While travelling and sport, particularly motor sports, are two of his passions, Gonzalo Xancó has returned from Iona College in New York with new goals and dreams. A full academic year in the city that never sleeps, during which time this holder of a degree in Law from UIC Barcelona discovered and deepened his knowledge of International Relations. His sights are now set on Brussels, where he hopes to play his part. 

Question: You did an undergraduate degree in Law, and instead of continuing on to the University Master’s Degree in the Legal Profession or probing the job market, you decided to go abroad and explore a wide range of possibilities. Why did you choose the United States?
Answer: I was just kind of following in other people’s tracks, and I wanted to stand out. A friend from my Law degree told me he was going, and I thought I’d check it out. Then I spoke to my family and they said, “If you want to, go ahead”. There a lots of Law students, and I thought, “At least, to stand out in the future, I’ll have degrees in Law and International Relations from New York”.

Q: A vital decision...
A: Going to Iona College was one of the best decisions of my life. 

Q: Now that you’re back in Barcelona, how would you describe your university experience in New York? 
A: Words can’t describe it. Incredible. 

Q: What has this academic experience in the United States given you?
A: A different way of doing things. It’s very self-taught. They give you the basics and the tools, and you put them to use. It’s all quite individualistic, and it teaches you a lot.

Q: Two completely different systems...
A: Here I was used to having a manual and discussing a different topic in each class. There, no. You get there, and they say, “The exam will be on these three books. Get started”. If there’s something you don’t understand, you go and talk to the lecturers, get more books, look online... 

Q: At Iona College, you also had the opportunity to study Political Science. Why did you choose International Relations? 
A: I heard that it was a qualification that’s valid everywhere, while, with the other degree, you can only work as a political scientist in the United States. 

Q: And how have International Relations enriched your degree in Law? 
A: Here, at UIC Barcelona, we covered NGOs, the United Nations (UN), the European Union (EU) and everything from the viewpoint of international law... In the US, I focused much more on: their objectives, how they fulfil their objectives, what can and can’t be done, the relationships between countries... It gave me a chance to see how things work, not just the theory.

Q: After your experience at Iona College, what do you see yourself doing in the near future?
A: I’m looking for a work placement in an international firm, and I want to go to Brussels or Luxembourg and deal with European issues. I’d like to live abroad or, if possible, work for the European Commission. 

Q: And in the long-term? 
A: I’d like to do something related to economics, then something more humanitarian.

Q: Do you think the opportunity to study in New York has opened doors?
A: A lot. I thinking having a double degree from Spain and the US will open up some fantastic doors. And spending a year abroad is something companies really look for.

Q: Would you recommend this experience to other students at UIC Barcelona?
A: If they can afford it, they should definitely do it. It’ll really change them. 

Q: What advice would you give them?
A: To do it, to get out of their comfort zone, burst the bubble and go to another continent. At first I had a hard time with the English. I’d go to class and wouldn’t understand a thing. In the end you get used to it. And if you go to New York, you belong to the world, not just Spain! Now I’ll have the chance to work anywhere in the world.