Part Two!
Frankfurt: The City of Frankfurt, as we know it today, was largely rebuilt following World War II, thus giving it a distinctly early-modern architectural appearance. The heart of the city, the Old Town, however, contained some of the most beautiful and traditionally German architecture I’ve ever had the good fortune of witnessing. My initial impressions of Germany were…mixed. Our DeutscheBahn transportation from Brussels to Frankfurt was delayed en-route (in similar fashion to our exit from Germany). Dr. Sorescu later made the joke that DB was suffering from a form of “long ‘technical’ COVID,” which certainly added a little bit of irony to the situation. These delays continued to plague Frankfurt’s S- and U-Bahn lines that connect the city, thus further hampering our progress on another three-event day. That said, the traditional German efficiency that one naturally expects in-country made an appearance during all three of our business meetings and opened our eyes to a new business environment that, at first, seemed foreign. The presentations were informative, concise, and made no effort to unnecessarily extend pleasantries beyond the point of politeness, which allowed us to keep a tight schedule and better understand the German perspective on business. In conversation with employees at the firms we visited, we came to know that this culture wasn’t just for show: this is how a normal office employee would expect to go about business and should expect to carry themselves. It’s traditional, it’s effective, and it’s admirable.
Poland: On we go to the most somber part of the trip. As a method of cultural understanding, we visited the remains of Auschwitz camps I and II in the countryside outside Krakow. While I won’t discuss this day in great detail, it’s important for me to note that the travesties that occurred at both sites were inexcusable and the entire group, myself included, were appalled and looked somberly upon what was left. I hope the world never forgets the tragedy of the Holocaust, and pray that it may never happen again.
Switzerland: Our entrance into Switzerland (despite the traditional domino effect of DB trains), was rather uneventful. Swiss hospitality and Swiss scenery are both known to be stellar, and we certainly experienced all that they had to offer between the cities of Bern (our base), Lausanne, Montreux, Zurich, and Geneva! Between our time on the shores of Lake Geneva and at the top of Mount Pilatus, we experienced much of the landscape and scenery that the Swiss had to offer and had a blast doing it! Switzerland, as a country, was likely my favorite stop on the trip. While I expected the landscape to be absolutely stunning, I never truly realized how comforting it was to walk the streets of Bern, Zurich, and Geneva while staring at incredible peaks and bodies of water mere miles from where I was. Switzerland offers a break from the stereotypes of corporate life in this. You’re never more than a few hours away from unbridled freedom and a new experience, and I couldn’t be more grateful that, even for a few days, I was able to experience it.
France: Our last stop! We spent the vast majority of our time in Paris, with trips to Versailles and Normandy on the last couple days (though I was fighting an illness instead of attending the latter). When most people think of France, they imagine a strong amount of café culture, the Eiffel Tower, and a certain level of standoffishness among the general public. I’m glad to report, however, that this was not the case. Some of the sweetest and most genuine individuals we met on the trip were in France. What makes Paris so attractive as a corporate destination is, in fact, the culture. Paris takes the opposite approach to corporate life compared to the Germans: while the Germans are most fond of their rigid schedules and formalities, the French developed a much stronger affinity for welcoming informality into the business setting and allowing personal and professional lives to exist on a continuum, rather than two distinct sides of a wall. I certainly appreciated this sentiment, as it was an incredible way to round out the last of the business visits and our final few days abroad.
Looking back, this three-week trip felt like much longer, but I don’t think I would’ve changed a second of it. Well…maybe the ones where I was fighting off a cold on my bed instead of being at the beaches of Normandy. I’m so grateful to CIBS, Dr. Sorescu, Mr. Sinn, Tyler Brenenstuhl (our IBS Rep), and everyone else who made the trip possible. I learned so much and made memories that will last a lifetime. Until next time!!