The Last Weekend in Spain

On Saturday, we took a train about an hour away to a coastal town called Sitges. The day for it was perfect. Clear sky, sunshine, and it was nice to get away from the hustle and bustle of the big city. Danelle and I had a goal to find stamps and a post office so that we could get some postcards mailed before we did anything else. We found out that stamps in Spain are sold at the tobacco shop. We finally found a tobacco shop, and got our stamps before heading a couple blocks over to the post office. 

Once we had our postcards taken care of, we headed to the beach to enjoy the Mediterranean. At the beach, we saw people lounging and enjoying the sunshine. It was a bit chilly for me to imagine being out there in a bathing suit (or less in some cases!), but people did it. It was all I could do to stick my feet into the cold water, but I'm glad I did. I can't wait to come back some day when it's warm to get in the water and enjoy a little more of the Mediterranean. We had fun frolicking and making sand sculptures and enjoying each other's company. It was a welcome break from the academics and a great time to just hang out. After spending some time at the beach, we were all hungry, so our group went in search of a place to grab a bite to eat. We finally decided on a little sandwich shop on a side road. Our remaining afternoon was spent enjoying the shops and walking around the town before we headed back to the train station for a ride back to Barcelona. 

After all, we had to get to dinner at our favorite restaurant one last time. We had been here like 4 times now. The server at the restaurant recognized us and picked up the phone to call our favorite waiter. I'm pretty sure his name was Ignatio, but don't hold me to it. He might just change it when he feels like it just to mess with people's heads. It was so good to get to eat here one more time. The food was always good and our waiter ALWAYS entertaining, and this time was the best yet. I will miss this place.

The next day was Sunday and Danelle and I went in search of a ceramics shop that Katelyn had mentioned. We found it tucked in next to a bunch of souvenir shops near the Santa Maria del Mar. We first went into the church to take a look before the mass started. Beautiful architecture, such a contrast to the much more modern Gaudi work. We didn't have much time to look around before mass started, so we took advantage of the time that we did have and enjoyed it. 

The ceramics shop had lots of things made by local artists and this was right up my alley. I love ceramics, and this was the best kind of souvenir. Something hand made by someone here instead of mass produced in China to be sold someplace else. One of a kind pieces. I picked a bowl and Christmas ornament for me and a spoon rest for my mom before we went on our way. 

We got our shopping finished and went back to the hotel to finish packing and grab a siesta before going to dinner. It was going to be a long evening and we wanted to grab whatever rest we could. We got up and went to Tapa Tapa for dinner and then went to the stadium to watch an awesome FC Barcelona game! The stadium was packed, the energy was alive, and everyone there was a superfan. I couldn't make out everything the gentleman behind me was saying, but he was definitely using colorful language in his cheering and would every now and then begin a chant which others would join in on. We had seats 19 rows up from the field, behind the goal. Great location and worth the extra euros to see all the action. FC Barcelona won 4 -1 and everyone went home happy. We went back to the hotel to catch a few z's before we had to meet in the lobby at 3:30 am to catch our flight home. 

What an experience. I hope to get back to Spain soon to visit again, but I also hope to meet up again with my classmates again because of the friendships made while we were there. The cultural experiences and the learning experiences were priceless and I would encourage anyone who is considering a trip like this to do what it takes to go and to enjoy every minute of the experience. The things you learn from a trip like this go much farther than any lesson from a text book. The memories you will take with you will last a lifetime. 

 

Day 13 - Last Day of School

Our fearless leaders, Dr. Turner White,
Dr. Carlos Moslares, and Dr. Martin Stack

We finished our last day of school today. We rounded out our experiences with each of our classmates discussing something cultural that we learned and something educational that we learned, related to our classes and tours. My favorite visit was probably DKV from a business perspective. My favorite visit from a cultural perspective was the Punto Blanco visit. We each received a certificate of completion for the program before we closed out our classroom experiences.



The experiences of going to visit places like Montserrat and going to Gaudi's works such as Sagrada Familia were once in a lifetime experiences I will never forget. The food was great, the people wonderful, and the classmates and instructors I have met along the way will have a special place in my heart.

Our group then went to a special dining room where we had a special celebration lunch. We enjoyed some Spanish wine, a salad, Catalan chicken, dessert, champagne, and coffee. It was a lot of fun and a neat way to finish out our time.







Some of us decided to walk over to the stadium to get our tickets for the FC Barcelona game on Sunday night. We found we could get a better deal and find a way to get at least a couple of smaller groups areas to sit together. Finding directions to places was always an experience. It seems sometimes like even though we're all looking at the same map, we don't always read it the same way.

When we got back to the hotel after buying tickets, we got a group together to go visit Casa Battlo, once of Gaudi's works. The tickets were expensive at 18 Euro, but well worth it. I tried to use my Costco card as a student ID for the discount because I had left mine in the hotel room, but they weren't buying it. Oh well, I had to try, right? This place was amazing, he was so whimsical in his design and I love the way he paid attention to the natural light. We saw the dragon's scales and the tiles and the reflecting pools and the ergonomically designed beautiful chairs and railings and doors. I was checking out the beautiful lift in the center of the house when a guard was going down. When he asked if I was going down, I of course said yes! You had to have the key to use the lift and who was I to

Facade of Casa Battlo. The color variation is due to the
differences in the way the light hits the mosaic of multicolor
tiles on the front of the house. 

