When Lindsie and I arrived at the Lyon main train station about fifteen minutes before our train to Geneva left the platform. The Lyon station was absolutely packed. There were people everywhere. As we reached the station, we realized that the train that was to leave was a TGV train – we needed a reservation. It was difficult just to find out where the platform was from which our train was to depart, let alone get to a ticket office and buy a reservation on board the train that was to depart in less than 15 minutes. So, we hoped that we wouldn’t get caught and got on the train anyway. To avoid detection, we stayed in the back of the train near the baggage cart.
We weren’t alone. There was a young French lady, a middle-aged French lady, and two young Swiss gentlemen in the back of the train with us. During the trip, we learned that the young French lady didn’t have a ticket either, so she shared our concern about the “controlleur” coming back to check our reservations. Fortunately, no one came, but the cramped circumstances and awkwardness of the situation encouraged a dialogue between us.
We talked of many things, most of which was the future of the EU and the likelihood of Switzerland and Turkey acceding to the EU. The two Swiss gentlemen both felt like Switzerland would never join the EU. They felt that Switzerland was just fine on its own and that the Swiss economy was strong enough to withstand the pressures of the world economy. They felt like the government was behaving responsibly by subsidizing ranchers and farmers. These two gentlemen, who spoke English quite well, said they thought it would only be a matter of time before the EU government became centralized and federal. Whether or not that will actually happen is up for debate I suppose.
Regarding Turkey, our companions didn’t seem to have a strong opinion on the matter. I attribute that to their being Swiss. Switzerland has no vested interest in Turkey’s accession to the EU, so I was not surprised to see that they had no opinion. The French ladies that were with said they were not sufficiently informed about the issue to make a decision, but in principle, they did not oppose the idea. I would be interested to know what their views will be when Turkey is ever admitted to the EU, if it ever is.
Friday, October 29, 2010
The Portuguese View on Economic Crisis and Government
While Cody, Scott and I were in Porto, we stayed at the home of the Corte-Real family. After dinner, I had a short conversation with Mr. and Mrs. Corte-Real about the economic downturn. It turns out that Mr. Corte-Real works as a banker in the second-largest Portuguese city, Porto. So, I was naturally curious to get his take on the crisis and where he thought it would all be heading, especially since Portugal is one of the nations that is suffering the most in the wake of the economic downturn.
Mr. Corte-Real explained that there was simply no more money in Portugal to lend. He said credit was no longer available because much of the Portuguese funds were tied up in toxic assets in both the United States and in Europe. Because that money was gone, banks were concerned with remaining solvent, and as such, made the lending process very, very difficult to anyone. Thus, no one could get the funding needed for large purchases, which slowed the already struggling Portuguese economy to new levels and threw the government into new levels of extraordinary debt. Mr. Corte-Real said Portugal didn’t even make enough money in a single year just to pay off the interest on its governmental debt.
As to the future of the country and of their family, Mr. and Mrs. Corte-Real were obviously concerned. They were unhappy with the leadership that their government had provided, and they were somewhat resentful of the fact that most of the crisis had happened because of the problems in America’s market, although they understood that the world economy is very intertwined. They remained hopeful that things would change. For the good of Portugal and the Corte-Real family, I hope things change too.
Mr. Corte-Real explained that there was simply no more money in Portugal to lend. He said credit was no longer available because much of the Portuguese funds were tied up in toxic assets in both the United States and in Europe. Because that money was gone, banks were concerned with remaining solvent, and as such, made the lending process very, very difficult to anyone. Thus, no one could get the funding needed for large purchases, which slowed the already struggling Portuguese economy to new levels and threw the government into new levels of extraordinary debt. Mr. Corte-Real said Portugal didn’t even make enough money in a single year just to pay off the interest on its governmental debt.
As to the future of the country and of their family, Mr. and Mrs. Corte-Real were obviously concerned. They were unhappy with the leadership that their government had provided, and they were somewhat resentful of the fact that most of the crisis had happened because of the problems in America’s market, although they understood that the world economy is very intertwined. They remained hopeful that things would change. For the good of Portugal and the Corte-Real family, I hope things change too.
The French View on Pensions
Much of the international news from Europe has come because of protests that have been raging throughout Paris and Lyon for the last few weeks. Why are the French protesting? Because the French government is attempting to increase the retirement age from 60 to 62 in order to save the social retirement pension scheme a significant amount of money. Simply, the French pension system of social security is unsustainable. With an aging population, the system will go bankrupt. The opinion polls show this. So, if the system is unsustainable, and if the French know it, then why are they so keen to protest by the hundreds of thousands against the French government?
A few news articles I have found suggest that the French are revolting because they perceive that the French government decided to make the changes to the pension system without consulting the trade unions. Others have said the French are protesting because they want to protect future generations from a troubled future. (Todd, 2010) The French have no reason to believe that the protests will not work either. One article I found says withdrawing and giving in to strikes and protests is almost standard practice in France. (Bills, 2010) In short, the French are used to working less, getting long vacations, and having the government step in to cater to the citizenry’s wants after retirement age. Any change or threat to that system is seen as grotesque, un-French, and reprobate.
The French Senate has approved the change in the law, and the French government is in the final stages of approval for the new pension laws. It will be most interesting to see which side of this battle winks first, whether it’s the government or the strikers. My money is on the strikers backing down first.
Works Cited
Bills, P. (2010, October 29). De Gaulle knew why France is impossible to reform. Retrieved October 29, 2010, from New Zealand Herald: Link here
Todd, T. (2010, October 29). Pension protestors hold firm despite lower turnout. Retrieved October 29, 2010, from France24: Link here
A few news articles I have found suggest that the French are revolting because they perceive that the French government decided to make the changes to the pension system without consulting the trade unions. Others have said the French are protesting because they want to protect future generations from a troubled future. (Todd, 2010) The French have no reason to believe that the protests will not work either. One article I found says withdrawing and giving in to strikes and protests is almost standard practice in France. (Bills, 2010) In short, the French are used to working less, getting long vacations, and having the government step in to cater to the citizenry’s wants after retirement age. Any change or threat to that system is seen as grotesque, un-French, and reprobate.
The French Senate has approved the change in the law, and the French government is in the final stages of approval for the new pension laws. It will be most interesting to see which side of this battle winks first, whether it’s the government or the strikers. My money is on the strikers backing down first.
Works Cited
Bills, P. (2010, October 29). De Gaulle knew why France is impossible to reform. Retrieved October 29, 2010, from New Zealand Herald: Link here
Todd, T. (2010, October 29). Pension protestors hold firm despite lower turnout. Retrieved October 29, 2010, from France24: Link here
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Travel Part Six of Six - Public Places and Parks
In my observation, I am not of the opinion that Europeans value their parks and public spaces more than Americans. I mean, it is very certain that Europeans value the fact that their parks and public spaces exist, but I am not convinced that they are especially concerned with maintaining them clean and free of rubbish any more than the American population is. There are many destinations which are absolutely more valuable to the European population than others, but such natural locations usually are of some historical significance. Therefore, the government puts a price on admission and charges patrons for the right to visit.
As an example of a park/public space that was not very well maintained, there is a small grassy area alongside the Seine River. It’s about a kilometer in length and about twenty meters wide. The view of the river and the opposite shore is beautiful. On the whole, the area is very picturesque, but it smells awful. The park is widely used as a litter box for the dogs of Paris. I seriously had to cover my nose with my sleeve and control my breathing in passing. The smell was absolutely revolting. Occasionally I would run into dog poop on the roads as well, which I found to be revolting as well and irresponsible on the part of dog owners.
Now, contrast that with Quinta da Regaleira, a cultural heritage site near the Castle of the Moors in Sintra, Portugal. The park is a world heritage site, and as such entry comes at a price. Four euros, to be exact. The park is a value at that price, however. It’s very well kept and very clean. It’s also very amusing. It’s almost like a medieval amusement park. There are intricate tunnels underground for exploring and miniaturized turrets and castles to climb on all over the park. There are ponds and paths and deep wells to play in. It’s a place almost out of a fairy tale, and it was one of the places I made sure we visited when Cody, Scott, and I went to Portugal. It’s obvious that the Portuguese value such a place as the Quinta. There’s no dog poop anywhere.
So, I would suggest that the value that Europeans place on their public spaces and their parks varies with the individual, just like it does in America. Obviously the person who leaves his dog’s poop behind doesn’t value the quality of the public space very much. Similar examples can be found in America, and therefore I conclude that no significant difference exists. But, in absolute terms, Europeans do value that their public spaces exist and that they are of good quality, just as Americans do.
As an example of a park/public space that was not very well maintained, there is a small grassy area alongside the Seine River. It’s about a kilometer in length and about twenty meters wide. The view of the river and the opposite shore is beautiful. On the whole, the area is very picturesque, but it smells awful. The park is widely used as a litter box for the dogs of Paris. I seriously had to cover my nose with my sleeve and control my breathing in passing. The smell was absolutely revolting. Occasionally I would run into dog poop on the roads as well, which I found to be revolting as well and irresponsible on the part of dog owners.
Now, contrast that with Quinta da Regaleira, a cultural heritage site near the Castle of the Moors in Sintra, Portugal. The park is a world heritage site, and as such entry comes at a price. Four euros, to be exact. The park is a value at that price, however. It’s very well kept and very clean. It’s also very amusing. It’s almost like a medieval amusement park. There are intricate tunnels underground for exploring and miniaturized turrets and castles to climb on all over the park. There are ponds and paths and deep wells to play in. It’s a place almost out of a fairy tale, and it was one of the places I made sure we visited when Cody, Scott, and I went to Portugal. It’s obvious that the Portuguese value such a place as the Quinta. There’s no dog poop anywhere.
So, I would suggest that the value that Europeans place on their public spaces and their parks varies with the individual, just like it does in America. Obviously the person who leaves his dog’s poop behind doesn’t value the quality of the public space very much. Similar examples can be found in America, and therefore I conclude that no significant difference exists. But, in absolute terms, Europeans do value that their public spaces exist and that they are of good quality, just as Americans do.
Travel Part Five of Six - Absolutism and Democracy
Versailles can only be described adequately in terms of over the top opulence. The size and grandeur of the palace at Versailles is on a level that I had never contemplated before. I could hardly believe how large and how ornate that palace was.
The idea that the palace was built using public funds is all but offensive to my modern American mind. In absolutist and feudal times, when the king owned everything, I suppose that such a palace wouldn’t be too far out of order. But still, the idea that the king could build such a palace for an absolutist king, no matter who that king is, is quite offensive to me. I struggle to justify the refined nature of the White House, let alone Versailles. Yikes.
From what I understand, Versailles came to be recognized as a symbol of an oppressive imperialistic regime bent on maintaining perpetual opulence at the expense of the French peasantry. I believe that the palace was built so far from Paris in order to limit the French population’s ability to march on the castle and attack the royal family that lived there. Although to Marie Antoinette, the French Queen who was taken prisoner when the French revolutionaries stormed the castle and later guillotined, the palace could have been built much farther away.
With that in mind, I have come to wonder many times why Versailles was allowed to continue to exist, even as a national museum. Perhaps it’s to allow the French and the rest of the world to understand what absolutism and an overbearing and oppressive central government can do to a nation. It can also serve as a reminder of what neglect to the population can do to a ruler, such as cause him to literally lose his head. Whatever the reason is, the Versailles palace is undeniable. Its sheer size and incredible opulence are reminders of a past that simply will not be forgotten. The palace is too large of a reminder to ignore, and I believe that no one in France easily will forget the lessons learned in the revolution.
