Upon arriving in Portugal, I immediately realized just how much I had to gain from this study abroad experience. Not only do I have much to learn about the rich culture, but the program itself emphasizes asking questions and reflecting upon our experiences.
The itinerary created for us includes various business visits as well as cultural excursions. One of my favorite parts of the trip so far has been visiting a variety of Portuguese businesses, both small and large. I have gotten to learn the intricacies in the production of cork, wine, olive oil, etc., and have a much higher appreciation for the olive oil on the shelf in H-E-B and the cork in my Birkenstock shoes! Further, it has been extremely interesting to reflect upon the cultural differences between Portugal and the U.S. that influence businesses. For instance, many businesses create products that take years to produce. Cork trees, for example, can only be harvested every 9 years and only produce high-quality cork on the second harvest! The emphasis on long-term investment for these companies is much more prominent than in the U.S. As our trip continues, I am most looking forward to now learn about the differences between small and large companies and whether that emphasis on long-term planning stays consistent.
With its narrow and tiled roads, bustling squares, and live music on the streets, Lisbon is a city different than anything I have seen before! It has been interesting to identify small cultural differences that I had never even thought of before. Going into the rest of the trip, I am excited to try different traditional Portuguese foods like codfish cakes! One thing I was nervous about for the trip was the language barrier. On our first free night, I went to a delicious dinner with a few other students where I realized that even with the language barrier, many of the people here are used to working through that and went out of their way to help us. I definitely put the word ?obrigada? (thank you in Portuguese) to use.
Overall, the first few days in Lisbon have me even more excited about what this trip has in store. I look forward to learning more through conversations with tour guides on our company visits, meals spent with fellow students and reflection upon the many experiences here.
