Now that the trip is sadly behind me, I can fully look back on my time abroad and share some final thoughts.
I think the overall laid-back nature of Portugal was what struck me most surprising. Especially with regards to the industry. The olive oil farm we visited, the cork production facility, the various wineries, etc. all held such respect for their craft. They made it seem as though they cared deeply for their product; their businesses were not solely for profit maximization, but also due to a passion for the product itself. The cork farmer had a meticulous environmental approach to biodiversity and sustainability, the winery in Douro Valley has vintages prepared for milestone years in the future. It all struck me as caring about the past, present, and future, which was an interesting worldview, as back in the United States, we seem solely focused on the present.
The trip was absolutely wonderful. Whether in Porto or Lisbon, wherever you turned marked a wonderful structure just begging for a photograph. I think my favorite place had to be Sintra. The palaces there were insanely intricate, with ornate sculptures and glorious gardens; I am unsure I have ever been somewhere more beautiful. The cultural intricacies, the friends I made, the lessons I learned, all culminated into a wonderful and life-changing two-week excursion–One that I would recommend to any Mays student. Study abroad! It will be the time of your life!