From day one of this trip: I realized how much I did not know. I was, for the first time, living in a foreign place where I did not know the customs, the language or the lifestyle. Throughout my time in Italy, I learned that these gaps in knowledge did not necessarily separate me from Italian people, but rather gave me grounds to examine other ways of living that may be similar or completely contrasting to my own. Related to my coursework over the European Union, we were able to observe course material in a firsthand experience. When flying in, departing and in all of the in-between moments, I was able to observe the efforts of the EU in action. Thanks to my greater academic understanding of the functionality of the EU, my awareness was heightened to notice these things. Additionally, I found myself comparing these efforts to the way that the U.S. operates, as the EU is a completely different economic and political entity of integration. When flying from France to Italy, I noticed a lack of harsh security in the airport, as I came to understand that this was a result of the EU. Across the board, I used the Euro as the only form of currency: a standard set in EU states. This led to me dealing with conversions that allowed me to convert my U.S. Dollars into Euros. By visiting large tourist and economic hubs within Italy, my classmates and I were given the opportunity to see how Italy as an EU state both contributes to, and may be limiting to, the EU’s economic activity through the various industries they rely on and their means of business being focused more largely on small-businesses than other global powers or EU states. Coming from the U.S., one of the most interesting things to observe firsthand is Italy’s tourism industry, as well as how it may be changing as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects, leaning towards recuperating losses and/or modernization efforts. As I travel back to the U.S., I can carry what I have learned through this program by not only sharing my own experience with others, but by encouraging them to go and be immersed in a similar environment. I credit most of the personal growth and maturity that I gained from this trip to the level of independence and “figure it out” attitude I learned to operate in as I navigated a literal foreign place. As a result, I cannot wait to push others to be eager to take part in these same experiences that broadened my perspective on the unity of man and the beauty of other cultures. From a business perspective, this program has shown me the value of learning the culture of others as you engage in business in order to have the most polite dealings and effective outcomes. For instance, Italian business is centered on trust. Therefore, the best way to conduct business in an international setting would be to focus on building trust between your company and the Italian company prior to carrying out negotiations. One way to do this could be to share a meal or get to know their family: two additional important pillars of Italian culture. Overall, this experience has undoubtedly given me greater Aggie connections with both students and faculty, but has also granted me a more globalized perspective that I will carry with me as I approach business in the future.