Ergonomic handles

turn the opportunity down? The views from the roof were incredible. We got there at the perfect time of day, too. It was late in the afternoon and the sun was hitting the tiles beautifully.

Looking out the window. 

No right angles, the wood of the windows on the front
wave with the wood. 

The center of the house with the light channeling straight
through the middle of the building allowing tons of
natural light in. 

Ergonomically designed chairs.

The roof top tile mosaic work in the late afternoon sun. 

Day 12 - Pharmaceuticals

Last day of instruction, sadly. Got on the bus around 9 and headed for Synthon Pharmaceuticals. The main topic of this discussion was leadership in the workplace and within the Spanish setting. Synthon is a very forward thinking organization and their leadership was highly focused on the team and the teamwork mentality. This was a great discussion, it relates to people and within business, we all need to be capable in this area as leaders.

We also got a tour of the facility, very cool to be able to see the production areas. We put on the special suits, walked into special transition rooms, changed and put on new special suits to stay sterile as we walked in to the hallways viewing the production areas. We also got to see the storage areas and the packaging areas where they were packaging the pills they had made. We also got to see the quality control area of the facility as well. A sample of each lot of pills is tested for consistency and quality to catch any issues.

This was a very cool visit. How many opportunities would students get to go into a facility like this. I really appreciated the discussion as well, from a people and from a leadership standpoint.

In the evening, our little group decided we wanted to order sushi in. A few of us were craving it and some others of us had not tried it before and were willing to give it a shot. It was a great evening in, spent enjoying sushi, talking, and playing games. I'm gonna miss these guys when we go back to our normal lives and schedules!

Day 11 - Wednesday - International Marketing

No site visits today, but we did cover a subject in which I am very interested. International Marketing. My undergrad major was Marketing/International Business and I was excited to learn more and to see it from a European/Spanish perspective.

The instructor, Marsal Gifra, was an entrepreneur himself on several tech projects. He had a fresh perspective to add to the International Marketing course. We discussed trends and how they change and the ability to watch the evolution of this in the marketplace. We also discussed using tools like Google AdWords to help in studying the market. We used the Google tools to predict where we would be most successful in bringing our example product of red wine to market based on demographics and where people's current interests lie.

A group of us went to a local cafe for lunch (at a bargain price!) and went back to catch a nap so we'd be ready for the evening's activities. For dinner, we found a seafood place together. There was a futbol game on televisions that were showing around the restaurant and it was funny to see how everyone stopped (even the kitchen staff) when a big play was happening on tv. Futbol is part of the culture! I opted to eat some octopus. Very good, sauteed in olive oil and paprika from what I could tell. For the second part of the meal, several of us split paella. This one was good, but not nearly as good as it was at our favorite spot. We had a group of 13, so there was some confusion on orders and with the translation, we had some issues to work out. Ernesto saved the day where some of our group were unable to communicate with the serving staff.

Some were going to check out one of the local night spots after dinner, but many of us were so tired at 11:30 when the meal was done, we were ready to call it a night so we headed back to the hotel. Because the Mitre was closing soon, we nearly ran all the way back to the closest station from our dinner spot. We made it back to the station in time and caught the last train back.

Barcelona changes tone at the strike of midnight. Danelle and I saw this the first night after dinner when we were heading back and everything but the street sellers were out. We saw the same this time, many of them immigrants making a living selling toys, souviners, and other things we found. They'd walk around selling cans of Coke and when they'd get close enough, they would ask under their breath if we wanted any of their other (illegal) offerings.

We made it back to the hotel in time to crash for the night. These late nights remind me of college, but also remind me I'm getting older and I need my sleep!

Day 10 - Huhtamaki Visit

It's Tuesday and I'm taking a side trip today to visit my company site in Nules, Spain. We make packaging and food containers and have a site not far from where we are staying in Barcelona.  While in Spain, I wanted to be sure I had an opportunity to check this out. Our fearless leaders were also supportive of students making this kind of visit if they were able. So I decided to venture out on my own for a day.

The train ticket I purchased on Monday is for this trip. By Euromed train, the website says this should be about a 2 hour and 15 minute train ride to the Valencia station, where I will be picked up by taxi and driven to the plant site. I get up early to catch the Mitre train from the station near our hotel before it's light outside. I switch trains a few stops later, and end up getting off at a main hub station where I am able to catch the Euromed. This hub station is huge and there is a lot of hustle and bustle and people going every direction. I found a station employee and asked where I needed to go in Spanish and she was able to guide me to the stairs down to the Euromed platform. My ticket has an assigned seat, so I look for my coach and find my assigned place and settle in for the ride.

Traveling by Euromed is different from the Mitre trains in Barcelona. The seats are bigger, a movie plays and the attendants come through offering amenities for the passengers. There is also a separate dining car if you get hungry.

