The first city our group visited was Lisbon, Portugal. Initially, my thoughts surrounding Portugal were based on the little geographic and cultural information I had obtained before departure. Throughout my first week, I was able to immerse myself in the city’s culture and learn more about the differences between Portugal and the United States. Moreover, we began visiting local startup companies and learning about what factors and practices make their business successful in the community.
Almost immediately, I noticed a huge difference in the delivery and creation of food at restaurants. For instance, on the first night, we went to a local pizzeria and I noticed how much more fresh the ingredients were. I also realized how many people walk instead of drive in the city. The roads are accessible and essential shops such as restaurants, grocery stores, convenience shops, and pharmacies are within a reasonable distance. Instead of concrete sidewalks, the sidewalks are formed with slabs of stone. Additionally, the locals live right above shops and along major streets.
Throughout my time in Portugal, I hope to be able to evaluate my own culture and compare it to Portuguese culture. I decided to study abroad to broaden my expectations and challenge myself to experience new things. I hope to learn more about the country?s culture while also learning about specific entrepreneurship tactics. Additionally, I hope to grow closer with my peers and have the opportunity to collaborate in order to form solutions to the challenges the company?s present to us.
For the remainder of this week, we will be spending our time in Porto, Portugal. So far, I enjoy the city more than Lisbon as it seems less busy and more quiet. I am eager to be able to fully compare the two cities and see how the businesses operate in comparison to each other.
