It?s officially been a week since being home from my time abroad and I can confidently say that this trip has been one of a lifetime! Looking back on my time in France and England, I have many amazing memories and lessons about myself, other cultures, and international business.
A few of my favorite moments of the trip include watching the Eiffel Tower sparkle for the first time, swimming in the Mediterranean Sea, and having tea at Kensington Palace. On our first night in Paris, I ate dinner at a classic Parisian cafe and got the check right in time to walk a few blocks over to the Eiffel Tower. We ran through the streets of Paris to watch it sparkle on time, and it felt like I was in the movie. It truly was magical! Swimming in the Mediterranean on the coast of Nice was another one of my favorite moments. The water was turquoise blue and so relaxing. My final favorite moment of the trip was having afternoon tea at Kensington Palace in London. The tea was delicious, the food was so cute, and everything was Jubilee-themed. There were many more amazing memories but those were some of my favorites!
Another favorite part of the trip was the company visits! We visited the Paris Chamber of Commerce, French Luxury Brands, BETC Ad Agency, LOKE, Superunion, Guild Living, and Lloyd?s of London. All of the presentations did a great job of explaining the company and how they do business in either the French or British markets or both. The biggest difference I noticed in the business culture between European countries and the US is work-life balance. The Europeans said that Americans often live to work, work to live and place all their worth in productivity. But in Europe, I found that this was different. They place greater importance on life and time away from work. It was an important lesson to learn before entering the corporate world myself!
Feeling thankful and grateful for this past month of traveling with the best friends, classmates, and professors. A trip that I will remember for the rest of my life!