The idea that the palace was built using public funds is all but offensive to my modern American mind. In absolutist and feudal times, when the king owned everything, I suppose that such a palace wouldn’t be too far out of order. But still, the idea that the king could build such a palace for an absolutist king, no matter who that king is, is quite offensive to me. I struggle to justify the refined nature of the White House, let alone Versailles. Yikes.
From what I understand, Versailles came to be recognized as a symbol of an oppressive imperialistic regime bent on maintaining perpetual opulence at the expense of the French peasantry. I believe that the palace was built so far from Paris in order to limit the French population’s ability to march on the castle and attack the royal family that lived there. Although to Marie Antoinette, the French Queen who was taken prisoner when the French revolutionaries stormed the castle and later guillotined, the palace could have been built much farther away.
With that in mind, I have come to wonder many times why Versailles was allowed to continue to exist, even as a national museum. Perhaps it’s to allow the French and the rest of the world to understand what absolutism and an overbearing and oppressive central government can do to a nation. It can also serve as a reminder of what neglect to the population can do to a ruler, such as cause him to literally lose his head. Whatever the reason is, the Versailles palace is undeniable. Its sheer size and incredible opulence are reminders of a past that simply will not be forgotten. The palace is too large of a reminder to ignore, and I believe that no one in France easily will forget the lessons learned in the revolution.
Travel Part Four of Six - Art
While I was in Geneva I visited the local art museum, and while in Paris I visited two art museums, The Louvre and the Musée d’Orsay. I saw more art than I could possibly appreciate in a year in the space of about 6 hours, and I must say, I understand a little bit more about why I am not an art major. It’s clear that I’m not a big art fan. However, had I been surrounded by that art from very young age, perhaps I would appreciate it more.
I don’t know if I am supposed to interject my personal opinion in all of this, but I am going to. I tired really quickly of the art displayed in all of these museums because of all the nude art, especially in Orsay. Having European experience, I expected a lot of bare breasts and male genitalia. That doesn’t mean I appreciated it; on the whole I found it to be rather uncomfortable. I drew the line at offensive and obscene when I saw a painting of female genitalia displayed prominently in the Orsay. At that point, I was ready to leave. Some people say such art is artistic and that the human body is the most perfect piece of art on earth, and maybe it is. That doesn’t mean that I appreciate seeing it portrayed in the way that it is. I think such art undermines what I believe to be the sacred nature of the human body, and I would prefer to not have it be a part of my life. That’s just my opinion, though.
The great artists of history—Monet, Van Gogh, Da Vinci, etc.—are among the artists present in the Louvre and Orsay. I think France in particular takes great pride in being known as the global center of culture and refinement. The art scattered throughout a hundred different museums throughout the city of Paris only goes to reinforce those feelings of national and cultural pride. It’s easy to understand why the French feel this way too. France in general holds a comparative advantage in the production of luxury goods, and along with such a distinction comes a lot of pride. That pride is very apparent in the Louvre. That building is monstrous. It’s impossible to visit every part of that museum in a day.
Because of the presence of art not only in many local museums but also in government buildings and bridges, I believe that the French place huge importance in the role of history in their lives. Nearly all the bridges that cross the Seine have some sort of statue or monument nearby, and the bridge that crosses the Seine between the Place de la Concorde and the Assemblee Nationale is laden with art. At least to me, it begs the question, “Where did this come from? Why is it here?” And of course, when you learn about the art, you learn about the reason the bridge or building or whatever was built. It helps keep the French and Europeans in general cognizant of their past and the importance of art in daily life.
I don’t know if I am supposed to interject my personal opinion in all of this, but I am going to. I tired really quickly of the art displayed in all of these museums because of all the nude art, especially in Orsay. Having European experience, I expected a lot of bare breasts and male genitalia. That doesn’t mean I appreciated it; on the whole I found it to be rather uncomfortable. I drew the line at offensive and obscene when I saw a painting of female genitalia displayed prominently in the Orsay. At that point, I was ready to leave. Some people say such art is artistic and that the human body is the most perfect piece of art on earth, and maybe it is. That doesn’t mean that I appreciate seeing it portrayed in the way that it is. I think such art undermines what I believe to be the sacred nature of the human body, and I would prefer to not have it be a part of my life. That’s just my opinion, though.
The great artists of history—Monet, Van Gogh, Da Vinci, etc.—are among the artists present in the Louvre and Orsay. I think France in particular takes great pride in being known as the global center of culture and refinement. The art scattered throughout a hundred different museums throughout the city of Paris only goes to reinforce those feelings of national and cultural pride. It’s easy to understand why the French feel this way too. France in general holds a comparative advantage in the production of luxury goods, and along with such a distinction comes a lot of pride. That pride is very apparent in the Louvre. That building is monstrous. It’s impossible to visit every part of that museum in a day.
Because of the presence of art not only in many local museums but also in government buildings and bridges, I believe that the French place huge importance in the role of history in their lives. Nearly all the bridges that cross the Seine have some sort of statue or monument nearby, and the bridge that crosses the Seine between the Place de la Concorde and the Assemblee Nationale is laden with art. At least to me, it begs the question, “Where did this come from? Why is it here?” And of course, when you learn about the art, you learn about the reason the bridge or building or whatever was built. It helps keep the French and Europeans in general cognizant of their past and the importance of art in daily life.
Travel Part Three of Six - A non-tourist area
While we were in Portugal, we had the opportunity to stay at the home of the Rocha family. The Rocha family does not live in a tourist area. They live in the Pinhal de Frades, near the suburban city of Amora, which is across the Tagus River from Lisbon. The street they live on is a simple one, albeit comparatively wealthy. Most housing districts in suburban Portugal are packed with highrise apartment buildings. Pinhal de Frades actually has some houses, and the Rocha family lives in one of these houses. By the Portuguese standard, the Rocha family is very well off. They have a home separate from another building with two levels, a very nice dining room, a full kitchen, a washing and drying machine, and a dish washer. All of these items seem very standard for American homes, but when most families live in small five room apartments in packed housing districts, the Rocha’s are very well off and live in a very well-to-do neighborhood.
The housing situation I observed there reinforced the urban population and transportation issues that Europe has to confront. The Pinhal is about a 30 minute walk from the nearest train station, but even so once the train comes, one is only 20 minutes from downtown Lisbon. The availability of public transport and the benefits that come from urban centralization outweigh the drawbacks of small living space. The Rochas and many Europeans have come to accept this. Even so, the Rocha family owns two cars and a greater measure of mobility – another symbol of their economic power. Portugal and many other European governments have been able to successfully devise a system that gives mobility to the masses and provides them with decent, albeit more cramped, housing.
The housing situation I observed there reinforced the urban population and transportation issues that Europe has to confront. The Pinhal is about a 30 minute walk from the nearest train station, but even so once the train comes, one is only 20 minutes from downtown Lisbon. The availability of public transport and the benefits that come from urban centralization outweigh the drawbacks of small living space. The Rochas and many Europeans have come to accept this. Even so, the Rocha family owns two cars and a greater measure of mobility – another symbol of their economic power. Portugal and many other European governments have been able to successfully devise a system that gives mobility to the masses and provides them with decent, albeit more cramped, housing.
Travel Part Two of Six - Human Rights
During our first free weekend, I received permission to visit Lyon, France. While there, I visited a museum about the French resistance to the Nazis during WWII and the deportation of French Jews to the German concentration camps. There was a wealth of knowledge about French involvement in the deportation of the Jews as well as the role the Vichy government played in that deportation. There was also information about the roles that certain groups played in both the deportation and in the resistance against Nazi Germany.
I found the exposition quite revealing as to the shame that the French have with regard to this deportation. While they have created the museum, it was very difficult to find. It is tucked away in an inauspicious corner of Lyon. After we found the museum, we were fortunate enough to gain free entry. One can assume that if the museum is willing to give free entry to a couple of American students, the demand for tickets at the museum is probably fairly low. We also only saw a handful of visitors to the museum, and mostly had the place to ourselves. I felt like this museum was instituted because the French felt like it was a necessary part of their history to document, but not necessarily because they’re proud of their involvement with the Nazi Regime.
Also, the information about the resistance dominated the museum. There was information about the underground publications and networks that existed in Lyon at the time. There was information about the roles that women played in the resistance and the grisly end some of these women faced at the hands of the Nazis. There was information about the tunnels located in the heart of Lyon that were used during the resistance to evade German patrols.
I learned much that I previously didn’t know about the resistance from this museum. It made the resistance and the deportation more real. Instead of being in a distant location reading about the war that changed the world, I was actually in a city that played a very active role in the resistance against Nazi Germany. I also went and saw some of the tunnels that were used in the resistance in the heart of Lyon. My experience took history out of the pages and presented it to me in real life. It was great.
I found the exposition quite revealing as to the shame that the French have with regard to this deportation. While they have created the museum, it was very difficult to find. It is tucked away in an inauspicious corner of Lyon. After we found the museum, we were fortunate enough to gain free entry. One can assume that if the museum is willing to give free entry to a couple of American students, the demand for tickets at the museum is probably fairly low. We also only saw a handful of visitors to the museum, and mostly had the place to ourselves. I felt like this museum was instituted because the French felt like it was a necessary part of their history to document, but not necessarily because they’re proud of their involvement with the Nazi Regime.
Also, the information about the resistance dominated the museum. There was information about the underground publications and networks that existed in Lyon at the time. There was information about the roles that women played in the resistance and the grisly end some of these women faced at the hands of the Nazis. There was information about the tunnels located in the heart of Lyon that were used during the resistance to evade German patrols.
I learned much that I previously didn’t know about the resistance from this museum. It made the resistance and the deportation more real. Instead of being in a distant location reading about the war that changed the world, I was actually in a city that played a very active role in the resistance against Nazi Germany. I also went and saw some of the tunnels that were used in the resistance in the heart of Lyon. My experience took history out of the pages and presented it to me in real life. It was great.
Travel Part One of Six - European War and Conflict
One of the subjects we have studied extensively throughout this semester is how the EU is a unifying organization. Or rather, that Europe has seen conflict amongst itself for thousands of years. The EU organization is a vehicle for the promotion of peace across a continent soiled by bloodshed. After I visited Lisbon and went into the hills of Sintra to visit the Palacio de Pena as well as the Moorish Castle, my curiosity about the history of the area was peaked. After doing some research, here’s what I found.
Portugal was at one point part of the Christian kingdom of Castile and Leon. Afonso Henriques, a son of the house of Burgundy and heir to the county of Portugal (which comprises the Douro region surrounding the modern city of Porto), was concerned about the stability of his inheritance. His mother, Teresa, had married a count in Galicia, and the residents of Portugal—especially Afonso—were concerned that Portugal would simply become part of that county. Afonso gathered an army at a very young age and fought against his mother and her supporters, defeating her and forcing her to abandon the throne. With the support of the local nobility, Afonso was proclaimed king (Villegas-Aristizábal, p. 163).
Having solidified Portugal’s independence from Leon, Afonso looked southward. Through a series of military campaigns against the moors, Afonso eventually arrived at the Tagus River, first conquering the riverside city of Santarém. Shortly thereafter, Lisbon, the modern capital of Portugal, was conquered with the help of Anglo-Norman crusaders who were passing through Portugal on their way to the Holy Land. An international force of English, Norman, German, Flemish, and Portuguese crusaders took the city of Lisbon and forced a Moorish evacuation in 1147 (Villegas-Aristizábal, p. 182).
