Just a few days ago, my tour group and I returned home from one of the most impactful experiences of our lives. As quickly as the second half of our trip passed and as downhearted as we were to see our return date approaching, I feel confident in saying that we made the most of our time abroad and enjoyed the study abroad to its fullest extent.
Throughout the later half of our trip, we completed our medley of visits to Croatian cities and began to explore both Slovenia and Italy, in that order. Our penultimate destination in Croatia was the incredibly beautiful Krka National Park, full of all the lush greenery and roaring waterfalls that my heart could desire. Our Croatian portion of our trip was concluded in Zadar, a quant city on the Dalmatian coast famous for its ancient Roman ruins and what Alfred Hitchcock described as ?the most beautiful sunset in the world,? (it was cloudy when we went). Following this, we crossed the border into Slovenia and made our way to Ljubljana, the country?s capital city. As rainy as our time there proved to be, we still made a point to sample Ubrnjenik, or Slovenian dumplings of various fillings, and tour the city?s castle upon the hill, which we all wished we took the lift to rather than take the winding, zig-zagging path to the top after an admittedly large meal. In our second day in the country, we were lucky enough to partake in a company visit to Elan Yachts, who were extremely hospitable and courteous in showing us their campus, production process, and lovely views of the surrounding mountain ranges. What?s more, we got to visit the famous Lake Bled, a beautiful body of water with an inner island and secluded church sitting upon it ? my friends and I took turns carrying each other up the 99 steps to the church, though this passage is usually reserved for couples to be married in it. Before entering Italy, we stopped at a local winery and were treated to a wonder 5-course sampling of wines and accompanying tapas preceding a bountiful 3-course meal of traditional pasta and gamey meats. The majority of our time in Venice was spent in the inner city, whose seemingly endless cobble streets carried us to a host of historical sites, hidden shops, and gelato stands (pistachio was my favorite). My time there was highlighted by a visit to Murano Island, famous for its glassblowing prowess, and my first such visit to a Michelin Star restaurant, which I undertook with my friends and will relish for the rest of my life.
As incredible as the slew of famous sites was, my time abroad was made full by the people we were lucky enough to interact with and my fellow students, who served as my family away from home. I cannot recall anyone abroad who so much as turned their nose up at us: everyone we spoke to, ate with, or passed on the street treated us with an unmistakable homeliness and warmness. The handful of company visits we partook in: Ston Oyster Farm, Elan Yachts, and Murano Glass could not have been more courteous in their displays of hospitability, nor more accommodating in answering the various questions about their history, modern business environment, and culture that everyone in our group had. Although this insight into the business environments of Croatia, Slovenia, and Italy is surely limited, I?ve learned that business abroad is more so built on the foundation of strong relationships rather than transactional passings. Furthermore, as was highlighted in my previous blog post, the differing allocation of resources to countries with EU membership and industries with future strategic value was evident and interesting to note. Though modern state strategy has surely influenced this dynamic, I could see how the unique histories of the region due to political ideology, religion, and geographic location played a role in shaping this modern environment.
I am insurmountably grateful to have been a part of this trip and I want to give special thanks to everyone who made this experience possible: my parents, Ms. Guyton, Dr. Panina, and the CIBS Department. I look forward to looking back on my memories and pictures from this trip for the long-lasting joy and international insight they will continue to yield.
