After leaving Greece, I realized how much more I understood how the world works, specifically outside the United States, before I came here. With this being my first time in Europe, my mind was filled with things that weren’t true, like how Europeans might be rude with a lack of the “Southern Hospitality” outside of Texas. Of course, some people still lacked kindness, similar to how it is back home, but the overwhelming majority were very welcoming to me and the rest of our group. Getting to know the migrants we were helping, understanding their story, and putting their ideas into action was my favorite part of the trip. It was very different to talk face to face with someone who left his family behind to provide for them than to hear it on a video screen. It helped me understand how much some people sacrifice just to get necessities for themselves and their families. It puts it into perspective how lucky I am, and just about anyone in the United States, regardless of their situation. Learning all of this in a business setting only made it more beneficial for my understanding of how to help people with their professional needs. With how complicated classes can sometimes be, it can be hard to see the real-world applications, but with this trip, I was able to use my education to help these people who were not as fortunate to attend a great university like Texas A&M. Seeing how happy our client was with the things we provided for his business was reassurance that I picked the right field of study. I hope to find my purpose in work by continuing to put a focus on helping others to keep myself motivated. In conclusion, the trip shaped my whole understanding of international business and culture, and because of that, I am very grateful.