The ruins of the Castelo de São Jorge in downtown Lisbon as well as the Moorish castle in Sintra are monuments to the violence that has been perpetuated in Europe for hundreds of years. The nation of Portugal, born out of conflict and noble greed, owes its very existence to the other nations of Europe and their willingness to participate in an essentially religious conflict that plagued Europe and the Middle East for hundreds of years.
America, by comparison, is a very young country. It’s only 235 years old, whereas Portugal has existed independently as a nation for nearly 900 years. I find it difficult to understand the wealth of history that has passed in such a foreign land, but also find it encouraging that after so many years of consistent bloodshed through the ages, Europe is finally facing its past and discouraging political instability through unification. I am impressed.
Works Cited
Villegas-Aristizábal, L. (2007, June). Norman and Anglo-Norman Participation in the Iberian Reconquista c.1018 - c.1248. Retrieved October 28, 2010, from University of Nottingham: http://etheses.nottingham.ac.uk/283/2/Norman_and_AngloNorman.pdf
Portugal was at one point part of the Christian kingdom of Castile and Leon. Afonso Henriques, a son of the house of Burgundy and heir to the county of Portugal (which comprises the Douro region surrounding the modern city of Porto), was concerned about the stability of his inheritance. His mother, Teresa, had married a count in Galicia, and the residents of Portugal—especially Afonso—were concerned that Portugal would simply become part of that county. Afonso gathered an army at a very young age and fought against his mother and her supporters, defeating her and forcing her to abandon the throne. With the support of the local nobility, Afonso was proclaimed king (Villegas-Aristizábal, p. 163).
Having solidified Portugal’s independence from Leon, Afonso looked southward. Through a series of military campaigns against the moors, Afonso eventually arrived at the Tagus River, first conquering the riverside city of Santarém. Shortly thereafter, Lisbon, the modern capital of Portugal, was conquered with the help of Anglo-Norman crusaders who were passing through Portugal on their way to the Holy Land. An international force of English, Norman, German, Flemish, and Portuguese crusaders took the city of Lisbon and forced a Moorish evacuation in 1147 (Villegas-Aristizábal, p. 182).
The ruins of the Castelo de São Jorge in downtown Lisbon as well as the Moorish castle in Sintra are monuments to the violence that has been perpetuated in Europe for hundreds of years. The nation of Portugal, born out of conflict and noble greed, owes its very existence to the other nations of Europe and their willingness to participate in an essentially religious conflict that plagued Europe and the Middle East for hundreds of years.
America, by comparison, is a very young country. It’s only 235 years old, whereas Portugal has existed independently as a nation for nearly 900 years. I find it difficult to understand the wealth of history that has passed in such a foreign land, but also find it encouraging that after so many years of consistent bloodshed through the ages, Europe is finally facing its past and discouraging political instability through unification. I am impressed.
Works Cited
Villegas-Aristizábal, L. (2007, June). Norman and Anglo-Norman Participation in the Iberian Reconquista c.1018 - c.1248. Retrieved October 28, 2010, from University of Nottingham: http://etheses.nottingham.ac.uk/283/2/Norman_and_AngloNorman.pdf
Religion from a European Perspective
The European importance of religion is much, much different than that of American culture. Considering that the Utah gives different value to religion than does most of America, one can easily see that Utah and Europe are on different ends of the cultural religious spectrum. To summarize these differences, Europe sees religion as a part of its past, and Utah sees religion as a way of life. I understand that this is a broad generalization and a large stereotype, but I believe it to be an accurate assessment on the whole.
I spoke with a Portuguese woman on the train between Lisbon and Porto during our free weekend in Europe. I asked her what role religion played in her life, and she responded by saying that she was catholic, but not practicing. Or rather, she viewed her religion as part of her identity, but not as something that affected her lifestyle. Over the course of our discussion, she shared her belief in God, but also spoke a lot about the zodiac and about astrology, none of which I believe in.
Many Europeans with whom I have spoken feel the same way (not about the zodiac, but about the role of religion in their lives). I can understand why. Churches and religious buildings are regarded as national monuments, and tourists frequent them even during religious services. More than one time I went to a cathedral and could not visit the entirety of the church because of the mass that was being held. I struggle to understand why the Catholic Church allows such behavior in its churches during a religious service. Such a behavior would be absolutely prohibited in any LDS church in Utah.
I am curious about these differences that I have observed, and will probably ask Stacey more questions as time progresses about European Catholicism and Catholicism in general in order to better understand.
I spoke with a Portuguese woman on the train between Lisbon and Porto during our free weekend in Europe. I asked her what role religion played in her life, and she responded by saying that she was catholic, but not practicing. Or rather, she viewed her religion as part of her identity, but not as something that affected her lifestyle. Over the course of our discussion, she shared her belief in God, but also spoke a lot about the zodiac and about astrology, none of which I believe in.
Many Europeans with whom I have spoken feel the same way (not about the zodiac, but about the role of religion in their lives). I can understand why. Churches and religious buildings are regarded as national monuments, and tourists frequent them even during religious services. More than one time I went to a cathedral and could not visit the entirety of the church because of the mass that was being held. I struggle to understand why the Catholic Church allows such behavior in its churches during a religious service. Such a behavior would be absolutely prohibited in any LDS church in Utah.
I am curious about these differences that I have observed, and will probably ask Stacey more questions as time progresses about European Catholicism and Catholicism in general in order to better understand.
The Importance of Language
Prior to traveling, Mrs. Allred had taken the time to teach us all some basic French in the hopes that we would not be completely disoriented upon our arrival. While the purpose of the lessons was clear, the effectiveness of those lessons is up for debate, and in some cases, the lessons were completely useless.
I am a trilingual individual. I speak English, Spanish, and Portuguese well. I noticed many similarities in the structure and the vocabulary of French and these other three languages. Within a short amount of time, I felt like I could read and understand a large portion of anything I saw. However, when it came to speaking, the whole world was turned upside down. In order to speak, one needs a large vocabulary. My French was limited to little more than “le vecé” (bathroom) and “etudiant” (student). The phrase “Je suis etudiant” almost became a joke within our group because some of us could say little more than that. Case in point – one of the team names when we went curling was “etudiant.” When I went to Lyon with Lindsie, this became very apparent. It took us an hour to decipher the metro there and find the tourist desk. I had to use what little French I could, unable to understand anyone around me and with no help. It was very stressful and very difficult. Still, Lindsie and I managed. It was a great learning experience, and that day probably strengthened my confidence and my French vocabulary more than any other day.
When I went to Italy, however, all bets were off. I was hoping that because of my Spanish I would be able to understand a lot of the Italian that I would hear and that I would be able to communicate effectively with the Italians. Wrong. We got lost in Bergamo, Italy for about an hour. In an attempt to save ourselves, we stopped at a pizzeria and tried to talk to the employees there, asking them for directions to our hostel. They were very confused, and couldn’t understand a lick of any Spanish or Portuguese I threw at them. Only one lady spoke a bit of English, and it was through her that we were able to get the help we needed to find our hostel. I didn’t like feeling completely and totally unable to communicate, and I hope that the next time I visit Italy, I have someone beside me that can speak Italian.
In short, without the ability to communicate, and without language skills, mobility and the ability to ask for help are greatly diminished. I’m motivated to learn more languages now.
I am a trilingual individual. I speak English, Spanish, and Portuguese well. I noticed many similarities in the structure and the vocabulary of French and these other three languages. Within a short amount of time, I felt like I could read and understand a large portion of anything I saw. However, when it came to speaking, the whole world was turned upside down. In order to speak, one needs a large vocabulary. My French was limited to little more than “le vecé” (bathroom) and “etudiant” (student). The phrase “Je suis etudiant” almost became a joke within our group because some of us could say little more than that. Case in point – one of the team names when we went curling was “etudiant.” When I went to Lyon with Lindsie, this became very apparent. It took us an hour to decipher the metro there and find the tourist desk. I had to use what little French I could, unable to understand anyone around me and with no help. It was very stressful and very difficult. Still, Lindsie and I managed. It was a great learning experience, and that day probably strengthened my confidence and my French vocabulary more than any other day.
When I went to Italy, however, all bets were off. I was hoping that because of my Spanish I would be able to understand a lot of the Italian that I would hear and that I would be able to communicate effectively with the Italians. Wrong. We got lost in Bergamo, Italy for about an hour. In an attempt to save ourselves, we stopped at a pizzeria and tried to talk to the employees there, asking them for directions to our hostel. They were very confused, and couldn’t understand a lick of any Spanish or Portuguese I threw at them. Only one lady spoke a bit of English, and it was through her that we were able to get the help we needed to find our hostel. I didn’t like feeling completely and totally unable to communicate, and I hope that the next time I visit Italy, I have someone beside me that can speak Italian.
In short, without the ability to communicate, and without language skills, mobility and the ability to ask for help are greatly diminished. I’m motivated to learn more languages now.
Public v Private Transportation in Europe
In my observation, it is clear that Europeans value the ability to move between cities and areas of major population with ease. So much so, in fact, that they believe the government should provide a way for transportation between areas of major population. Hence the national railways and the much more affordable air travel costs. Cities in Europe were not built for the car and high-speed road travel. The roads are smaller, the traffic is much more congested, the buildings are taller and population lives much closer to work centers. This way of living is much different than the Western American way of life.
In Western America, the attitude is that in order to travel long distances, or even be basically mobile in an area of major population, one must own a car. Cities are planned around this idea. Roads are wider, gas is cheaper, buildings are more spread out, and distances between homes and work is much greater. High rises and apartments are much less common, and are usually occupied by the financially disadvantaged and the single. In Europe, entire families with five or six people live in small apartments. Apartments can be purchased there. Never in America have I heard of anyone buying an apartment.
The metro is the solution for how Europeans in large urban areas can maintain their mobility without making the huge investment in an automobile. The Paris metro is the largest and most comprehensive (not to mention complicated) metro system I have ever seen. There are 14 lines that span the width and breadth of the city. Trains come and go on each metro line every five to ten minutes. With this amazing tool available to the public at 1 Euro per ride, why would anyone want to take the trouble to buy a car, find a place to park it (which is a real issue), purchase car insurance, and worry about fuel and maintenance costs? It’s more economic to use the metro in urban areas and to use the national railways when traveling to the countryside. A car is a symbol in Europe. It means economic strength, power, and wealth. That much is very clear to me.
In Western America, the attitude is that in order to travel long distances, or even be basically mobile in an area of major population, one must own a car. Cities are planned around this idea. Roads are wider, gas is cheaper, buildings are more spread out, and distances between homes and work is much greater. High rises and apartments are much less common, and are usually occupied by the financially disadvantaged and the single. In Europe, entire families with five or six people live in small apartments. Apartments can be purchased there. Never in America have I heard of anyone buying an apartment.
The metro is the solution for how Europeans in large urban areas can maintain their mobility without making the huge investment in an automobile. The Paris metro is the largest and most comprehensive (not to mention complicated) metro system I have ever seen. There are 14 lines that span the width and breadth of the city. Trains come and go on each metro line every five to ten minutes. With this amazing tool available to the public at 1 Euro per ride, why would anyone want to take the trouble to buy a car, find a place to park it (which is a real issue), purchase car insurance, and worry about fuel and maintenance costs? It’s more economic to use the metro in urban areas and to use the national railways when traveling to the countryside. A car is a symbol in Europe. It means economic strength, power, and wealth. That much is very clear to me.
