Personal Development Part II

As I reflect back to my trip now that it is over, I am very grateful for this experience. I learned so much about European culture, international business, and myself as a future businessman. I really gained a strong appreciation for the European culture and their way of living. Even though they do things very differently than here in the United States, they have a strong love for their history and lifestyle and I think it is very important than nobody loses their cultural uniqueness. I was concerned with how I would get around and interact with people before the trip, but I realized that people are very kind and willing to help if you show interest in them and their life. I honestly wouldn’t do much different besides maybe researching a little more about European history. I felt very prepared on European government and international business, but we saw a lot of famous landmarks and historical sites that I wished I could remember from my history classes. I learned so much on this trip about my own self and being able to do international business. I would love to one day work with international companies because I know that most businesses these days have some sort of international component. Overall my trip was very meaningful to me and my personal and professional life. I’ll never forget this opportunity and I’m extremely grateful for the friendships I made with the faculty and students I traveled with.

Language

I faced so many challenges when it came to language. We did receive excellent training on basic language strategies before travelling to Europe, but having lived in Mexico for two years and understanding how long it takes to adapt to a new culture, I knew I was doomed. Even though it was very difficult for me to communicate with the locals, I tried anyway. I wasn’t embarrassed to give it a shot. I did learn the Spanish people are more acceptable of your attempts and failing compared to the French who expect you to speak fluently and are very reluctant to help. I overcame these difficulties with humor. I would purposely be the funny American who didn’t know much but tried hard to get their help and it would work most of the time. I was surprised with how many people knew English and even if they said they knew a little bit it was a lot more than I expected. I never once felt helpless, but I felt lost a lot! I didn’t understand any of the signs or other advertisements most places we went to and I couldn’t write my concerns down for someone. I relied mainly on asking for someone who spoke English and tourist centers located in train stations because I knew they would speak English. Even though I felt lost most of the time, this was part of the experience and I wouldn’t have it any other way!

The Louvre

For my Historical Perspective journal entry I want to talk about my visit to the Louvre. I was looking forward to this visit very much. I knew that we would need days to visit all of the 652,000 square feet and we only had one afternoon, so we decided to visit only a few sections. The most memorable pieces for me were the Mona Lisa, The Winged Victory of Samothrace, and Napoleon’s Apartment. I just thought it was so neat to see some of the World’s most famous art masterpieces in person. I didn’t understand why the Mona Lisa was so famous until I investigated the painting’s history that involves being stolen and traded around because of the great reputation the Mona Lisa held. I liked the Winged Victory of Samothrace because it was a lot bigger than I thought it would be and the detail that went into creating it is unbelievable. Napoleon’s Apartment was definitely worth seeing. I couldn’t believe the quality of the materials that were used to build such a beautiful entrance and architecture design. Overall, the parts of the Louvre that I was able to see impressed me very much. I would love to take my wife back one day and spend more time walking around. You basically can learn most of Europe’s historical background through artwork. The saying, “A picture says a thousand words” is proven correct because one could spend hours just analyzing one painting and even that may not be enough to fully understand what the artist was feeling at the time of its creation.

Versailles

The Palace of Versailles was another of my most memorable visits in France. The outside of the palace took my breath away, especially the gold craftsmanship that went into the surrounding gates and parts of the outside of the building. I learned that Versailles, at the time of Louis XIV, symbolized absolute monarchy and a desire of King Louis’s to establish a new center for the royal court. The artwork and architecture inside the palace was impressive. Despite the large crowds, we were able to get through the entire palace. My favorite sections of the palace were the Hall of Mirrors and the Queen’s Bed Chamber. Both of these sections stood out because of the elaborate decorations and fine detail that went into their construction. They were beautiful rooms that only a very wealthy person could have commissioned. One interesting thing that happened while we were there was the display of modern art from a Japanese Artist named Murakami. I attached a photo so you can see for yourself the unusual contrast of ancient/historic architecture and art with modern Japanese animation. I personally felt the modern art displays clashed with the Palace of Versailles, but it was neat to see how they displayed different artist’s work throughout the palace. There were very many Japanese visitors and I noticed they were taking many photos of the modern art. I assume displaying the artwork of a native Japanese artist helped Versailles attract even more people to visit.

