I attended the AACSB Dean’s Conference in Barcelona in mid-February, met with our study abroad providers, and even got to have dinner with the Susquehanna students studying abroad while over there. I like to explore the economic conditions of different places I visit, and Barcelona/Spain was no exception.
(Me at Sagrada Familia)
Here are three impressions of Barcelona:
Prices are Reasonable
Barcelona is a major European city and it’s a gorgeous place to visit. Because of that, I was a bit surprised at how reasonably priced it was. Many cafes would sell you a coffee or beer for 2 Euros or less, fantastic meals could be inexpensive as well, and other entertainment was also reasonably priced.
For example, I was able to secure a great seat to FCD Espanyol, the professional soccer team, for 20 Euros. Here is a video link to a short I did with clips from the game.
The tipping culture is different in Spain than the USA
For those who travel internationally a lot, you might know that the tipping culture in the USA is different - and some say is getting out of control. It is not that way in Spain. Tips aren’t expected for many things where they are expected here, like ordering food at a counter or from a bartender. Typical restaurant tips are closer to 10% - far lower than the 15-20%+ seen in the USA, and if you leave a tip for a taxi driver, the right amount is usually just to round up to the next Euro or perhaps a Euro or two.
The Work Culture and Siestas
During my conference, they literally worked in a siesta (nap) time into the program. Traditionally, Spaniards have worked a workweek that’s as long as the typical US workweek of 40 hours, but the organization of it is different. It might start at 9:00 AM and go to 7:30 but with a two and a half hour break for a long lunch or siesta. Here is a video link to a YouTube short with my observations on Siestas.
Overall, it was a great conference and was fun to learn a bit about the economy. Naturally, there is a LOT more we could point to on differences - incomes, unemployment rates, etc. - but those aren’t always as obvious for those visiting for a week.