Europe and the Environment
In my observation, it has become very clear that the environment is very important to the Swiss and to the rest of Europe. Why? Because as population continues to grow and as cities expand, less and less space for plants to flourish. I don’t even know if deer exist in the wild of Europe anymore. I saw domesticated deer an on a ranch near the highway between Broc and Leysin. I thought that the location for the pasture was particularly ironic because if a deer were to come that close to the highway in the United States, motorists would be slowing way down and would be ready to hit the brakes for fear that the deer would jump in front of the car.
Everywhere you went there were environmental messages in Europe. Electronics companies advertised that their TVs were eco-friendly. Product packaging in France especially highlighted recyclability. Bins for glass and plastic were everywhere alongside normal trash dumpsters. When we went to visit InBev, crates upon crates upon crates of used glass bottles and kegs were exposed, waiting to be used and reused again in the packaging and shipping of Stella Artois and other InBev brand beers. Recycling, the environment, and operating as a green company are priorities for consumers and for producers in Europe. That much is very clear. It has stopped being a public initiative in Europe, and it has become a part of daily life.
Everywhere you went there were environmental messages in Europe. Electronics companies advertised that their TVs were eco-friendly. Product packaging in France especially highlighted recyclability. Bins for glass and plastic were everywhere alongside normal trash dumpsters. When we went to visit InBev, crates upon crates upon crates of used glass bottles and kegs were exposed, waiting to be used and reused again in the packaging and shipping of Stella Artois and other InBev brand beers. Recycling, the environment, and operating as a green company are priorities for consumers and for producers in Europe. That much is very clear. It has stopped being a public initiative in Europe, and it has become a part of daily life.
The International Committee of the Red Cross
The International Committee of the Red Cross is an organization devoted to helping the sick and the disadvantaged. Its mission is not a political one – the ICRC is purely devoted to helping the injured and the sick across the globe, both in times of conflict and in the wake of natural disaster.
I learned that the ICRC is mostly concerned with advancing International Humanitarian Law (IHL). IHL was conceived at the Geneva Convention and is supposed to protect wounded soldiers and uninvolved civilians from the horrors of war. Those who are party to the convention have enacted civilian law and military law to advance IHL. The ICRC’s main goal is to do everything possible to make sure that the governments follow the laws they themselves have implemented and to help the victims of conflict.
A question I had going into the ICRC was regarding IHL. I wanted to gauge the respect that the ICRC and IHL command from the governments involved in the Geneva Convention. I realized that the only way the ICRC and IHL have been able to maintain any credibility and respect at all has been through consistent effort to behave in accordance with the rules set within the ICRC itself. If ICRC was ever perceived as a political organization that made judgments about a given conflict and if it ever used the humanitarian tools it commands to aid and assist one party in a conflict over another, it would instantly lose all credibility it has as a neutral organization and one only interested in the well-being of victims. The ICRC has done a terrific job building the reputation it has established for more than 100 years, and I find it fascinating that the governments of the world have come to respect the ICRC as they do.
Overall, I would say the presentation at ICRC was mildly interesting at best, but I did learn considerably about IHL and I am grateful for the opportunity I had to visit.
I learned that the ICRC is mostly concerned with advancing International Humanitarian Law (IHL). IHL was conceived at the Geneva Convention and is supposed to protect wounded soldiers and uninvolved civilians from the horrors of war. Those who are party to the convention have enacted civilian law and military law to advance IHL. The ICRC’s main goal is to do everything possible to make sure that the governments follow the laws they themselves have implemented and to help the victims of conflict.
A question I had going into the ICRC was regarding IHL. I wanted to gauge the respect that the ICRC and IHL command from the governments involved in the Geneva Convention. I realized that the only way the ICRC and IHL have been able to maintain any credibility and respect at all has been through consistent effort to behave in accordance with the rules set within the ICRC itself. If ICRC was ever perceived as a political organization that made judgments about a given conflict and if it ever used the humanitarian tools it commands to aid and assist one party in a conflict over another, it would instantly lose all credibility it has as a neutral organization and one only interested in the well-being of victims. The ICRC has done a terrific job building the reputation it has established for more than 100 years, and I find it fascinating that the governments of the world have come to respect the ICRC as they do.
Overall, I would say the presentation at ICRC was mildly interesting at best, but I did learn considerably about IHL and I am grateful for the opportunity I had to visit.
The World Trade Organization
The World Trade Organization, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, is much more interesting and powerful than I had previously imagined. Upon entering the grounds and the building in which the WTO is housed, I was impressed with the overall scale of this organization and the scale of what it has accomplished. I was also thoroughly impressed with the Spanish gentleman who was our presenter and host. I thought he did a magnificent job of making us feel welcome and of explaining the purpose of the WTO as well as answering the myriad of questions that our group posed to him.
The largest impression that I took out of this is that a communications degree can come in very valuable in a number of different arenas. Prior to this visit I had not seen any application for my schoolwork in an area that I would consider exciting and rewarding. That all changed in this meeting. I was able to see that this gentleman, who had worked as a journalist internationally for many years, had been able to use the skills he had acquired and apply them in the WTO successfully for many years. I discovered that there are many uses for those with communications skills beyond simply working for a paper or working in broadcasting, but that those who can communicate clearly have a skill that is marketable in many different areas, the least boring of which is the international arena.
The WTO is a real organization with real power and real influence. It has been a tool for peace in the modern world, and I think that working there would be terrific. If that opportunity arises, I would seriously consider taking advantage.
The largest impression that I took out of this is that a communications degree can come in very valuable in a number of different arenas. Prior to this visit I had not seen any application for my schoolwork in an area that I would consider exciting and rewarding. That all changed in this meeting. I was able to see that this gentleman, who had worked as a journalist internationally for many years, had been able to use the skills he had acquired and apply them in the WTO successfully for many years. I discovered that there are many uses for those with communications skills beyond simply working for a paper or working in broadcasting, but that those who can communicate clearly have a skill that is marketable in many different areas, the least boring of which is the international arena.
The WTO is a real organization with real power and real influence. It has been a tool for peace in the modern world, and I think that working there would be terrific. If that opportunity arises, I would seriously consider taking advantage.
Disneyland Paris!
Our sojourn to Disneyland Paris was quite the adventure, mostly because it happened a day sooner than it was supposed to. We were at Microsoft on the doorstep and Microsoft was not prepared for us. So, we quickly changed plans, rescheduled for the next day, and hit the train for Disneyland. I welcomed the change of plans.
We spent the entire afternoon and evening in the park. All in all, the time we would have spent in the park had we gone on Tuesday would have been about 9 to 10 hours, so I feel we got roughly the same experience that we would have had if we had gone to Disney on Tuesday. I was able to go to every attraction I wanted to visit, such as the Tower of Terror, the Aerosmith Rockin’ Roller Coaster, the Crush Coaster, Space Mountain, Indiana Jones, Big Thunder Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean, and the Buzz Lightyear shooter.
The Tower of Terror, Buzz Lightyear, and the Aerosmith coaster are nearly identical to the attractions in the US, but there were marked differences in Pirates, Indiana Jones and Space Mountain. I was looking forward to Indiana Jones especially because of the story that accompanies the ride in Disneyland California. In Paris, Indiana Jones is just a coaster – a cool coaster, but still a roller coaster. Space Mountain is 10 times cooler in Paris than it is in California. Rather than be a simple coaster on small rocket carts, this is a full on thrill ride with twists, loops, curls, corkscrews, g-forces, and much more.
I loved it. The Crush Coaster was a ride that I was totally unfamiliar with previously, but I loved it. It was a play on the Eastern Australian Current in Finding Nemo. The patron is taken on a ride through “the Eastern Australian Current” on a turtle shell which spins as the ride progresses. It’s an absolutely brilliant ride. I loved to rip it, roll it and punch it!
As for the business aspects of the park, it is very clear to me that Disney Paris is marketed for an older crowd than Disney California. There are few attractions at the park beyond the standard Disney attractions which are tailored specifically for small children. Many of the large attractions are for a larger, more mature audience. Those that obviously are not for teenagers and young adults are inundated with small children. We had to wait for over an hour to see the Haunted Mansion.
Speaking of the Haunted Mansion, it became fairly clear to me while there that Disney Paris is either not as concerned with the quality of the attractions or the staff is simply indifferent to the customer experience. In Disney California, the staff is always very cordial and as nice as possible to park guests. In Disney Paris, it’s fairly clear that the French attitude towards labor has taken over and is tolerated within the park. While this may be acceptable culturally, it does make a markedly different experience for those who are seeking the same experience that is found in California. I also noted that Beer and Wine is served in Disney Paris, which would absolutely not be tolerated in California. But then again, I knew that alcohol would be there. I wasn’t really surprised by its presence given what I know about European culture in general.
Speaking of the food, I noticed that the American food seemed to be selling the best. While there were some French and other European options available for consumption, the patrons seemed to like the American food, or at the very least, they seemed to be interested enough in American and Disney culture to eat and sample the American food. I thought this behavior made sense – when I take a trip to Europe, I expect to eat European food. Disney can be perceived as a small oasis of American culture inside of Europe, and if I were a European visitor to the park, I would want to try the American food to see what it’s like. That being said, I really can’t describe how the food tasted because I was eating it so quickly that I couldn’t taste it very well. I wasn’t in the mood to eat and take my time. I wanted to ride the rides.
This illustrates another major difference between the European park and the American park. As I perceive it, the American park is all about eat-as-you-go so that patrons can take advantage of their time on the rides. Not so in Paris. The European park has many more food options, including a restaurant inside Pirates of the Caribbean. It is designed to allow the patrons to sit down, enjoy the food, relax for a bit, and return to the attractions. I’m sure that my group and I looked very odd to the other patrons running from one ride to the next with food in hand, being loud as we went.
Another difference that Euro Disney has had to deal with is the language barrier. Disney Paris has two main languages: French and English. The French is obviously present to cater to the French population that visits the park. From what I perceived at the park, everyone else is assumed to be an English-speaker. While this interplay is carried on in various forms throughout the park, I feel like Disney has done the best it knew how, given the circumstances. Language difficulties are present throughout Europe, and I don’t feel like the patrons really expected anything different from Euro Disney.
Disney appears to be very successful in Europe. The park was packed. I saw loads of families and loads of children at the park. Wait lines were just like the ones in America (except that larger portions of them were indoors), and the fast-pass service often brought patrons back to the attractions two hours after fast-pass issue. While I didn’t see many characters (Mickey, Minnie, and the like) visiting with patrons, when I did run into Disney Characters, they were being mobbed by patrons. There was no method to that madness like there is in America. Kids and other patrons simply formed a mob around the characters they wanted to see and hoped they could get a photo. Such a thing would be very different in America.
I hear that Disney is going to build a third theme park in the area to accompany the Disney Studios and Disneyland Paris. I, as a patron, would be happy to see this go up, but I am unsure about the investment from a European standpoint. Euro Disney is still not making enough to pay off the interest from the financing that built the park in the first place. Why Euro Disney is considering entering more debt to pay off more debt to build a third park is beyond me. Unless Disney can show that building a third park will reduce their overall debt in the long run, I wouldn’t be interested in financing a third park for them.
However, I stand by what I said before. I loved Disneyland Paris for what it was and hope to be able to take my family there someday. I loved the park. I thought it was terrific.
We spent the entire afternoon and evening in the park. All in all, the time we would have spent in the park had we gone on Tuesday would have been about 9 to 10 hours, so I feel we got roughly the same experience that we would have had if we had gone to Disney on Tuesday. I was able to go to every attraction I wanted to visit, such as the Tower of Terror, the Aerosmith Rockin’ Roller Coaster, the Crush Coaster, Space Mountain, Indiana Jones, Big Thunder Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean, and the Buzz Lightyear shooter.
