Wow, it?s been almost a week since I?ve been in Lisboa (sorry, Lisbon) and I already miss it! Our second week in Portugal was so much fun, and every day went by faster than the the one before.
The second half of this program was spent in Porto, Portugal, known for growing grapes that make Port wine. Visiting Quinta do Tedo, a winery in Duoro Valley, was probably my favorite part of the second half of the trip. The Duoro Valley had some of the most beautiful views I had ever seen, our tour guide was so nice and insightful and taught us a lot about the wine and the history of the winery, and, of course, the wine was amazing! Our tour guide even told us about a tradition where you buy a bottle of Port the day your kids are born, and then open it on their 18th birthday. A lot of us found that interesting and want to adopt that tradition!
Overall, the company visits were all super interesting, and I could tell that everyone that we talked to was excited to share their passion with us. I think a huge difference between business in America and business in Portugal is the focus on sustainability. Every company that we talked to mentioned how they are trying to be sustainable and socially responsible, and I thought that was really cool.
Going to Portugal was probably the best experience I?ve had here at A&M. As a senior, this was my last opportunity to be able to study abroad, and I am so grateful that I was able to do so. I made great friends and so many amazing memories that I will cherish forever.