Going on the Europe Marketing trip has been one of the best experiences ever. This trip was full of learning opportunities and memories made with new friends. While abroad I was able to meet and interact with people from many countries in both the business and day-to-day setting. When going on company visits I noticed that the way we act and conduct business here in the U.S. is very similar to what I saw over seas. Many people speak English, as it is the language of business, but I found it very interesting that in countries such as Austria and Italy lots of the people we met spoke at least 3 if not more languages. When we asked how they were able to learn so many languages we were often told just like us they learn languages in school. However, because they are so close to countries that speak different languages it is easy to travel there and be immersed in it to be able to speak more fluently. Other than speaking multiple languages and dressing a little nicer for casual in-office days, I felt like their business world was very similar to what I have experienced here in the United States. This was interesting and comforting to learn as I feel the experience I have gained at Texas A&M University has well prepared to handle professional opportunities that may take place outside of America. While I may feel confident in a business environment, the cultural differences in day-to-day activities such as getting food are what shocked me the most. It was very fascinating to see how little things such as calling the waiter for the bill after your meal made what would have been a normal night out for dinner in the U.S. particularly different. Calling for the bill may seem like a simple task, but when there are numerous tables and what seems like a much more limited wait staff compared to what we have in the U.S., it can make a 1 hour dinner a 2 hour experience. Getting used to the late meals and calling for bill was not a big deal, but what fascinated me the most was how people treated us simply because we were American. Most people were very kind and dealt with our sorry attempts at French, German, and Italian. Others, especially at restaurants, were sometimes short tempered and would get annoyed with any questions we asked. These angrier workers would also prompt us to tip due to that being common in America, despite our advisors telling us that it is not common in Europe. These unpleasant interactions only happened a few times, but it helped me realize that some people have very strong opinions on Americans that may not be favorable. Because of this, it is important to be very kind and respectful of all of the cultural norms that we may not be used to while still being confident in what you would like to say or ask. Another thing I noticed when I was in Austria was how supportive and helpful people can be. Whether it is someone working at a store you are shopping at or a stranger walking down the street, everyone I asked a for help getting somewhere or figuring out what something said was very kind and willing to help. This just goes to show that no matter where you are in the world there are always caring people who aren’t as different from you as you think. Overall, this trip was very eye opening and I had a great time learning about aspects of culture and business in other countries. This broadened my view of career opportunities as I am now intrigued by careers that would allow me to travel and work with people from all over the world.