The Tower of Terror, Buzz Lightyear, and the Aerosmith coaster are nearly identical to the attractions in the US, but there were marked differences in Pirates, Indiana Jones and Space Mountain. I was looking forward to Indiana Jones especially because of the story that accompanies the ride in Disneyland California. In Paris, Indiana Jones is just a coaster – a cool coaster, but still a roller coaster. Space Mountain is 10 times cooler in Paris than it is in California. Rather than be a simple coaster on small rocket carts, this is a full on thrill ride with twists, loops, curls, corkscrews, g-forces, and much more.
I loved it. The Crush Coaster was a ride that I was totally unfamiliar with previously, but I loved it. It was a play on the Eastern Australian Current in Finding Nemo. The patron is taken on a ride through “the Eastern Australian Current” on a turtle shell which spins as the ride progresses. It’s an absolutely brilliant ride. I loved to rip it, roll it and punch it!
As for the business aspects of the park, it is very clear to me that Disney Paris is marketed for an older crowd than Disney California. There are few attractions at the park beyond the standard Disney attractions which are tailored specifically for small children. Many of the large attractions are for a larger, more mature audience. Those that obviously are not for teenagers and young adults are inundated with small children. We had to wait for over an hour to see the Haunted Mansion.
Speaking of the Haunted Mansion, it became fairly clear to me while there that Disney Paris is either not as concerned with the quality of the attractions or the staff is simply indifferent to the customer experience. In Disney California, the staff is always very cordial and as nice as possible to park guests. In Disney Paris, it’s fairly clear that the French attitude towards labor has taken over and is tolerated within the park. While this may be acceptable culturally, it does make a markedly different experience for those who are seeking the same experience that is found in California. I also noted that Beer and Wine is served in Disney Paris, which would absolutely not be tolerated in California. But then again, I knew that alcohol would be there. I wasn’t really surprised by its presence given what I know about European culture in general.
Speaking of the food, I noticed that the American food seemed to be selling the best. While there were some French and other European options available for consumption, the patrons seemed to like the American food, or at the very least, they seemed to be interested enough in American and Disney culture to eat and sample the American food. I thought this behavior made sense – when I take a trip to Europe, I expect to eat European food. Disney can be perceived as a small oasis of American culture inside of Europe, and if I were a European visitor to the park, I would want to try the American food to see what it’s like. That being said, I really can’t describe how the food tasted because I was eating it so quickly that I couldn’t taste it very well. I wasn’t in the mood to eat and take my time. I wanted to ride the rides.
This illustrates another major difference between the European park and the American park. As I perceive it, the American park is all about eat-as-you-go so that patrons can take advantage of their time on the rides. Not so in Paris. The European park has many more food options, including a restaurant inside Pirates of the Caribbean. It is designed to allow the patrons to sit down, enjoy the food, relax for a bit, and return to the attractions. I’m sure that my group and I looked very odd to the other patrons running from one ride to the next with food in hand, being loud as we went.
Another difference that Euro Disney has had to deal with is the language barrier. Disney Paris has two main languages: French and English. The French is obviously present to cater to the French population that visits the park. From what I perceived at the park, everyone else is assumed to be an English-speaker. While this interplay is carried on in various forms throughout the park, I feel like Disney has done the best it knew how, given the circumstances. Language difficulties are present throughout Europe, and I don’t feel like the patrons really expected anything different from Euro Disney.
Disney appears to be very successful in Europe. The park was packed. I saw loads of families and loads of children at the park. Wait lines were just like the ones in America (except that larger portions of them were indoors), and the fast-pass service often brought patrons back to the attractions two hours after fast-pass issue. While I didn’t see many characters (Mickey, Minnie, and the like) visiting with patrons, when I did run into Disney Characters, they were being mobbed by patrons. There was no method to that madness like there is in America. Kids and other patrons simply formed a mob around the characters they wanted to see and hoped they could get a photo. Such a thing would be very different in America.
I hear that Disney is going to build a third theme park in the area to accompany the Disney Studios and Disneyland Paris. I, as a patron, would be happy to see this go up, but I am unsure about the investment from a European standpoint. Euro Disney is still not making enough to pay off the interest from the financing that built the park in the first place. Why Euro Disney is considering entering more debt to pay off more debt to build a third park is beyond me. Unless Disney can show that building a third park will reduce their overall debt in the long run, I wouldn’t be interested in financing a third park for them.
However, I stand by what I said before. I loved Disneyland Paris for what it was and hope to be able to take my family there someday. I loved the park. I thought it was terrific.
Microsoft in Europe
If there was one visit that totally exceeded any and all expectations I had going into the visit, it was Microsoft Europe, and there are several reasons for that. Firstly, I have never been a huge fan of Microsoft and their ardently proprietary stance on their software. Many a time I have been irked by problems with Windows, Office, or other Microsoft software. Secondly, I have thought that their SAAS (software as a service) products, except for MSN messenger, are substandard and inferior. Even so, I don’t use MSN messenger, because everyone I know has Gmail and uses Google Talk. Thirdly, I carry a huge anti-monopoly bias against Microsoft. Although Apple is very successful, the Microsoft Windows OS is still the dominant operating system on the market and will be for the foreseeable future. I don’t necessarily like that the tools I am forced to use in school come from Microsoft. I perceived Microsoft as a bureaucratic, impersonal, monopolistic money-grabber content on taking your money, providing an inferior product (which of course can be fixed at a later date by applying service packs and security updates), and imposing intense licensing restrictions on that product. I expected the work environment to be dark and worker satisfaction to be low.
That was not how it was. The biggest thing I learned about Microsoft is that they are focused on providing software solutions to their clients on more of an ad hoc basis. Microsoft works with those companies to analyze the problems and challenges confronting the business and works to provide a technical solution to those problems using the tools they have developed through their research and development team. I was impressed by the strength of their research and development and the publicity which they gave to the products they had developed after completion. Often, the products Microsoft develops don’t have a market. So, Microsoft publishes everything about the product and challenges people to find a use for it. That’s brilliant.
I was also super impressed with the hospitality of the Microsoft staff. Although we had obviously booked our visit well in advance, Microsoft had forgotten that we would be coming that day and had not planned for us. So, we came back the next day. I was expecting a slip-shod, thrown together, super quick presentation about the purpose and direction of the company and that would be it. Instead, all of us were treated to explanations about recent Microsoft developments and tools as well as a test run of Kinect, the latest XBOX gaming tool and new rival to the Wii. I really enjoyed the Kinect. It was terrific.
I learned that people who work at Microsoft enjoy their work. Most of those we spoke with had been working for Microsoft for more than 10 years. We spoke with people from several different departments who had taken time out of their day to come speak to us on a moment’s notice. I thought that was super impressive. I also was once again surprised to learn that those with journalism and communication degrees can hold a very valuable skill to be used at many different corporations. One of our presenters was a public relations staff member and had worked in a variety of capacities in several different countries. I was very impressed.
And finally, the Kinect was cool. I was super impressed. I enjoyed Microsoft.
That was not how it was. The biggest thing I learned about Microsoft is that they are focused on providing software solutions to their clients on more of an ad hoc basis. Microsoft works with those companies to analyze the problems and challenges confronting the business and works to provide a technical solution to those problems using the tools they have developed through their research and development team. I was impressed by the strength of their research and development and the publicity which they gave to the products they had developed after completion. Often, the products Microsoft develops don’t have a market. So, Microsoft publishes everything about the product and challenges people to find a use for it. That’s brilliant.
I was also super impressed with the hospitality of the Microsoft staff. Although we had obviously booked our visit well in advance, Microsoft had forgotten that we would be coming that day and had not planned for us. So, we came back the next day. I was expecting a slip-shod, thrown together, super quick presentation about the purpose and direction of the company and that would be it. Instead, all of us were treated to explanations about recent Microsoft developments and tools as well as a test run of Kinect, the latest XBOX gaming tool and new rival to the Wii. I really enjoyed the Kinect. It was terrific.
I learned that people who work at Microsoft enjoy their work. Most of those we spoke with had been working for Microsoft for more than 10 years. We spoke with people from several different departments who had taken time out of their day to come speak to us on a moment’s notice. I thought that was super impressive. I also was once again surprised to learn that those with journalism and communication degrees can hold a very valuable skill to be used at many different corporations. One of our presenters was a public relations staff member and had worked in a variety of capacities in several different countries. I was very impressed.
And finally, the Kinect was cool. I was super impressed. I enjoyed Microsoft.
Food in Europe
Food.
Europe is famous for the varieties of foods that span its cultures. While in Switzerland, Italy, and Portugal, I was privileged to be fed native foods with cultural importance. In Italy, I tried the Pizza. In Switzerland, I was treated to be fed a number of native foods, but the one I considered the most important culturally was the Raclette cheese. In Portugal, I was fed bacalhau com natas - codfish served in a creamed casserole. All of these foods were different from any American food I have eaten, and each was delicious.
I had preconceived notions about what pizza is, since it is wildly popular in America. I had eaten pizza in Europe before, but I had never eaten it in Italy. I consider this important because Italy is known for its pizza and its pasta. While in Milan and Bergamo, I noticed pizza restaurants on every corner. They were as common in Italy as patisseries are in France. Since pizzerias are so common in Italy, I naturally assumed that the Italians make the best pizza. I was not disappointed.
The pizza I ate was simple, and it was not large. Also, it was not expensive. It was a simple pizza of meats and cheeses with a very thin crust. My pizza also had mushrooms on it. I ate the pizza with a knife and fork because the pizza had not been sliced as is normally the custom in America. The pizza was delicious. After we ate, we paid for our Pizza at the counter and headed for the station to catch our train to Bergamo.
Given the commonality of pizza in Italy, I would imagine they consider pizza to much be much more of a staple food than a luxury meal. The cafe we ate in was small, and football jerseys lined the walls. There were no more than five tables, and the service was simple and very non-extravagant. I was not displeased with this - I wanted a simple meal to fill me up and keep me going, and this meal hit the spot.
In Switzerland, the Raclette cheese is a very cultural meal. Only the Swiss make Raclette, and it is consumed in a very proper manner. The Raclette must first be melted before it's eaten. It's too hard to cut it off the block and eat it like a normal cheese. It's eaten with meats and other heavy foods. Most importantly, one must drink warm drinks in order to allow the Raclette to digest properly. If cold drinks are consumed at the same time, I was told that the Raclette would harden up and that I would end up unhappy and constipated. So, I drank herbal teas and hot chocolate along with my Raclette and meat. It was a very heavy and very warm meal. I didn't think I'd ever be cold again after eating that meal. I slept very well that night. I had no preconceived notions about the food before eating it, and was excited to try something new and different. Fortunately, I was not disappointed.
And finally, my favorite and the closest to my heart: bacalhau com natas. Bacalhau (codfish) is the common man's food in Portugal. This fish is unique for several reasons. First, it's sold salted and dry in Portuguese grocery stores. Bacalhau doesn't keep well frozen, and so the Portuguese salt it to preserve it. In order to make the fish edible and appealing to the taste, it must be drowned in fresh water to desalinate the fish. The water is drained and refilled several times to remove all the salt. It is then sliced, chopped, ground, and cooked in a hundred different ways. I only tried one of these ways on the trip, which also happens to be one of the most common methods of preparation and my favorite: a casserole with a lot of cheese and a lot of cream.
