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I have the best job in the world.  Every day, I wake up in a city that I love and go off to work at a job that I am passionate about.  In college, I spent a summer in Russia and a semester in Spain and the experience changed my life; now, as Director of Barcelona Study Abroad Experience (SAE), I feel privileged to provide a similar, enriching experience to our students and interns.

My colleagues at Barcelona SAE are among the most lively and caring individuals I know.  We work hard, have fun, and enjoy each other’s company, which makes Barcelona SAE a fantastic place to work.

On a personal level, I have dedicated my entire professional career to helping people truly experience new cultures and languages – as a professor inside the classroom and as an international education professional promoting experiential learning outside of the classroom.  In all aspects of my job, I have found that it is incredibly rewarding to witness the academic, professional, and personal growth of our students and interns as they immerse themselves in Spanish and Catalan culture and expand their worldviews.

Whether I am traveling with students for weekend trips to Granada or Madrid, leading walking tours through unique and interesting barrios of Barcelona, organizing intercambios with local university students, or simply chatting with students over chocolate con churros, no day is ever the same.  And in a city as dynamic and exciting as Barcelona, it is impossible to get bored.

I highly recommend participating in a study or intern abroad program in Barcelona.  Studying abroad changed my life for the better– and it will change yours too.

 

Rich Kurtzman

Currently based in Barcelona, Rich grew up in the great city of Chicago but has been lucky to call Barcelona his home for over 15 years. His studies in Spanish and Russian Language and Culture led him on a path toward study abroad ever since high school. Starting with a summer in St. Petersburg, Russia then a semester in Madrid, Spain, there is no doubt that his study abroad experiences shaped his future. He later did an internship in Milan, Italy, led student groups through Spain, and volunteered in the Philippines. After earning his M.A. in Spanish Applied Linguistics, Rich taught Spanish History and Culture to study abroad students in Barcelona. Since 2002, Rich has organized and directed all aspects of study abroad in Barcelona. Rich regularly presents at International Education conferences on various topics and also works as an intercultural consultant for multinationals in Spain.