Business in Latin America.
Descriptive Reflection
Over a period of 5 weeks, my Lindner Honors-PLUS class of 24 students embarked on our program's first-ever study abroad to Latin America. This experience included stops in Chile, Argentina, and Brazil, where we visited top business cities such as Santiago, Buenos Aires, and Sao Paulo. In each city, we partnered with a local university or organization to help us understand the business culture, history, and current economic, political, and societal issues of the country. The organizations set up many great speakers for us, which served to enhance our experience at company visits. We were able to apply our newly-gained knowledge about the country and economic climate to ask pertinent and important questions about how the company operates in its given economic state.
Quite possibly the most prolific and impactful way to learn about a new concept, issue, or way of life is through physical immersion into such matters. Learning through this study abroad engagement has allowed me to not only absorb the new environment and lectures, but question, challenge, and expand on concepts relevant to my life and consequently deepen my understanding of the world around me. In preparation for my first-ever abroad experience, especially in the context of global business and culture, I challenged myself to open my eyes, ears, and senses to the new people, environment, and business atmosphere. I set aside all preconceived notions of the cultures and environments to allow myself to absorb as much truth as possible. Returning from this experience, I am have been able to not only reflect on my learnings on the trip, but expand these experiences to improve my development personally, academically, and professionally as I move forward in my life.
Over a period of 5 weeks, my Lindner Honors-PLUS class of 24 students embarked on our program's first-ever study abroad to Latin America. This experience included stops in Chile, Argentina, and Brazil, where we visited top business cities such as Santiago, Buenos Aires, and Sao Paulo. In each city, we partnered with a local university or organization to help us understand the business culture, history, and current economic, political, and societal issues of the country. The organizations set up many great speakers for us, which served to enhance our experience at company visits. We were able to apply our newly-gained knowledge about the country and economic climate to ask pertinent and important questions about how the company operates in its given economic state.
Quite possibly the most prolific and impactful way to learn about a new concept, issue, or way of life is through physical immersion into such matters. Learning through this study abroad engagement has allowed me to not only absorb the new environment and lectures, but question, challenge, and expand on concepts relevant to my life and consequently deepen my understanding of the world around me. In preparation for my first-ever abroad experience, especially in the context of global business and culture, I challenged myself to open my eyes, ears, and senses to the new people, environment, and business atmosphere. I set aside all preconceived notions of the cultures and environments to allow myself to absorb as much truth as possible. Returning from this experience, I am have been able to not only reflect on my learnings on the trip, but expand these experiences to improve my development personally, academically, and professionally as I move forward in my life.
Experiential Learning Artifact
The best way I am able to showcase my experience over these days in Latin America is through my photo blog. I have captured countless photos of company visits, cultural experiences, lectures, and local cuisine. I believe through visual images and captions, anyone can walk through my experience and get a taste of what it's like to be in Latin America. Of course, the full experience could never be achieved unless one lives it themselves, so I hope to inspire others to take the journey I did through these countries. Click the link below to visit this blog!
It's also important to reflect on these experiences and apply them to personal understandings and perspectives. I have undoubtedly changed and grown as an individual and business professional through this educational journey. In the reflection and analysis below, I articulate these learnings and analyze how the experience has impacted multiple areas of my life, including my academic and career path as well as my global and local perspective.