Public Spaces

I felt like the bigger cities in Europe (i.e. Paris, Brussels, Munich, etc.) did not have any public space dedicated to relaxing and showing beautiful landscapes that are so well known throughout Europe. Switzerland was my favorite place to see landscape and farmland. I absolutely loved the amount of space used for grazing cows and agriculture. It not only symbolized the Swiss agriculture, but it gave tourists like me a deeper appreciation for Switzerland, and when I get a chance to return to Europe, I will definitely be visiting Switzerland because of its beauty. Being from Utah, I appreciate open space because there is a feeling of freedom and comfort opposed to being busy and rushed. The mountain ranges in Switzerland and Utah are very beautiful and give a feeling of protection. Of all the countries we visited, I could see myself living in Switzerland.

Transportation

Transportation in Europe is very different than in Utah. The main difference is the trains and metro lines. I was amazed with how fast I could get around. I actually felt really comfortable using the metros and figuring out where to go. The doors would shut pretty fast and you had to be quick on your feet, but I liked that aspect and was excited anytime we had to travel on the metro lines. Trains were fun to ride because we were able to see the countryside. From my observations, there were a lot of younger people using the types of transportations we did. I can tell that trains and metros are a more affordable way to get around and older people were traveling more by car. We were checked multiple times for our tickets and in the metros we weren’t even allowed to get through the gates unless we had tickets. I laughed when I saw people hurdle over the gates to avoid having to buy a ticket. Our travel experience was better having to learn and use the metro lines and trains. I have a lot of confidence now if I ever go back to Europe that I can find my way around. The people living in Europe having to use the metros and trains could face problems, especially having to get to work because you would have to walk each day to and from the metro or train and the time it takes to travel. I would think people there have to schedule their time very well in order to be to work on time. Depending on the transportation system so much would be difficult, but very possible because I found the trains and metros to be very reliable.

Curling

I had to mention Curling because I thought it was so much fun. I always thought curling would be a boring sport when I would watch it on television for the Olympics, but I was proven very wrong. I actually was on the winning team at the end! We won because our enthusiasm and team spirit was greater than the other teams. I felt like I would curl better knowing my team was supporting me and cheering me on. Curling is definitely a team sport and requires a soft touch and good concentration. Of all the times I went, I only made it into the target three times. It was a lot more difficult than I thought it would be. Dominique was very kind to show us how to do it and overall I had a very good experience learning how to curl.

Public Opinion About The EU

I remembered to ask people about their thoughts about the European Union throughout all my conversations with locals on the trains, metros, and other places. In Switzerland, everyone I spoke with agreed that Switzerland would never officially join the EU, but were glad that some things were integrated. One person expressed their gratitude to freely move around country borders because it would be very difficult if that were more strictly monitored for Swiss citizens. People in Germany were very optimistic about the EU and further integration. A lot of locals didn’t seem to know very much about specific institutions, but they were very opinionated about their countries identity and role as part of the EU, especially the French. The differences in opinion most definitely differed by demographics, social class, and age. The younger generations seemed to not care as much because they worried about their education and the older generations seemed to be stuck on certain issues and weren’t very open to further integration. For the most part, I felt that the Europeans were supportive of the EU, but felt it was important to keep their individual and cultural identities.

Dachau

The Dachau concentration camp is a very popular tourist attraction for Huntsman Scholars because it is fairly easy to get to out of Munich and there is no charge to get in. Dachau was the first Nazi concentration camp in Germany that was in use from 1933 to 1960. The most interesting fact about Dachau is that its location is very unique and in the video shown at the camp it explains the surrounding towns had no idea what exactly was happening in the old abandoned factories. Over 25,000 prisoners died at Dachau from various reasons including gas chambers, disease, malnutrition, and suicide. There is a very somber feeling at the camp and it’s very interesting to hear the stories told because they are not one-sided. When visiting Europe, I would highly recommend studying and seeing a concentration camp because it brings to life what we learn about in History classes and textbooks. I have been able to appreciate my freedom and lifestyle more because of studying about this camp.

