Seeing English signs and ordering food in English at the Huston
airport, I paused to realize that I was actually back in the United
States. I am feeling bittersweet that I cannot feel the beautiful and
tropical atmosphere anymore in Panama but I am safely back in my second
home, Fayetteville. These three weeks flown by so fast with a lot of
learning, sharing, and memorable moments. This first-hand experience
could not have been replaced by taking classes and memorizing textbooks.
First of all, my first impression in Panama was very “Americanized”
although it has its own unique features. The culture shock I encountered
during this trip was not as huge as the ones that I faced when coming
to the United States for the first time. Ethnic diversity, popularity of
catholic, the way of communication were only a few examples of what I
found similar to the United States. However, service-oriented economy of
Panama is definitely distinct compared to other countries. Taking
advantage of its strategic location and connectivity, Panama has
developed with its limited production ability.
Knowing these facts
allowed me to understand that different countries tend to focus on their
strengths which can be the “competitive advantages” of the country. It
might be a commonsense that students learn in class, but actually seeing
a significant example of Panama could not have been more effective to
get the idea.
Also, visiting the concentrated regional headquarters’ area, I
realized that accessibility to other parts of the world for both people
and products is making this world smaller and more interdependent. In
this globalized era, it is hard to find a product that does not have any
relationships with other countries. No matter what the form is, such as
procurement, marketing, and outsourcing, large majority of businesses
are seeking out to the opportunities of international operation.
Understanding of local culture, economy, administration plays an
essential role when conducting a business across boarders. The group
project that we had during this stay, in which we suggested a solution
for a US-based bike company to expand their market in Panama, let me
engage in the research process. I was glad to have had a chance where we
could apply the fresh knowledge into the real business situations.
On top of everything that I experienced, I loved spending time with
all the awesome crews in our group. I felt that everyone was open-minded
to the different cultures and perspectives. They were all patient with
my limited English ability and were always wiling to help me out. I
would love to extend my gratitude to the professor, colleagues, and the
university that gave me this great experience in Panama.
Thank you for those who read my journals, and I hope you enjoyed!
Yuki
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Read more from Yuki at https://yukiinpanama.wordpress.com/
Learn more about studying abroad as
a Walton college student at: http://walton.uark.edu/global/
Are you an international student
interested in coming to the U of A? Find out how at http://international-admissions.uark.edu/