To be honest, I knew that the bacalhau was going to be delicious because I had eaten it many times before when I served my LDS mission in Portugal. We were not disappointed by our gracious hosts who had spent a lot of time and a lot of effort in preparing a full meal for us. The food was excellent, and there was so much of it that we were unable to eat it all. Scott, Cody and I slept very well that night in Lisbon.
In closing, I would like to attempt to encapsulate the European attitude toward food that I have been able to observe in my experiences abroad. Europeans don't eat to live - they live to eat. I love European food. It has quality.
Europe is famous for the varieties of foods that span its cultures. While in Switzerland, Italy, and Portugal, I was privileged to be fed native foods with cultural importance. In Italy, I tried the Pizza. In Switzerland, I was treated to be fed a number of native foods, but the one I considered the most important culturally was the Raclette cheese. In Portugal, I was fed bacalhau com natas - codfish served in a creamed casserole. All of these foods were different from any American food I have eaten, and each was delicious.
I had preconceived notions about what pizza is, since it is wildly popular in America. I had eaten pizza in Europe before, but I had never eaten it in Italy. I consider this important because Italy is known for its pizza and its pasta. While in Milan and Bergamo, I noticed pizza restaurants on every corner. They were as common in Italy as patisseries are in France. Since pizzerias are so common in Italy, I naturally assumed that the Italians make the best pizza. I was not disappointed.
The pizza I ate was simple, and it was not large. Also, it was not expensive. It was a simple pizza of meats and cheeses with a very thin crust. My pizza also had mushrooms on it. I ate the pizza with a knife and fork because the pizza had not been sliced as is normally the custom in America. The pizza was delicious. After we ate, we paid for our Pizza at the counter and headed for the station to catch our train to Bergamo.
Given the commonality of pizza in Italy, I would imagine they consider pizza to much be much more of a staple food than a luxury meal. The cafe we ate in was small, and football jerseys lined the walls. There were no more than five tables, and the service was simple and very non-extravagant. I was not displeased with this - I wanted a simple meal to fill me up and keep me going, and this meal hit the spot.
In Switzerland, the Raclette cheese is a very cultural meal. Only the Swiss make Raclette, and it is consumed in a very proper manner. The Raclette must first be melted before it's eaten. It's too hard to cut it off the block and eat it like a normal cheese. It's eaten with meats and other heavy foods. Most importantly, one must drink warm drinks in order to allow the Raclette to digest properly. If cold drinks are consumed at the same time, I was told that the Raclette would harden up and that I would end up unhappy and constipated. So, I drank herbal teas and hot chocolate along with my Raclette and meat. It was a very heavy and very warm meal. I didn't think I'd ever be cold again after eating that meal. I slept very well that night. I had no preconceived notions about the food before eating it, and was excited to try something new and different. Fortunately, I was not disappointed.
And finally, my favorite and the closest to my heart: bacalhau com natas. Bacalhau (codfish) is the common man's food in Portugal. This fish is unique for several reasons. First, it's sold salted and dry in Portuguese grocery stores. Bacalhau doesn't keep well frozen, and so the Portuguese salt it to preserve it. In order to make the fish edible and appealing to the taste, it must be drowned in fresh water to desalinate the fish. The water is drained and refilled several times to remove all the salt. It is then sliced, chopped, ground, and cooked in a hundred different ways. I only tried one of these ways on the trip, which also happens to be one of the most common methods of preparation and my favorite: a casserole with a lot of cheese and a lot of cream.
To be honest, I knew that the bacalhau was going to be delicious because I had eaten it many times before when I served my LDS mission in Portugal. We were not disappointed by our gracious hosts who had spent a lot of time and a lot of effort in preparing a full meal for us. The food was excellent, and there was so much of it that we were unable to eat it all. Scott, Cody and I slept very well that night in Lisbon.
In closing, I would like to attempt to encapsulate the European attitude toward food that I have been able to observe in my experiences abroad. Europeans don't eat to live - they live to eat. I love European food. It has quality.
OECD
We visited the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development while we were in Paris. We were well received by our host, Andrew Gentry, even though we were a bit late, and immediately given a presentation about what the OECD is and what it does by an American who was working for the US delegation to the OECD. This American, William Wade, was a BYU graduate who had gone to work for the state department and had worked in several countries around the world, gave his perspective on what it was like to work for the state department in several foreign countries. After a brief question and answer session with him, we were given a quick presentation by a French lady that had already lived in America and spoke English remarkably well.
After our introduction to the OECD and the presentations, Andrew gave us a tour of the adjacent building, a former palace. In fact, the palace near the OECD is the location where the first hot air balloon took off. The building was given to the OECD as its base of operation, and since it has been remodeled and expanded into the current OECD facilities. Every day hundreds of delegates meet in conferences to discuss the latest economic findings and results of detailed economic research.
I learned that the OECD is a think tank, which I did not know before. The main purpose of the OECD is to cooperate in the discovery and dissemination of economic research information among member nations. For those who are not members of the OECD, access to information is severely limited. Mr. Gentry told us something that I found to be relevant but surprising – in order to become a member of the OECD, each member nation must first become a part of the WTO. That means that China and Russia are still kept out, and cannot contribute to the global economic research team at OECD. The impression that I got is that OECD is a rich nation’s club for research, which I don’t think is necessarily a bad thing.
One of the pillars of economic development in the western world is democracy, which in order to operate needs a free flow of information. The members of the OECD benefit from the free flow of information that comes with membership, but those who are not members do not benefit. Obviously, those nations that want access to the OECD club will need to adopt democratic institutions in order to gain access to the wealth of information that OECD produces. This could improve the lives of their citizens and the world in general.
All in all, I enjoyed the OECD tour and was impressed with the quality of the staff that is working there. I also have begun to consider Foreign Service for the state department. Working abroad while representing the United States of America is definitely something I see as worthwhile and beneficial after hearing William’s story. I liked the OECD.
After our introduction to the OECD and the presentations, Andrew gave us a tour of the adjacent building, a former palace. In fact, the palace near the OECD is the location where the first hot air balloon took off. The building was given to the OECD as its base of operation, and since it has been remodeled and expanded into the current OECD facilities. Every day hundreds of delegates meet in conferences to discuss the latest economic findings and results of detailed economic research.
I learned that the OECD is a think tank, which I did not know before. The main purpose of the OECD is to cooperate in the discovery and dissemination of economic research information among member nations. For those who are not members of the OECD, access to information is severely limited. Mr. Gentry told us something that I found to be relevant but surprising – in order to become a member of the OECD, each member nation must first become a part of the WTO. That means that China and Russia are still kept out, and cannot contribute to the global economic research team at OECD. The impression that I got is that OECD is a rich nation’s club for research, which I don’t think is necessarily a bad thing.
One of the pillars of economic development in the western world is democracy, which in order to operate needs a free flow of information. The members of the OECD benefit from the free flow of information that comes with membership, but those who are not members do not benefit. Obviously, those nations that want access to the OECD club will need to adopt democratic institutions in order to gain access to the wealth of information that OECD produces. This could improve the lives of their citizens and the world in general.
All in all, I enjoyed the OECD tour and was impressed with the quality of the staff that is working there. I also have begun to consider Foreign Service for the state department. Working abroad while representing the United States of America is definitely something I see as worthwhile and beneficial after hearing William’s story. I liked the OECD.
NATO
We enjoyed a terrific dinner with several officials of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Adrian Kendry, a gentle, colorful British man who has worked at the Naval Academy in the United States and several other American institutions in the past and who now works for NATO, addressed our group and spoke about the importance of maintaining an international perspective in the shadow of a politically volatile and changing world. Kendry and his colleagues spoke about the challenges of NATO today and the general direction NATO is heading in the future.
I learned three major things from the luncheon. Firstly, I learned that an internship and a position at NATO is extremely difficult to obtain, and most of my ambition to work there before the age of 40 died. (Side note – I thought the guy who talked about internships was quite strange. His words and comments motivated me not to apply for a NATO internship.) Secondly, I learned that NATO was planning to declare its purpose to the world, which was something that I did not know previously. Before the Soviet Union collapsed, NATO’s purpose was to provide a safety net for Europe. In a post-communist world, the world questions the necessity of NATO. Thirdly, I learned that Mr. Kendry has a fantastic singing voice.
Overall, I was thoroughly impressed that such high level officials from an international defense organization would take the time out of their day to come to speak to a bunch of college students for a few hours during the middle of the day. I was impressed with the amount of care these men took to explain and describe what they do and what they thought was important. I was also impressed with the importance they associate with their jobs, but also with the degree to which these men value well-roundedness. Adrian loves to sing and eat at that restaurant. I love that. I hope to be able to value my work as much as these men obviously do, but to also to be able to enjoy my work as much as they do. That’s my aspiration.
I learned three major things from the luncheon. Firstly, I learned that an internship and a position at NATO is extremely difficult to obtain, and most of my ambition to work there before the age of 40 died. (Side note – I thought the guy who talked about internships was quite strange. His words and comments motivated me not to apply for a NATO internship.) Secondly, I learned that NATO was planning to declare its purpose to the world, which was something that I did not know previously. Before the Soviet Union collapsed, NATO’s purpose was to provide a safety net for Europe. In a post-communist world, the world questions the necessity of NATO. Thirdly, I learned that Mr. Kendry has a fantastic singing voice.
Overall, I was thoroughly impressed that such high level officials from an international defense organization would take the time out of their day to come to speak to a bunch of college students for a few hours during the middle of the day. I was impressed with the amount of care these men took to explain and describe what they do and what they thought was important. I was also impressed with the importance they associate with their jobs, but also with the degree to which these men value well-roundedness. Adrian loves to sing and eat at that restaurant. I love that. I hope to be able to value my work as much as these men obviously do, but to also to be able to enjoy my work as much as they do. That’s my aspiration.
Caterpillar
We took a visit to Caterpillar Thursday morning. We had originally planned to visit the European Commission, but because of scheduling conflicts between the EU and NATO, we were forced to cancel our visit to the Commission and scheduled at trip to visit Caterpillar instead. This visit was unique because I hadn’t researched Caterpillar at all and didn’t know much about the company. I learned that Caterpillar is a massive corporation with a very developed and impressive distribution network.
We toured Caterpillar’s distribution center located in Belgium. No manufacturing is performed at the facility, but rather parts are shipped from the Belgian warehouse to Caterpillar dealers across Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Several hundred thousand parts are contained in the Belgian facility, which is the second largest distribution facility owned by Caterpillar in the world, taking its position only behind a facility in Morton, Illinois. The facility is so large that an entire division is devoted to cardboard boxes and pallets in packaging. There are more than 13 separate loading docks. An automated inventory system stores and retrieves a large number of the smaller parts and operates in a similar fashion to the BARN at the Merrill-Cazier Library on USU campus.
I thought the Caterpillar facility was very impressive. The logistics and business organization skills employed in the Caterpillar operation were obviously top notch. Caterpillar employs a six sigma operations system to increase efficiency and reduce mistakes, which means that Caterpillar maintains the goal to conduct its operations error-free 999,997 out of a million times. This is a very daunting goal, but after touring the facility, I’m convinced that if they don’t meet the standard, they are close. Caterpillar is a well-oiled machine.
Caterpillar has a large incentive to make sure their operation is error-free. Our tour guide told us that when a gear in a caterpillar industrial mine support was found to be defective, Caterpillar had to recall all the gears in all the products previously supplied as well as finance the manufacturing and distribution of replacement gears at great cost to the company. Errors in the caterpillar line are very costly, and as such, Caterpillar is rightly dedicated to making sure the operation is safe and error-free.
