One week felt so quick. This experience was once in a lifetime and I?m so lucky to experience it. My knowledge of international business has grown so much. Being able to talk to different companies and hear them talk about how the United States plays a big part in their economy. How they use their unique factors like the canal to draw more people to work with them. Opening of free trade zones because having a certain area for buying draws people in. They can see a different variety of brands and sell them without tax to foreigners.
Even being able to meet with PepsiCo or Est?e Lauder. Names that we know and see in our daily lives but get to hear about employees’ experiences. They were excited to talk to us and wanted to hear our questions more than anything. The majority of the companies had diverse work environments. Every company prioritized diversity and expansion. Employees started in one sector of their company and with time moved around the company. Promoting us to look into everything and find what we feel fits us.
Experiencing the culture will probably be my biggest take away though. The food, people, atmosphere, and history are so unique. Everyone takes pride in what they do whether it?s a tour guide or someone who makes bracelets. They can talk about their job and country whenever. But they are so open to learning about us even more than anything. Getting to hear our view of Panam? and giving us their personal favorites to try.
This week has been filled with trying new things, talking to new people, and exploring. I have no doubt I will go aboard again because I love seeing new parts of countries. Looking and researching has nothing on actually being able to see things firsthand. Hearing how Panam?’s history of being the reason they are trying to modernize some parts but how some parts are sticking to the original. I want to keep up with Panam? and see how some companies and families try to resolve the debate on what to do with Panam?. Keep it like it was from the beginning or modernize it completely.
