I have thoroughly enjoyed my time on the Europe Integration Business Study Abroad Program. We are one week in and have visited 6 countries! My initial impression was first the views and scenery. I have lived in Texas my whole life and being able to soak in views of the mountains and clear water has been a highlight of this trip. Switzerland has lush greenery and unimaginable mountains that envelop the towns. Austria was able to provide the same experience. However, we were able to stay in more of a college town that held a younger crowd. It was great to see the culture change and compare college lifestyles. We also took a small stop in Liechtenstein. These countries, especially Switzerland, were much more expensive and proved to have a high living cost in comparison to the United States. We have then moved to the coast and visited many coastal towns in Slovenia, Croatia, and Italy. There is a major culture difference in these coastal towns specifically. The environment feels very carefree and laid back. Time doesn’t exist and it is very nice to people watch. A specific example is meals. Locals find it important to take their time to chat and eat after a long day and waiters do not rush any customers to turn over tables. This is due to the importance that Europeans place on building relationships with one another. Also, waiters and servers are paid a livable salary without the tips from customers. For this reason, employees do not find it necessary to move tables quickly as they are getting paid the same amount. One major lesson that I want to learn from this trip is understanding and appreciating how these cultures came to be. Understand what steps in history and decisions made that have created these differences in societal norms and how to best accommodate them as someone who is a foreigner. So far, this trip has been an amazing experience and the perfect mix of scenery, small towns, cities, history, and culture for a highlights tour of Europe.
