I went on the Accounting Africa Trip, where I visited South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Eswatini. I enjoyed this trip because I was able to visit countries that were different from mine. I gained a more global perspective and had my horizons broadened beyond just the Western world. A part of broadening my perspective has been breaking false assumptions. Before my study abroad experience, I was unfamiliar with the differences in African countries. Because I had not experienced this continent, I grouped it together in my thoughts. However, I now know about the many diversities among the different countries in Africa. Weather, culture, government, industries, and behaviors varied between the countries I visited. For instance, Cape Town, South Africa is along a cold current, so the weather is typically cooler. However, Livingstone, Zambia is typically warm at the same time of year. Eswatini has a monarchy and allows polygamy in their country, while South Africa has three different capital cities that house the three branches of a republic government. While doing business, it is important to understand the differences between countries or even cities of the same area.
Overall, I am grateful for the opportunity to travel and learn more about cultures that are different than mine. People from different countries and backgrounds think differently, so people need to utilize this diversity in business. African people are resourceful, intelligent, kind, and hard-working. They would be an asset to an American business team because of their different experiences. This trip was out of my normal comfort zone. I flew to a part of the world that is different than the United States. However, my major takeaway is that all of humanity has core similarities. Most people are kind, knowledgeable, and work to make the lives of their children better than their own. Most people like to laugh and learn from others. At our core, we are more similar than different to people even thousands of miles from us.
