One of my biggest takeaways from the entrepreneurship and business side of our trip to Portugal was the prioritization of environmental sustainability within business operations. Every company we had the opportunity to visit had some sort of sustainability plan. Many companies have adopted zero-waste manufacturing plans. This differs significantly from what we ultimately see in the United States. While many U.S. companies have begin shifting their focus towards sustainability efforts, it looks like we are largely behind the trend compared to other highly-developed countries.
Regarding my initial impressions of the culture. I contend the assumption that life in Portugal moves at a slower pace was correct. I do not believe this is a bad thing. It was refreshing to see friends and families sit down and enjoy their meal in fellowship with one another. I enjoyed being able to sit down and drink my coffee while soaking up the environment all around me. This is a practice I want to strive to implement in my own life. I believe that in the U.S. we have placed an emphasis on maximizing efficiency in our schedules, but that is not what is always best for us as people. It was fascinating to see that prioritized abroad.
Lastly, while this is something I almost always notice when I travel abroad, almost anywhere you go you will find people who speak English. I think this differs significantly from the United States in respect to other languages. For example, when we travel abroad we often speak in English to locals assuming they will understand, and oftentimes they do. However when others visit the United States, we often do not take the opportunity to communicate with them in their language, because there is not a priority on multilingual comprehension in the United States. This is something I would personally love to see changed.
