Submitted: 4/17/2007 3:42:55 PM

• I was so nervous to study abroad for the first time. Not only had I never lived in another country, but I had never even been to another country before! The new three week International Business integral completion program in France and Spain was perfect for what I wanted in a study abroad experience. It was long enough to absorb the culture and knowledge, but short enough that I didn't have to make many major life changes at home, like move out of my apartment or quit my job.

The first part of the program was spent in Toulouse, France, where we lived with host families, went on company visits, and attended ESC Toulouse, the Toulouse Business School. In the homes of our host families we had dinner together at least twice a week, learning traditions and cultural viewpoints we would not have been exposed to in any other setting. The families were so welcoming and eager to learn about us, and also eager to teach us about themselves. We were given the opportunity to meet students who were attending ESC Toulouse, and we even spent some time volunteering together in a local food bank. As a group, we went on several interesting company visits, including Airbus, Freescale, and the Roquefort cheese caves.

After two weeks, we took a train ride along the beautiful Mediterranean coast to Barcelona, where we spent our final week. Our hotel was located on Las Ramblas, the main street that runs through the center of the city. We attended classes at ESC Toulouse's Barcelona campus, which was a short walk from the hotel. The company visits in Barcelona were especially interesting; we visited the headquarters of the upscale clothing store, Mango, and Freixenet, a champagne producer.

The faculty at ESC Toulouse and Barcelona were also amazing. We were given “survival” French and Spanish classes to help us get around when we were on our own. All other presentations were given in English, so we were able to focus on the business aspect of the lectures without having to struggle with the translation. The presenters were each extremely knowledgeable on their topics and were enthusiastic about sharing it with us.

In addition to the enriching academics, we also had a lot of free time to explore the cities and truly live as the locals do. Winter is when the national sales begin in both France and Spain, which made it a great time for shopping! On the weekend in France, we took a train to Carcassonne, a walled city built between the 11th and 13th centuries, where people still live today. In Barcelona, the Olympic stadium and various structures designed by the famous native architect, Antoni Gaudi, were among the top sights.

I am so glad I chose to complete my International Business integral with this study abroad trip. I got to experience several foreign cultures as well as learn about European business practices in a non-threatening environment. I made friends with the other study abroad students, as well as my host family and the ESC students in Toulouse and Barcelona. So many of these experiences could not have been duplicated in a classroom in the U.S. Participating in the Toulouse and Barcelona program was one of the best decisions I've ever made.

Contact: Lee Armstrong, MA
Phone: (513) 556-7081
e-mail: lee.armstrong@uc.edu

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