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.