The train ride down the coast was beautiful while the sun was rising. On one side of the train, there is the beautiful Mediterranean Sea with the sun shining over it. On the other side of the train, there were orange groves for miles and miles with mountains behind. This is my kind of ride. I would have loved to have taken some photos of this ride, however my seat was on the aisle and taking pictures would have meant crawling over my neighbors to get to the window and attracting attention to the fact that I was a tourist, as if it wasn't already obvious... I drew in as much as I could by observing :).

Orange groves as far as you can see.
Oranges are a winter crop and it is
almost harvest time in this region. 

When we arrived at the train station, I was a little apprehensive, not knowing how I would identify my taxi from the others. I walked up the stairs and to the front doors of the station, looking for a yellow taxi like the ones I had seen in Barcelona. I saw none. What I did see were several nice looking cars, then I saw the sleek silver Mercedes with the Huhtamaki logo on a sheet of paper in the front window with a snappy dressed guy standing next to it. Ok, let's go! Fernando introduced himself to me and we got into the car for the drive to Nules. It was only about twenty minutes, so we chatted on our way there. I saw more orange groves as we drove by, and I couldn't take it any more so I asked Fernando to pardon me while I behaved like a tourist and took some pictures. What a beautiful drive.

the mountains

Fernando and I made communication work, I worked with limited Spanish, and he with limited but better English than my Spanish. He works for himself and only works with corporate clients at factories like ours. He tells me that I am his only pick up of the day, so he can take me anywhere I need to go after I am done. Not a bad gig, driving a nice Mercedes and having such a flexible schedule. He tells me that the road we are taking used to be a highway through the city of Nules that used to be a bigger town. The highway was rerouted, so the town has seen some of the changes that this rerouting has brought. It is no longer as bustling, but still a charming little European town. Very definitely looks like Spain. I love it.

We pull up to the plant and Fernando says goodbye after pulling right up to the front door. I introduce myself and the Plant Manager, Frank Candries, comes and greets me in the lobby. I will be spending the day with Frank, Blas Gonzales, Engineering Director, and Jose Luis Dominguez, Manufacturing Manager. I meet with all three gentlemen to start my visit in Frank's conference room where I get some history of the plant and an outline of products made at the Nules plant. Frank tells me that we will meet for lunch at 1:30 and notes it may seem like a long time before lunch to my American eating habits :).

I then get a detailed plant tour from Jose Luis Dominguez. We put on our overjackets and hair nets, and I am given a pair of steel toed boots (about 3 sizes too big for my kid sized feet), and safety goggles to enter the production area after we scrub our hands clean. This site produces food grade containers, so cleanliness is critical. The plant tour was very interesting. It was cool to see the equipment and how it was similar or not so similar to some of our equipment and how this plant is set up. We see the plastics manufacturing areas and the paperboard areas as well. Another area I was able to see was the graphics area. I took pictures, but will not be posting these as they contain proprietary information.

When finished with the tour, I meet with Engineering Director, Blas Gonzales. We go over the process of product development from start to finish. Typically this process starts with a customer need, for which the team at Huhtamaki develops a solution that is cost effective and meets the customer's need. We also look at several examples of prototypes and items that have been created for customers. It was interesting to see the differences in European design from those that we make at our DeSoto, KS facility.

After I met with Blas, we met up with Jose Luis and Frank and went to lunch in the town of Nules. The place we ate was a family owned restaurant and Frank tells me that it's been tradition for them to come eat here for the past 12 years or so. The server was pleasant as she seated us. I noticed the Iberica hams hanging from the ceiling as we walked in and Frank ordered some as a part of our meal. The meal consisted of the appetizers: the Iberica ham and a community salad that we shared, along with some toasty bread with the pureed tomatoes on it. I had a bean soup for my first course and then a yummy white fish for the main course. Jose Luis apparently loves pig's foot and this happened to be one of the specials of the day. When it came out it looked like, well a pig's foot. I watched as he meticulously dissected the pig's foot before savoring every bit that he had gotten off of the bones. 

During our lunch, we talked about their tradition of coming for lunch together. Frank noted that their schedules were so busy that if they didn't take this time to come eat together, they would never talk. He also mentioned how important it was to spend the time getting to know your coworkers well and to spend time with them outside of the workplace. He said that the long lunch hours also enabled them to be sure their food gets digested right... a big difference from the many lunches I have eaten at my desk over the years because of a busy schedule. It was a good reminder to me to stop and take the time to eat lunch and to spend time with coworkers. 

After lunch, we went back to the office where I did some studying and the others had meetings to get to due to audits that were going on. It was a great experience and I'm glad I could have the opportunity to spend time with these gentlemen and learn about this facility. Fernando was soon there to take me back to the train station and we did some more chatting on the way there. When we stopped this time, though, he got out of the car and opened my door. I put out my hand to shake his and say thank you and he shook my hand but then I got a very European goodbye with a kiss on each cheek. Caught me off guard, but hey, when in Rome... 

Got back to the hotel around 9:30 or so and by this time it was too late to meet up with the others who had gone to dinner with the Cisco group, so I relaxed and got ready to head to bed a little early after a very full day.