During my study abroad trip, I learned so much. From learning about different businesses, such as Design Bridge, which operates globally, and the famous BMW in Germany, this trip taught me about various businesses around the world. In addition to learning about different businesses, I was able to learn about different cultures.
Something that stood out to me that differed from American culture is the service aspect in restaurants. The waiters and waitresses have less of an incentive to serve because their wages are not majorly made up of tips. I noticed that servers were less likely to come back and check on tables versus in America it seems they come every 5-10 minutes.
Initially, I thought that a lot of the people abroad would have negative views on America, but to my surprise and delight, most everyone we talked to and interviewed said that they loved America. Some even said that they wished to move here. Additionally, a lot more people than I would have expected had positive views on Donald Trump which I was surprised by. This, of course, was not everyone’s opinion, but still interesting.
My study abroad experience also gave me the travel bug and made me realize how much there is to see; it was incredible to walk through historical places and learn about things that still impact us today. Another unique experience of the trip was visiting the Dochau Memorial, which used to be a Nazi concentration camp. It was extremely sobering. The experience was somber yet thought-provoking. Seeing the things I’ve read about in person was surreal. It was an experience I will always remember.
Throughout my trip, I learned about businesses, history, and culture through experiences, museums, bike tours, food, and by interviewing locals. I could go on and on about this incredible experience and would encourage others to study abroad if they get the chance!
