I thought it would feel weird coming back to the US after growing so accustomed to the culture in Portugal, but it was just like slipping back into a pair of your favorite shoes. It did, however, make me think about the differences I had noticed abroad. I mentioned in my previous blog post that people in Portugal and people in the US think differently about business in many aspects. The hustle and bustle of American cities is a welcome change from the relaxed vibe of Portugal (paradoxical, I know). I no longer have to remind myself to slow down when thinking of the 20 things I want to accomplish by the end of my day.
I realize this all sounds incredibly dramatic given that I was only in Portugal for 2 weeks, but it was enough for me to have a sort of “culture shock” while coming back home. I do believe my initial impressions of how business is conducted abroad remain accurate; I’m sure in my business classes this semester I will notice all the things Dr. Pace pointed out to us while we were away. In all areas of Mays, it is easy to look for short-term ROI because that is how we are taught to conduct business in the US. When we buy a long-term asset or investment, we are usually able to project how it will do within a few years. Conversely, many of the companies we visited were built from the ground up and probably did not make a profit until 20+ or 40+ years of being in business (and creating a business is a whole different beast than just projecting if an asset will be profitable).
Studying the differences in business was definitely interesting, but the individuals we met were even more intriguing. Firstly, you will notice that everyone is very proud of their company and their company’s goals. Probing questions may be taken the wrong way if the individual senses that you may be questioning the soundness of their operations. Secondly, you will quickly see that as Americans, our reputations precede us, and that can be a good or a bad thing while dealing with individuals abroad. Chanting “USA” in a bar is a good way to get the attention of others, but usually not the kind you would like. Lastly, when an individual approaches you and tries to sell you something, remember, those are bay leaves.