Waterloo

As we were

As we were traveling to Belgium, we passed the famous site of Waterloo as depicted in the picture above. Dean Anderson began to quiz us if we knew what was so significant about this battle. I remembered the Battle of Waterloo was fought in the early 1800's between Emperor Napoleon and the Duke of Welllington, but I learned that it was this battle that put an end to Napoleon's reign as Emperor of the French and ended his return from exile. It was very neat to be traveling next to such a historic sight and reflect how far Europe has come from constant war to now working with the European Union unifying European Countries. I also reflected on our chocolate simulation in class and reading our book on understanding the European Union. It's amazing to think that Europe is fighting political and policy battles rather than combat or other types of war. Even though it can be frustrating at times nobody agrees on an issue, the advantages and progress made over the last 50 years is well worth it. After reflecting on all this, we arrived at Huntsman Chemical and were given a very nice discussion of European History and its significance. This was very appropriate and our class was able to make certain connections between European History and culture norms found in European business.

Consumer Behavior- My H&M Experience

For my second consumer behavior post I knew I had to talk about my shopping experience in H&M. When I first told my wife that I would be going to Europe for a month without her she was very happy for me and "suggested" I bring her back some clothes. I spent time in a variety of different shops, but I quickly realized the clothing was very expensive. The one place I found that was moderately priced was H&M. I spent probably three or four hours total shopping for my wife and I found some really nice things. The clothing was very European and very fashionable. There were lots of ruffles, lace, and flowers with every item. I was relieved to not see the American Eagle type of clothing we are so use to here in the United States. Another difference I noticed was the lack of customer service due to lots of customers. I never once was approached while shopping in H&M by an employee. In the United States, retail employees get commission on sales they induce, but I doubt that happens with H&M employees based on my observations. The store layout had similarities and differences compared to stores in the United States. The store was divided into sections, but the men's section in Europe seemed to have a greater selection and was targeted towards a slimmer body type. The women's sizes were also not comparable to the United States, even though they put the United States size on the shirt. When I was picking out a shirt for my wife, I had to buy two sizes bigger than normal. Checking out was very difficult in Europe. The lines were very long and busy, but worth the wait for the price H&M offered. I was able to get some nice things for my wife, which she loved by the way, and we will probably shop on H&M online in the future because of the style, shape, and price of their clothes.

Kebab!!!

My dining experiences in Europe were very unique. I've mentioned chocolate, Swiss Raclette, American McDonalds; however, I have yet to mention my favorite- the kebab! The kebab originated in Turkey, but has made its way all across Europe. I saw kebab places in every country we visited. My favorite kebabs were served with French fries and extra meat. I usually asked for a mix of lamb and chicken, but the lamb is what makes the kebab so original. Although you can find this food here in Utah, it just tastes different in Europe because of the original sauces and flavors. I highly recommend trying a kebab when traveling to Europe and make sure they put extra spicy sauce on it.

Company Visits

Disneyland Paris

Unfortunately we were unable to speak with any Disney management representatives, but we still were able to visit the park for an entire day. I was very grateful the professors just let us go around the park and enjoy every minute. I grew up going to Disneyland every year, so I was very interested in the differences I saw. The main things that were different from Disneyland California were: The cast members were not as friendly or cooperative, the rides were designed for a colder climate, the target market seemed to be a little older age group and not so much focused on children, the parks were very small and both could be visited in one day, and the language was a mix between French, English, and Spanish. Even though these differences existed, I still felt like I was in Disneyland. That was my biggest concern because I was expecting to be disappointed, but I wasn’t. I felt Disneyland Paris adapted to the variety of cultures very well and could please almost anyone looking for a “Disney” experience. I had so much fun running around with our group of ten people. We were looked at a lot because of our American accents and loud voices, but a lot of the people smiled at us (maybe because they were laughing at us). We stayed until the park closed and I did buy a few things as souvenirs. There were many products that were unique to Disneyland Paris (i.e. winter hats and ear muffs and things that actually had Paris emphasized). My experience with Disneyland Paris was positive and I would go back with my family for sure.