In a side note, I learned a bit about the current political turmoil in Belgium, something about which I was completely unaware.
I was impressed with Caterpillar. It was a terrific visit.
We toured Caterpillar’s distribution center located in Belgium. No manufacturing is performed at the facility, but rather parts are shipped from the Belgian warehouse to Caterpillar dealers across Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Several hundred thousand parts are contained in the Belgian facility, which is the second largest distribution facility owned by Caterpillar in the world, taking its position only behind a facility in Morton, Illinois. The facility is so large that an entire division is devoted to cardboard boxes and pallets in packaging. There are more than 13 separate loading docks. An automated inventory system stores and retrieves a large number of the smaller parts and operates in a similar fashion to the BARN at the Merrill-Cazier Library on USU campus.
I thought the Caterpillar facility was very impressive. The logistics and business organization skills employed in the Caterpillar operation were obviously top notch. Caterpillar employs a six sigma operations system to increase efficiency and reduce mistakes, which means that Caterpillar maintains the goal to conduct its operations error-free 999,997 out of a million times. This is a very daunting goal, but after touring the facility, I’m convinced that if they don’t meet the standard, they are close. Caterpillar is a well-oiled machine.
Caterpillar has a large incentive to make sure their operation is error-free. Our tour guide told us that when a gear in a caterpillar industrial mine support was found to be defective, Caterpillar had to recall all the gears in all the products previously supplied as well as finance the manufacturing and distribution of replacement gears at great cost to the company. Errors in the caterpillar line are very costly, and as such, Caterpillar is rightly dedicated to making sure the operation is safe and error-free.
In a side note, I learned a bit about the current political turmoil in Belgium, something about which I was completely unaware.
I was impressed with Caterpillar. It was a terrific visit.
ABInBev
We took a trip to InBev, the largest brewing company in the world, on Wednesday afternoon. I was thoroughly unimpressed by the tour for two reasons. Firstly, nothing there was working like I had supposed it should for us. We couldn’t see all the production facilities because we happened to show up when carbon dioxide had filled up a warehouse, poisoning the atmosphere inside one of the facilities housing a major element of the brewing process. Also, the bottling lines – perhaps the most active part of the entire facility, happened to not be running upon our arrival. Secondly, I don’t like beer and think it is a repulsive drink, even if it is a product that generates tremendous economic power and wealth. About the only thing I did like about the InBev tour was the end when they gave us free Coke and Fanta and let us watch the old Stella Artois commercials. Those commercials were quite entertaining. As I thought the tour was not very educational or enlightening, I really have no remaining questions about how beer is made or distributed, nor do I have any interest in someday working for a brewery.
Socially, InBev has a great responsibility to public health and education about the dangers of drinking irresponsibly. The dangers of alcohol consumption are well documented. However, after taking the tour it was very obvious that those who work there are quite enthusiastic about their jobs. Our tour guide obviously loves beer; she made that very apparent. Equally as apparent to me is the fact that I don’t want to work there because I am not passionate about beer. I suppose the most important thing that I learned is that doing something that I’m not passionate about is not something I am interested in.
Socially, InBev has a great responsibility to public health and education about the dangers of drinking irresponsibly. The dangers of alcohol consumption are well documented. However, after taking the tour it was very obvious that those who work there are quite enthusiastic about their jobs. Our tour guide obviously loves beer; she made that very apparent. Equally as apparent to me is the fact that I don’t want to work there because I am not passionate about beer. I suppose the most important thing that I learned is that doing something that I’m not passionate about is not something I am interested in.
Huntsman Chemical
On the day we went to visit Huntsman Chemical, we woke up very, very early in the morning and got on a bus to Brussels. Our first stop in Belgium was Huntsman Chemical Corporation, and I must say that it was one of my favorite visits on the trip. Before our official tour started, we were given a briefing on the European business and political environment by Nick Webster, a senior official at Huntsman Corp. I found his conversation enlightening and fascinating, particularly his comments regarding the recent train strikes. During the course of the tour, we were privileged to see the operations of Huntsman chemical in a variety of areas, such as automotive foams, shoe rubbers, industrial chemical coatings, and general foam production. The tour lasted a few hours and afterwards we were provided with a fantastic lunch.
I found the trip illuminating because I didn’t know that Huntsman had its hand in so many different areas of chemical and foam production. I also didn’t know that foam could be used in so many different applications. One application of industrial chemicals I found to be fascinating was the development of non-invasive water pipe repair. A felt sock can be infused with Huntsman’s chemicals and can be shaped and formed into a polyurethane coating that effectively seals off water leaks and repairs the pipe. I dream of a day when man will no longer have to tear up roads and landscaping to repair the water infrastructure of the world. And it all can happen because of Huntsman! Huntsman Chemical was the first true industrial application of chemistry I have ever seen and recognized in my life, and since I enjoy chemistry, I found it to be fascinating.
Huntsman taught me that innovation and application of chemical principles can be applied in a business environment to truly better the environment, the economic standing of its employees, and society at large. I liked our visit to Huntsman Chemical.
I found the trip illuminating because I didn’t know that Huntsman had its hand in so many different areas of chemical and foam production. I also didn’t know that foam could be used in so many different applications. One application of industrial chemicals I found to be fascinating was the development of non-invasive water pipe repair. A felt sock can be infused with Huntsman’s chemicals and can be shaped and formed into a polyurethane coating that effectively seals off water leaks and repairs the pipe. I dream of a day when man will no longer have to tear up roads and landscaping to repair the water infrastructure of the world. And it all can happen because of Huntsman! Huntsman Chemical was the first true industrial application of chemistry I have ever seen and recognized in my life, and since I enjoy chemistry, I found it to be fascinating.
Huntsman taught me that innovation and application of chemical principles can be applied in a business environment to truly better the environment, the economic standing of its employees, and society at large. I liked our visit to Huntsman Chemical.
Pizza in Italia, Raclette in Switzerland, and Bacalhau in Portugal
Food.
Europe is famous for the varieties of foods that span its cultures. While in Switzerland, Italy, and Portugal, I was privileged to be fed native foods with cultural importance. In Italy, I tried the Pizza. In Switzerland, I was treated to be fed a number of native foods, but the one I considered the most important culturally was the Raclette cheese. In Portugal, I was fed bacalhau com natas - codfish served in a creamed casserole. All of these foods were different from any American food I have eaten, and each was delicious.
I had preconceived notions about what pizza is, since it is wildly popular in America. I had eaten pizza in Europe before, but I had never eaten it in Italy. I consider this important because Italy is known for its pizza and its pasta. While in Milan and Bergamo, I noticed pizza restaurants on every corner. They were as common in Italy as patisseries are in France. Since pizzerias are so common in Italy, I naturally assumed that the Italians make the best pizza. I was not disappointed.
The pizza I ate was simple, and it was not large. Also, it was not expensive. It was a simple pizza of meats and cheeses with a very thin crust. My pizza also had mushrooms on it. I ate the pizza with a knife and fork because the pizza had not been sliced as is normally the custom in America. The pizza was delicious. After we ate, we paid for our Pizza at the counter and headed for the station to catch our train to Bergamo.
Given the commonality of pizza in Italy, I would imagine they consider pizza to much be much more of a staple food than a luxury meal. The cafe we ate in was small, and football jerseys lined the walls. There were no more than five tables, and the service was simple and very non-extravagant. I was not displeased with this - I wanted a simple meal to fill me up and keep me going, and this meal hit the spot.
In Switzerland, the Raclette cheese is a very cultural meal. Only the Swiss make Raclette, and it is consumed in a very proper manner. The Raclette must first be melted before it's eaten. It's too hard to cut it off the block and eat it like a normal cheese. It's eaten with meats and other heavy foods. Most importantly, one must drink warm drinks in order to allow the Raclette to digest properly. If cold drinks are consumed at the same time, I was told that the Raclette would harden up and that I would end up unhappy and constipated. So, I drank herbal teas and hot chocolate along with my Raclette and meat. It was a very heavy and very warm meal. I didn't think I'd ever be cold again after eating that meal. I slept very well that night. I had no preconceived notions about the food before eating it, and was excited to try something new and different. Fortunately, I was not disappointed.
And finally, my favorite and the closest to my heart: bacalhau com natas. Bacalhau (codfish) is the common man's food in Portugal. This fish is unique for several reasons. First, it's sold salted and dry in Portuguese grocery stores. Bacalhau doesn't keep well frozen, and so the Portuguese salt it to preserve it. In order to make the fish edible and appealing to the taste, it must be drowned in fresh water to desalinate the fish. The water is drained and refilled several times to remove all the salt. It is then sliced, chopped, ground, and cooked in a hundred different ways. I only tried one of these ways on the trip, which also happens to be one of the most common methods of preparation and my favorite: a casserole with a lot of cheese and a lot of cream.
To be honest, I knew that the bacalhau was going to be delicious because I had eaten it many times before when I served my LDS mission in Portugal. We were not disappointed by our gracious hosts who had spent a lot of time and a lot of effort in preparing a full meal for us. The food was excellent, and there was so much of it that we were unable to eat it all. Scott, Cody and I slept very well that night in Lisbon.
In closing, I would like to attempt to encapsulate the European attitude toward food that I have been able to observe in my experiences abroad. Europeans don't eat to live - they live to eat. I love European food. It has quality.
Europe is famous for the varieties of foods that span its cultures. While in Switzerland, Italy, and Portugal, I was privileged to be fed native foods with cultural importance. In Italy, I tried the Pizza. In Switzerland, I was treated to be fed a number of native foods, but the one I considered the most important culturally was the Raclette cheese. In Portugal, I was fed bacalhau com natas - codfish served in a creamed casserole. All of these foods were different from any American food I have eaten, and each was delicious.
I had preconceived notions about what pizza is, since it is wildly popular in America. I had eaten pizza in Europe before, but I had never eaten it in Italy. I consider this important because Italy is known for its pizza and its pasta. While in Milan and Bergamo, I noticed pizza restaurants on every corner. They were as common in Italy as patisseries are in France. Since pizzerias are so common in Italy, I naturally assumed that the Italians make the best pizza. I was not disappointed.
The pizza I ate was simple, and it was not large. Also, it was not expensive. It was a simple pizza of meats and cheeses with a very thin crust. My pizza also had mushrooms on it. I ate the pizza with a knife and fork because the pizza had not been sliced as is normally the custom in America. The pizza was delicious. After we ate, we paid for our Pizza at the counter and headed for the station to catch our train to Bergamo.
Given the commonality of pizza in Italy, I would imagine they consider pizza to much be much more of a staple food than a luxury meal. The cafe we ate in was small, and football jerseys lined the walls. There were no more than five tables, and the service was simple and very non-extravagant. I was not displeased with this - I wanted a simple meal to fill me up and keep me going, and this meal hit the spot.
In Switzerland, the Raclette cheese is a very cultural meal. Only the Swiss make Raclette, and it is consumed in a very proper manner. The Raclette must first be melted before it's eaten. It's too hard to cut it off the block and eat it like a normal cheese. It's eaten with meats and other heavy foods. Most importantly, one must drink warm drinks in order to allow the Raclette to digest properly. If cold drinks are consumed at the same time, I was told that the Raclette would harden up and that I would end up unhappy and constipated. So, I drank herbal teas and hot chocolate along with my Raclette and meat. It was a very heavy and very warm meal. I didn't think I'd ever be cold again after eating that meal. I slept very well that night. I had no preconceived notions about the food before eating it, and was excited to try something new and different. Fortunately, I was not disappointed.
