Business in Barcelona Eliza Spaht ’26 took a course on the economics of winemaking with the Council on International Educational Exchange’s Business and Culture program in Barcelona, Spain.

By Kelsey Goodwin
August 15, 2024

“Being in a foreign country for the first time alone can be intimidating, but it pushed me closer to the people around me, elevating my experience abroad.”

~ Eliza Spaht ’26

Eliza Spaht ’26, a strategic communication major from San Francisco, took a course this summer on the economics of winemaking with the Council on International Educational Exchange’s Business and Culture program in Barcelona, Spain, along with some W&L classmates.

Why did you decide to do a summer abroad?

I decided to do a summer abroad program to optimize my undergraduate time at W&L. This opportunity allowed me to prioritize my academic, extracurricular and social commitments while gaining international experience. I thank the university’s Center for International Education (CIE) for helping students to participate in a summer program. Being able to maximize my education and expand my horizons across the world without missing opportunities on campus during the Fall, Winter or Spring Terms has been a game-changer!

What sparked your interest in the economics of winemaking, and how does it apply to your academic pursuits?

The course, “The Economics of Wine,” stood out to me because I did not know anything about wine, the winemaking business or the significance of the industry. Additionally, the course is not offered at W&L, and the thought of experiencing wine in Spain, a country so well-known for its winemaking tradition, felt like the obvious choice. Understanding business principles is fundamental for an entrepreneurship minor. The course offered insight into the winemaking industry’s market dynamics, customer behavior, international trade and finances. Throughout the course, I completed two analytical essays, a data-driven marketing pitch, a wine review and a comprehensive final exam, all of which contributed to the skills necessary for my major and minor.

Did you travel to Spain with any summer bucket list goals, such as hikes or weekend trips, that you also wanted to accomplish while you were there?

The trips and adventures we did in Barcelona were a mix of planned and spontaneous. On our second weekend in Barcelona, I joined three fellow W&L students in traveling to Costa Brava for a weekend with two other program students who we befriended quickly. Two weekends later, the four of us traveled to Mallorca and Ibiza with our other two roommates who attend West Virginia University. One nice part about studying abroad in Western Europe is the chance to easily travel to other destinations by metro, train or a quick flight.

What aspects of this experience do you think you will remember most fondly?

I will always reflect on my time in Barcelona and think about the new friends I made and the previous relationships I had that strengthened. Without my W&L friends and all the people I met along the way, the experience would not have been the same. Being in a foreign country for the first time alone can be intimidating, but it pushed me closer to the people around me, elevating my experience abroad.

What advice would you give other students interested in doing something like this with their summer?

If you are still deciding whether to go abroad for a semester or for Spring Term, consider the summer option. The four-to-five-week period was the perfect amount of time for me to earn academic credit, learn about the city of Barcelona and travel elsewhere. I encourage others to investigate a summer abroad program, and if you decide later that you want to go overseas for a semester, that option is still there.

W&L’s Center for International Education offers resources to help students plan study abroad experiences year-round, find international internships and more.

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