Microsoft Europe

Before this visit I thought I knew a lot about technology, but I don’t feel that way anymore. I felt like my grandmother who can barely send a text message as I was playing Microsoft’s new Connect- I played ping pong without any controller or paddle and it sensed my movements through digital cameras. The technology Microsoft is developing globally is moving rapidly. We did hear a figure that it takes about 15-20 years to invent, create, and implement a new product. It was fun to be in their facility and get a sneak peak into the new things they are creating. We watched a youtube video that showed a product that I would buy. It was a small box about four inches long, two inches wide, and less than half an inch thick that was used as a universal card. It could be a drivers license, credit card, boarding pass, etc. I thought that seemed very useful. I also like the idea of not having computers or telephones on your desk, but they would be built into your desk. Just seeing some of the products that are the gateways to this technology blew my mind. I’m actually scared for my children and the new technologies that will tempt their lives. Even though I have no plans on going into the technology industry, this visit was helpful because I will certainly be using technology and it’s nice to know Microsoft is a good resource to use to help me and my technological needs.

OECD

The Organization For Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) was a visit very beneficial to me because I went in only knowing the little what I had researched on my own and left with a greater knowledge of the importance of their organization. A few facts I learned include: The OECD currently has 34 members and growing; Russia is a country currently trying to enter; the United States has been providing one-fourth of the OECD budget, but it’s currently declining; and next year is the OECD’s 50^th anniversary. Our tour guide, Andrew, was quite delightful. He was by far the most typical “French” man even though he was from the United States. Our first presenter, Will, was a younger guy who graduated from Brigham Young University who we actually saw at church the next Sunday. He gave us excellent insight about the process the join the OECD through internships. Our second presenter, France Chain, spoke about anti-bribery work the OECD does through their law department. This was very interesting and noble they would dedicate their careers to fighting such a cause. We got a good tour of the facility after and the visit ended up being very informational and they treated us very well.

NATO

Our NATO visit was a different setting than I expected, but fantastic to say the least. We were recommended to meet them for lunch at a restaurant in Brussels that was quite small and compact, but the food was very good and the speakers were even better. James Snyder was my favorite speaker. He was an American and gave interesting insight to how NATO was operating. He mentioned they do not target countries to join NATO and remain consistent to their mission of protection. There was a speaker who I didn’t enjoy because he seemed to be doing a stand up comedy routine rather than giving us valuable information that we traveled half way across the world to hear. The final speaker, Adrian Kendry- Senior Defense Economist and Head Defense and Security Economics, was a very good public speaker and gave us his powerpoint presentation that had some very good numbers. For example, the US research and development is five times greater than Europe, China aims to be a middle income country by 2020, and China will overtake the US sometime in the 2020’s as the world’s largest economy. I don’t necessarily believe each of these figures, but they do give interesting discussion of what the US needs to do as globalization continues. Overall, our NATO lunch was very good and I’m excited to know more about their organization because I’m picking up valuable information that is very useful in my personal and professional life.

Caterpillar

This visit was sprung onto us last minute because the European Commission fell through. I enjoyed having another factory tour and learning about operations. One thing that stood out to me was the fact that Caterpillar stores parts of their machines up to 40 or 50 years after being built. This didn’t seem like a good idea at first, but after our tour guide gave more insight as to why, it made more sense. The machines purchased are very expensive and high quality. There is no reason to replace the entire machine when one little part gets damaged or needs replacing. Caterpillar had storage shelves all over the place to facilitate their customer’s needs for one specific part or enough parts to assemble an entire new machine. The Six Sigma process they follow to manage the warehouse was very impressive. Every employee is required to give input of what they can do to improve their operation. This method of learning establishes best practices and I actually am incorporating a lot of this into my leadership taxonomy. Our tour guide did mention multiple times their infrastructure inside the factory was very outdated and slow. I noticed the boxes moved very slowly on the pathways designed for them to move around. That seems to be a difficult challenge and would be very frustrating as a manager to deal with. I thought Caterpillar was doing everything possible and seems to be on the right track to stay competitive in their industry.

InBev

I’ll have to be very honest about our InBev visit. I would say it has been the least favorite of mine. There are a couple of reasons why. First, our tour guide admitted he didn’t work in the facility and that he was a “free lance” tour guide. Second, the machines were not functioning because of cleaning so we didn’t get to see the beer bottling process. I was impressed with their facility and the amount of beer they produce on a daily basis, but I didn’t learn as much from this visit as I have from the others.

