A dozen Keuka College students swapped classrooms in Keuka Park for cultural sites in Barcelona, Spain, this summer, honing their knowledge of language, culture, business, public safety, and other disciplines.
Through specialized instruction, visits to historic landmarks and professional sites, and everyday interactions with local residents, students connected their academic interests to the world around them, returning home with new skills, greater confidence, and irreplaceable experiences.
“Any time students have the chance to travel and immerse themselves in another culture – with different traditions, food, language, and ways of thinking – it shouldn’t be missed,” said Visiting Assistant Professor of Marketing Janice Gaub, who led the group Field Period®. “The growth you see in just two weeks is incredible. Their confidence grows, their problem-solving skills grow, and their perspective on the world expands.”
The Field Period, titled “Futbol, Fashion, and Fun in Barcelona,” blended cultural exploration with academic learning for students representing disciplines ranging from management and criminology to education, occupational therapy, and applied mathematics.
Assistant Professor of Marketing Janice Gaub led the 10-day tour, which included language studies, cultural immersion, and individual ways for students to connect what they experienced to their academic interests.
Each weekday began with three hours of intensive Spanish language instruction at a Barcelona language school. Students were placed according to their proficiency levels, learning alongside classmates from around the world.
For junior Criminology and Criminal Justice major Jessica Olivares of Cohoes, N.Y., who already speaks Spanish, the experience offered an opportunity to deepen both her language skills and her understanding of the nation.
“I wanted to learn more about the history and immerse myself in the culture,” she said.
Among the many highlights was visiting Antoni Gaudí’s iconic Sagrada Família basilica.
“The light coming through the stained-glass windows was incredible,” Jessica said. “It wasn’t just the building itself. It was the architecture, the history, and everything it represented.”
Jessica also found unexpected connections to her future career. Hoping to become an immigration attorney, she paid close attention to public safety throughout the city, speaking with transit security officers and observing how law enforcement interacted with residents and visitors.
Criminology and Criminal Justice major Jessica Olivares, right, and fellow Field Period students pause outside Antoni Gaudí’s iconic Sagrada Família basilica in Barcelona. Pope Leo XIV visited the architectural masterpiece just days later.
“It was really important to see how another country approaches public safety,” she said. “Experiencing different cultures and different systems broadens your perspective.”
For junior Management major Nikolas Gitsis of North Chili, N.Y., the opportunity fulfilled a longtime dream of visiting Europe while reinforcing concepts he had studied in the classroom.
Students toured FC Barcelona’s renowned futbol (soccer) stadium and museum, explored the facilities of RCD Espanyol, and met with the director of the Barcelona language school, who explained how he manages daily operations, recruits staff, measures performance, and leads an international organization.
“It was interesting hearing about the business side of everything,” Nikolas said. “It connected with things we’ve learned in management classes.”
The students compared luxury retailers with fast-fashion brands, explored Barcelona’s renowned markets, visited historic sites, and experienced everyday life by riding public transportation, walking the city’s neighborhoods, and interacting with residents.
Management majors, from left Nikolas Gitsis, his twin brother Alexander Gitsis, and classmate Nicholsa Knoth pose during their tour of Barcelona.
The immersive language program further enhanced the experience by introducing students to counterparts from other countries.
“We worked with students from all over the world, and that was a great experience,” Nikolas said. “I wanted to go in with an open mind and experience another country, and that’s exactly what happened.”
Throughout the trip, Prof. Gaub intentionally helped students connect what they were seeing to their academic interests. Future teachers observed instructional techniques used by Spanish language instructors. Criminology students examined public safety practices. An occupational therapy student evaluated accessibility throughout the city. Business students analyzed customer service, branding, leadership, and organizational management.
“I tried to identify learning opportunities everywhere we went,” she said.
Jessica said the experience reinforced the value of studying abroad.
“It’s important to experience other cultures and understand that there are different ways of doing things,” Jessica said. “You come home with a broader perspective – not just about another country, but about yourself.”
That’s exactly what Prof. Gaub hoped her students would discover.
“The places they visited were important,” she said. “But the real takeaway was seeing them become more confident, more curious, and more willing to embrace experiences they never imagined having. That’s the kind of growth that stays with you long after the trip is over.”
The Experience of a Lifetime
Ready to find out where Field Period could take you? Discover more today.
