Well, I am currently sitting in the Atlanta airport trying to find
the words to explain how much this trip meant to me. Here it goes:
I came to Panama to globalize my perspective of the world and to gain some knowledge and experience in my area of study (International Business). I thought I would be attending some lectures every day, with no time to sit and relax between visits. I knew I would get to see the Panama Canal, and I knew I’d see some pretty cool beaches (and maybe see a sloth somewhere in a tree!). What I actually gained from this experience is difficult to put to words.
First of all, I had never taken a supply-chain class in my life, so I was nervous about going to some of the lectures and not understanding what they were talking about. (Just to clarify, a major focus on this study abroad business seminar is supply-chain management, but all business majors were accepted.) I learned not only what supply-chain and logistics was while I was there, but also how important it is in Panama, what with the canal, the railway, and the international airport there. A few of the lectures went over my head, I’m not gonna lie, but I eventually caught up and always ended up learning something new about either Panama’s economy, the banking and finance sector, 3PL companies, and so much more.
A huge part of this trip was also being submerged in another culture. I can’t tell you how many times I found myself talking to the locals and getting to know more about them, or salsa dancing with someone I just met in a plaza in Casco Viejo. Alex, our driver, took Haley and me to several of his friends’ places to just chill and talk with them and have a good time. Those were some of my favorite experiences because I was pushed out of my comfort zone, while still having the time of my life in another country. I truly feel like a part of my heart is still in Panama, and I don’t know how many of the others on this trip can say the same.
I grew so much as a person, getting to know each and every one of my peers, and I know I can call these people my friends for a long time. We have been through a lot together, from breaking through the awkward meeting phase, eventually learning each other’s likes and dislikes, and pushing past those times when we got a little tired of being with each other for so long. I remember this one night we were all just hanging out in each other’s rooms and talking, and some people were discussing business opportunities in Panama. I just sat there and listened to each person’s perspective about the economy, the Panama Canal, or just the whole country in general. I don’t know why, but I found it so funny that they chose to talk about business during a time when we could’ve been relaxing from schoolwork and business talk.
That’s the kind of impact studying abroad can have on a person, and I do believe it has made that influence on me. I have become more aware of how business operations throughout the world are carried out, and it has made me realize that the world is not such a big place after all. I am really glad this blog was required, because it gave y’all a glimpse of some of the stuff I experienced in Panama, as well as a way to visualize what my surroundings were. And now I can go back through it when I’m older and relive those awesome experiences, which is just great. I have some new friends in the U.S. and several in Panama as well.
I am so grateful to the Julia Peck Mobley endowment fund for being so generous and granting me the money to travel abroad to the amazing country of Panama, as well as the Honors College and the Office of Study Abroad for exposing me to this program. I am also very thankful for Dr. Esper for coordinating and leading such a great trip, and also my friends and family for supporting me in my decision to embark on this journey. This trip makes me want to study abroad again sometime in my college career, so the next question is: “Where will I go next?” :)
Thank you guys for reading my blog, and I hope you enjoyed seeing a little bit of how I met Panama!
#laurenMETpanama
I came to Panama to globalize my perspective of the world and to gain some knowledge and experience in my area of study (International Business). I thought I would be attending some lectures every day, with no time to sit and relax between visits. I knew I would get to see the Panama Canal, and I knew I’d see some pretty cool beaches (and maybe see a sloth somewhere in a tree!). What I actually gained from this experience is difficult to put to words.
First of all, I had never taken a supply-chain class in my life, so I was nervous about going to some of the lectures and not understanding what they were talking about. (Just to clarify, a major focus on this study abroad business seminar is supply-chain management, but all business majors were accepted.) I learned not only what supply-chain and logistics was while I was there, but also how important it is in Panama, what with the canal, the railway, and the international airport there. A few of the lectures went over my head, I’m not gonna lie, but I eventually caught up and always ended up learning something new about either Panama’s economy, the banking and finance sector, 3PL companies, and so much more.
A huge part of this trip was also being submerged in another culture. I can’t tell you how many times I found myself talking to the locals and getting to know more about them, or salsa dancing with someone I just met in a plaza in Casco Viejo. Alex, our driver, took Haley and me to several of his friends’ places to just chill and talk with them and have a good time. Those were some of my favorite experiences because I was pushed out of my comfort zone, while still having the time of my life in another country. I truly feel like a part of my heart is still in Panama, and I don’t know how many of the others on this trip can say the same.
I grew so much as a person, getting to know each and every one of my peers, and I know I can call these people my friends for a long time. We have been through a lot together, from breaking through the awkward meeting phase, eventually learning each other’s likes and dislikes, and pushing past those times when we got a little tired of being with each other for so long. I remember this one night we were all just hanging out in each other’s rooms and talking, and some people were discussing business opportunities in Panama. I just sat there and listened to each person’s perspective about the economy, the Panama Canal, or just the whole country in general. I don’t know why, but I found it so funny that they chose to talk about business during a time when we could’ve been relaxing from schoolwork and business talk.
That’s the kind of impact studying abroad can have on a person, and I do believe it has made that influence on me. I have become more aware of how business operations throughout the world are carried out, and it has made me realize that the world is not such a big place after all. I am really glad this blog was required, because it gave y’all a glimpse of some of the stuff I experienced in Panama, as well as a way to visualize what my surroundings were. And now I can go back through it when I’m older and relive those awesome experiences, which is just great. I have some new friends in the U.S. and several in Panama as well.
I am so grateful to the Julia Peck Mobley endowment fund for being so generous and granting me the money to travel abroad to the amazing country of Panama, as well as the Honors College and the Office of Study Abroad for exposing me to this program. I am also very thankful for Dr. Esper for coordinating and leading such a great trip, and also my friends and family for supporting me in my decision to embark on this journey. This trip makes me want to study abroad again sometime in my college career, so the next question is: “Where will I go next?” :)
Thank you guys for reading my blog, and I hope you enjoyed seeing a little bit of how I met Panama!
#laurenMETpanama
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