Huntsman Chemical

Up to this point, the Huntsman Chemical visit has been the most entertaining. We were given a very good debriefing of European culture and the adjustments one would need to make to work internationally. We also were given a brief introduction to what polyurethane is and what it makes (i.e. shoes, mattress foams, car seats, etc.). I learned that insulating your house is the best way to save energy and polyurethane is a good insulator for that. After our discussions we were given a very good tour of their facility and actually got to see polyurethane in action. My favorite part was seeing how they designed Nike shocks because I love those shoes. The lunch we had after the tour was incredible. We ate like kings and left feeling very full. This visit was very beneficial to me because I’ve enjoyed learning about Jon M. Huntsman and the business models he creates. Of all the visits, I was proud to be a Utahan and associate myself with the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business at Huntsman Chemical.

World Trade Organization

I never thought I would be in the WTO delegation room, but I was! Our tour was very interesting and informative. The gentleman who assisted us was very specific on what the WTO does. The things he mentioned that I noted down was that the power of the WTO rests completely with the members, you must compromise (all countries usually leave a little unhappy for not getting exactly what they were fighting for), and there are no side deals allowed- complete transparency in WTO transactions. To work for the WTO you would need to love the international field of work. Another thing that stuck out to me in our visit was how the presenter focused for a minute or two on how the United States citizens shouldn’t always have a “buy American” attitude. The United States needs other countries to trade with because there are many commodities and resources we can’t get ourselves (i.e. cell phone parts for blackberry’s). I’ll admit I’ve never really used where a product is made as my final decision, but it’s good to know what he said because I do speak with others on occasion who could use that advice.

ICRC

Visiting the ICRC in Geneva, Switzerland was very informational. We watched a video introducing the ICRC, heard from an ICRC delegate, and then from an ICRC humanitarian law representative. The one thing that stands out the most about our visit was the ICRC’s strict policy to represent all parties in a neutral manner. They help both citizens and soldiers no matter what side they are on and in her words, “good or bad guys”. This is reflected in their mission statement, “To protect the lives and dignity of victims of armed conflict and other situations of violence and to provide them with assistance.” The ICRC has offices all over the world as well as delegates from many countries working for them. This is important because I know the symbols that represent them now and if I’m ever in a dangerous situation during a time of war I know who to look to for help. I really want to get on their website and donate some money to help their cause. I don’t have much, but I want to help anyway I can. Our second speaker was a younger lady from Mexico City, Mexico. Because of living in Mexico, I was very impressed with her desire to serve abroad and work internationally. I learned a lot from her presentation on how the ICRC represents themselves in legal matters. The one thing she said that would be the most helpful to anyone in war would be to surrender your weapon in case of a near death experience. If you surrender and become a prisoner of war, there are legal rights protecting you and its important to know this just in case.

Medtronic

We had a wonderful visit with Tom Caine at Medtronic. Tom graduated from the University of Utah, went to Wharton for his MBA, lived in Minnesota four years working for Medtronic, and now is a Medtronic Project Manager of a heart pump in Switzerland. I was looking forward to this visit the most because I’ve known for a long time that I want to work in the Healthcare industry. I’ve been debating between hospital administration and the medical device sector. I was able to speak with Tom a little bit on my own and he recommended I continue researching and look for the opportunities that open up. Learning about heart pacemakers was very special to me because my dad received a heart transplant about ten years ago and had a pacemaker for about a year before his new heart arrived. The pacemaker saved his life on a handful of occasions and I was able to see as a child how important medical devices and good healthcare service can influence a family like mine. Tom gave a very good tour of Medtronic’s facility in Switzerland. I especially liked when he talked about Medtronic’s Lean Management principles. We spent some time talking about this before the tour, but it was good to see it in action. Another important topic we discussed with Tom was ethical business decisions. Tom was very passionate about honesty in the work place and following company policy. He gave all of the Huntsman Scholar’s hope for the future and maintaining the honest reputation that should be upheld in good companies like Medtronic. Overall, our visit was excellent. It’s something I’ll never forget and will refer back to many times as my career progresses.

Amundi Asset Management

Today Marie Pascal came to speak with us. She is from Amundi, an asset management company that is part of Credit Agricole. Of all the numbers and figures she gave us I thought the most interesting was that they manage over $100,000 billion. This is important because hopefully one day I'll be at a point in my life where I can actually use a company like Amundi. I don't plan on working for a financial institution, but I do want to know my money is safe and growing. If I had the resources, I would invest in land and other equity. I hope a Huntsman Scholar ends up working for Amundi or another investment company so that I can invest with somebody I can trust.