Howdy! It has been almost one full week since we left Texas for France, and this time has certainly not been a disappointment! These past few days have already been such a blast, and I cannot wait to continue to learn more about Strasbourg and Europe in general.
Since arriving in Strasbourg, I and the other students on this trip have been met with some pretty substantial culture shocks. For example, most (if not all) cities in Europe are extremely walkable! Cars are pretty much on par in frequency with bikes, and most people walk everywhere they go. Most European towns are structured closer together than American towns, affording their inhabitants ease of transport. So far, the global business program has proved to be extremely beneficial and eye-opening! We have spent a large portion of our class time thus far discussing things like European culture, things that affect currency exchange rates, and other things pertaining to conducting business internationally. It has been really interesting to begin to cultivate my knowledge of this new perspective on business, and I am excited to continue to do so! Another beneficial part of this trip has been the opportunity to speak to some locals at the school we attend! Many French students learn English beginning in elementary school, so a relatively large percentage of younger people in Strasbourg are fluent or pretty close! It has been really cool to talk to these students about their lives and their own studies of business.
Looking toward the future, I am most looking forward to further investigating the interesting differences between American and French culture, as well as see other parts of Europe! I hope to apply this knowledge to my future business pursuits, as I will have a much more well-rounded perspective on how business (and life in general) is conducted in other parts of the world!
