Staff Interview with Simon Chapman

 What inspired you to work for ALBA Study Abroad, Barcelona? 

When I first came in contact with ALBA, I saw a small enterprise with infinite possibilities and a great team already in place. I was also very interested in the idea of working in an environment surrounded by young and curious students.

What is your favorite part of your job?

My favorite part of my job is that I get to share a lot. I enjoy spending time with my teammates at the office every day and I like to share advice with the students to help make their study abroad experience a great one. 

How do you use your education and international background in your current role?

The fact that I migrated from Chile to Barcelona when I was 24 yrs old, gives a good perspective of what the students are going through and the kind of cultural differences they are encountering.

What are some current projects you are working on?

I am working on the development of a new custom-made student portal, updating and creating content on the website, and I am creating an email communication plan to help students be informed before, during, and after the program.

What makes ALBA Study Abroad, Barcelona special?

ALBA Study Abroad is a small program, which allows us to make a friendly environment for students to learn from professors that care and are enthusiastic about sharing their knowledge.

Why should someone choose your organization over competitors?

We are a small program, meaning you will have personalized attention in classes with no more than 15 students. You will also be able to enjoy all sorts of extracurricular activities to help you adapt to life in Europe and make new friends along the way.

What hopes do you have for the future for your organization?

I can imagine students coming from all corners of the world to study at ALBA. One of the goals we have set ourselves is to have a more diverse environment.

What do you hope participants take away from ALBA Study Abroad, Barcelona?

I really hope the students at ALBA go back home feeling more confident about themselves. I believe that studying abroad is about being exposed and finding the confidence to know how to make that exposure work for you in a positive way.

If you could participate in one of your organization's programs, where would you go and what would you do?

I would participate in the Summer term in Barcelona. I think this is definitely one of the most amazing experiences a student can live. It is a great opportunity to learn beyond the classroom. The city is vibrant and full of life, the weather is great, and the term is short, so you have plenty of time left to travel through Europe after the program is over.

Why is it important for people to travel abroad and experience new cultures?

Cultures are much like bubbles, they are beautiful but you don't want to get stuck in one. The chance of experiencing a new culture is liberating and helps build character and tolerance to new perspectives.

What does meaningful travel mean to you?

Traveling can't be an empty habit. It is important that when traveling we take responsibility and learn from the experience. We also must take into account that traveling has a bi-directional cultural impact, so we must remind ourselves not only to learn but to share our own perspective with the local community.

What hopes do you have for the future of international education?

International education works very well for students coming from developed countries, as they benefit from studying abroad in various locations around the world. But on the other hand, there are not many opportunities for students in less developed countries to travel or study abroad in developed countries. I hope that in the future these economical and sociopolitical barriers are no longer in the way.