As I wrap up my time in Italy, it is important that I reflect on my initial thoughts about Italy and our host city, Florence. I came into the trip starstruck by the sheer beauty of the city and the tastiness of the food. After weeks abroad, I realized that there can also be many challenges related to studying abroad. We become tired from all the walking and studying, and we may get a little homesick. With these factors in place, it can be easy to fall into the trap of becoming detached from the experience.
However, in all reality, this is where the real learning happens. You must push yourself to learn how you will cope with these feelings in a setting that is unfamiliar. For me, this meant giving myself grace to find the nearest McDonalds or Starbucks. Getting that feeling of home as I had my venti cold brew and 10 count chicken nuggets. Once I had given myself the opportunity to relax, I had to remember to keep pushing. An experience like the one I had abroad is a once in a lifetime opportunity, and losing sight of that fact would be detrimental to my overall experience.
Being able to have this mindset enabled me to learn more about the culture and businesses in Italy. One commonality that I found between many of the businesses in Italy is their passion for the products they produced. Businesses focus on the history and integrity of the products while being conscientious of the environmental impact they are making. This is a sharp contrast from the quantity and profit driven businesses that you find in America. Learning attributes of businesses like the ones I described above is essential for doing business internationally. Understanding the person and business you are partnering with, negotiating with, or competing against will allow for more success as you work interculturally in the future.
I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to learn these and many more lessons abroad with my fellow Texas A&M students. Not only did we gain more insight into the global mindset that is necessary in international business, but we also built incredible relationships that will last long into the future.
Ciao!
