Howdy! My name is Audrey Knoll and I have the honor of participating in the faculty-led study abroad program in Europe with Dr Mac this year. My initial impression of the global business program was very positive and enthusiastic. I believe that the first time that I heard about Mays’ study abroad opportunities was when I was in high school and touring the program. I remember thinking it was super cool that they offered so many different programs and that so many Aggies studied abroad, even if it wasn?t a whole semester (pre-covid). We partner with IBS to keep in touch and I was glad to hear we have an app that accompanies our itinerary on the trip. There was nothing that I felt uneasy about going into this program and I am thrilled that even only one week in, my confidence has remained. Our first country was England (we were in London specifically) and I was thrilled that this would be my first city in Europe. I have fallen in love with London and everything the city has to offer. I am compelled by the food, people, and overall ambiance of the city. My initial impression was just thinking about how cool the architecture was and how lucky I was to be there. From this global experience, I hope to gain more knowledge about various European countries and cultures. I want to broaden my horizon and perspective on worldview. I want to meet new people and make new friends! I want to gain new experiences and make grow as a businesswoman and leader! Most of all, I want to have fun and make lots of memories to cherish forever. Obviously, there are lots of differences between the UK and the US but both places are viewed optimistically in my mind. One difference is that the British people know very well about what is going on in America but Americans don?t know too much about foreign countries. It was cool getting to know and converse with various Brits. Another difference is the fact that London has pubs and fish and chips all over the place. This was my first time trying it and I am very happy with my results. Another big difference is that they take the tube everywhere. This helps me to be a little more active and find out how the ?subway? system of London works. There were few people that were rude to us (especially compared to Paris). I am jealous that get to be surrounded by such great structures and community. London is beautiful and I could absolutely see myself living there.
