's famous works, the Casa Batlló. |
My sports marketing class is one of my favorites because my professor, Aarthi Rajaraman, has spent the majority of her career actually working in the sports marketing industry. I am confident that I am receiving real industry knowledge and advice from her because of her real life experiences. Aarthi is from San Francisco, but moved to Barcelona several years ago. A part of her career path that sticks out to me is she currently works for 60 Minutes. Clearly, she is a very accomplished woman and I look up to her for her drive and dedication to her career.
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| This is a picture I took of my parents while they were visiting me in Barcelona. |
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| While my family was here, I took them to all the fun and beautiful places in Barcelona- one of them being Park Guell. |
I believe the benefits of studying abroad will follow me even when I go back to the United States and graduate college. I hope to work in the real estate industry post graduation and being able to talk about my foreign country experience in job interviews, specifically learning finance abroad, will be a huge asset and set me apart from my peers. The education at CEA in Barcelona is invaluable, and I can’t wait to apply what I have learned here when I go home.
Julia D. is the Spring 2018 MOJO Blogger in Barcelona, Spain. She is currently a Junior studying Marketing & Finance at Iowa State University.