And finally, my favorite and the closest to my heart: bacalhau com natas. Bacalhau (codfish) is the common man's food in Portugal. This fish is unique for several reasons. First, it's sold salted and dry in Portuguese grocery stores. Bacalhau doesn't keep well frozen, and so the Portuguese salt it to preserve it. In order to make the fish edible and appealing to the taste, it must be drowned in fresh water to desalinate the fish. The water is drained and refilled several times to remove all the salt. It is then sliced, chopped, ground, and cooked in a hundred different ways. I only tried one of these ways on the trip, which also happens to be one of the most common methods of preparation and my favorite: a casserole with a lot of cheese and a lot of cream.
To be honest, I knew that the bacalhau was going to be delicious because I had eaten it many times before when I served my LDS mission in Portugal. We were not disappointed by our gracious hosts who had spent a lot of time and a lot of effort in preparing a full meal for us. The food was excellent, and there was so much of it that we were unable to eat it all. Scott, Cody and I slept very well that night in Lisbon.
In closing, I would like to attempt to encapsulate the European attitude toward food that I have been able to observe in my experiences abroad. Europeans don't eat to live - they live to eat. I love European food. It has quality.
The ICRC
The International Committee of the Red Cross is an organization devoted to helping the sick and the disadvantaged. Its mission is not a political one – the ICRC is purely devoted to helping the injured and the sick across the globe, both in times of conflict and in the wake of natural disaster.
I learned that the ICRC is mostly concerned with advancing International Humanitarian Law (IHL). IHL was conceived at the Geneva Convention and is supposed to protect wounded soldiers and uninvolved civilians from the horrors of war. Those who are party to the convention have enacted civilian law and military law to advance IHL. The ICRC’s main goal is to do everything possible to make sure that the governments follow the laws they themselves have implemented and to help the victims of conflict.
A question I had going into the ICRC was regarding IHL. I wanted to gauge the respect that the ICRC and IHL command from the governments involved in the Geneva Convention. I realized that the only way the ICRC and IHL have been able to maintain any credibility and respect at all has been through consistent effort to behave in accordance with the rules set within the ICRC itself. If ICRC was ever perceived as a political organization that made judgments about a given conflict and if it ever used the humanitarian tools it commands to aid and assist one party in a conflict over another, it would instantly lose all credibility it has as a neutral organization and one only interested in the well-being of victims. The ICRC has done a terrific job building the reputation it has established for more than 100 years, and I find it fascinating that the governments of the world have come to respect the ICRC as they do.
Overall, I would say the presentation at ICRC was mildly interesting at best, but I did learn considerably about IHL and I am grateful for the opportunity I had to visit.
I learned that the ICRC is mostly concerned with advancing International Humanitarian Law (IHL). IHL was conceived at the Geneva Convention and is supposed to protect wounded soldiers and uninvolved civilians from the horrors of war. Those who are party to the convention have enacted civilian law and military law to advance IHL. The ICRC’s main goal is to do everything possible to make sure that the governments follow the laws they themselves have implemented and to help the victims of conflict.
A question I had going into the ICRC was regarding IHL. I wanted to gauge the respect that the ICRC and IHL command from the governments involved in the Geneva Convention. I realized that the only way the ICRC and IHL have been able to maintain any credibility and respect at all has been through consistent effort to behave in accordance with the rules set within the ICRC itself. If ICRC was ever perceived as a political organization that made judgments about a given conflict and if it ever used the humanitarian tools it commands to aid and assist one party in a conflict over another, it would instantly lose all credibility it has as a neutral organization and one only interested in the well-being of victims. The ICRC has done a terrific job building the reputation it has established for more than 100 years, and I find it fascinating that the governments of the world have come to respect the ICRC as they do.
Overall, I would say the presentation at ICRC was mildly interesting at best, but I did learn considerably about IHL and I am grateful for the opportunity I had to visit.
The WTO
The World Trade Organization, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, is much more interesting and powerful than I had previously imagined. Upon entering the grounds and the building in which the WTO is housed, I was impressed with the overall scale of this organization and the scale of what it has accomplished. I was also thoroughly impressed with the Spanish gentleman who was our presenter and host. I thought he did a magnificent job of making us feel welcome and of explaining the purpose of the WTO as well as answering the myriad of questions that our group posed to him.
The largest impression that I took out of this is that a communications degree can come in very valuable in a number of different arenas. Prior to this visit I had not seen any application for my schoolwork in an area that I would consider exciting and rewarding. That all changed in this meeting. I was able to see that this gentleman, who had worked as a journalist internationally for many years, had been able to use the skills he had acquired and apply them in the WTO successfully for many years. I discovered that there are many uses for those with communications skills beyond simply working for a paper or working in broadcasting, but that those who can communicate clearly have a skill that is marketable in many different areas, the least boring of which is the international arena.
The WTO is a real organization with real power and real influence. It has been a tool for peace in the modern world, and I think that working there would be terrific. If that opportunity arises, I would seriously consider taking advantage.
The largest impression that I took out of this is that a communications degree can come in very valuable in a number of different arenas. Prior to this visit I had not seen any application for my schoolwork in an area that I would consider exciting and rewarding. That all changed in this meeting. I was able to see that this gentleman, who had worked as a journalist internationally for many years, had been able to use the skills he had acquired and apply them in the WTO successfully for many years. I discovered that there are many uses for those with communications skills beyond simply working for a paper or working in broadcasting, but that those who can communicate clearly have a skill that is marketable in many different areas, the least boring of which is the international arena.
The WTO is a real organization with real power and real influence. It has been a tool for peace in the modern world, and I think that working there would be terrific. If that opportunity arises, I would seriously consider taking advantage.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Mass in Milan and the Portuguese Perspective on Religion
Religion.
No other topic can generate as much animosity as Religion can. Many in Europe despise it and see it as a machine of control from Rome or somewhere else. Others see it as an inseparable part of who they are. Others don't care. A whole variety of opinions exist, and now I am tasked with making some sense of all of this.
Obviously, Catholicism has made its presence felt throughout the ages. For some nations in Europe, such as Portugal, Catholicism as an official state religion only ended around 35 years ago. For others, such as France, there has been no state religion for many, many years. Still, all the major cathedrals that one finds throughout continental Europe are Roman Catholic, and as such, the Roman Catholic Church can still make its presence felt by the sheer size of its buildings and the history associated with them. Tourism through the Catholic churches is, without a doubt, a very profitable enterprise for the Roman church. In many cities, such as Beauvais, France; Milan, Italy; Bern, Switzerland; etc., the big, main attraction is a church or cathedral. But a presence spanning two centuries does not guarantee adoption or practice by the church's members.
Take Milan, for example. When we went to Milan last Thursday, mass was in session inside the Duomo. (By the way, that chapel is massive.) I would assume that normally tourists would be allowed to walk amongst the aisles and see the paintings as well as the platform where mass is given, etc. However, most of the cathedral was roped off for a Catholic service. And who, do you suppose, was there in the mass? Old people. The elderly. Those who had grown up in a time before all the modern conveniences and had learned that Catholicism and religion was something necessary for the quality of their lives. These were those for whom religion was simply a part of their lives. If they didn't heavily believe in the Catholic rituals and mass, I believe they went out of sheer habit to participate.
Now, contrast that with a lady I met on the train from Lisbon to Porto two days later. This was a lady who was going through a remarkably difficult time. She had breast cancer and had undergone chemotherapy as well as radiation treatments to avoid a mastectomy. During this trying ordeal, she had lost her de facto husband to medical malpractice and her mother. She was now all alone, and what's more, she was not educated. She obviously lived a very simple life. Yet, she kept a good attitude, and in some ways, was very proud of her ability to continue on.
I asked her if religion had something to do with her strength to continue on. She explained (and I heard this many, oh so many, times before when I was an LDS missionary in Lisbon) that she was a non-practicing catholic. This means that she didn't participate in any of the masses regularly, that she didn't go to church, and that she didn't really care about the ordinances of Catholicism, including marriage. However, she believed in God and felt very spiritual.
In fact, she explained to me that she had premonitions of the future. She said she could tell by virtue of her feelings and thoughts how things would turn out. I didn't believe her, but I didn't let on. When she said that she was certain that no one could fool her - "Ninguém me engana!" - I had to contain myself from rolling my eyes. This was a woman who was born and raised in the same little backwoods town in northern Portugal and, by her own admission, had never gone anywhere or seen much of anything beyond her little town. Yet it was apparent that she thought she had the whole world figured out. At least I can say that I was very glad to see she was confident.
We can see in these cases two extremes. The extremely devoted, and the "spiritual" but non-practicing. Somewhere in between we find another group to which I believe most young people belong. This third faction is that group that simply doesn't care about religion. I have seen many who don't care enough about the Catholic church to be a part of it. Many young people with whom I spoke in Portugal either didn't care, didn't think it was important, or didn't see the purpose in the Catholic institution in Europe.
Therefore, I have drawn a conclusion about Christian religion in Europe. It's influence is fading, and it's fading fast. The older the aging population gets and the more it dies off, the smaller the influence of the Catholic church will get. Yet, many people need a way to stay linked to something larger than themselves. With the increasing popularity of non-religious, spiritual practices, I can see the day when organized Christian religion is no longer relevant in Europe.
Being a Latter-Day Saint, I find this pattern to be tragic. The lady on the train to Porto had never even heard of the LDS missionaries, although I am sure that she has seen them but mistaken them for the Jehovah's Witnesses. The JWs are everywhere in Portugal, and they put a bad name on anyone with a nametag and a tie. It's tragic really.
I hope that this post made sense and was entertaining.
No other topic can generate as much animosity as Religion can. Many in Europe despise it and see it as a machine of control from Rome or somewhere else. Others see it as an inseparable part of who they are. Others don't care. A whole variety of opinions exist, and now I am tasked with making some sense of all of this.
Obviously, Catholicism has made its presence felt throughout the ages. For some nations in Europe, such as Portugal, Catholicism as an official state religion only ended around 35 years ago. For others, such as France, there has been no state religion for many, many years. Still, all the major cathedrals that one finds throughout continental Europe are Roman Catholic, and as such, the Roman Catholic Church can still make its presence felt by the sheer size of its buildings and the history associated with them. Tourism through the Catholic churches is, without a doubt, a very profitable enterprise for the Roman church. In many cities, such as Beauvais, France; Milan, Italy; Bern, Switzerland; etc., the big, main attraction is a church or cathedral. But a presence spanning two centuries does not guarantee adoption or practice by the church's members.
Take Milan, for example. When we went to Milan last Thursday, mass was in session inside the Duomo. (By the way, that chapel is massive.) I would assume that normally tourists would be allowed to walk amongst the aisles and see the paintings as well as the platform where mass is given, etc. However, most of the cathedral was roped off for a Catholic service. And who, do you suppose, was there in the mass? Old people. The elderly. Those who had grown up in a time before all the modern conveniences and had learned that Catholicism and religion was something necessary for the quality of their lives. These were those for whom religion was simply a part of their lives. If they didn't heavily believe in the Catholic rituals and mass, I believe they went out of sheer habit to participate.
Now, contrast that with a lady I met on the train from Lisbon to Porto two days later. This was a lady who was going through a remarkably difficult time. She had breast cancer and had undergone chemotherapy as well as radiation treatments to avoid a mastectomy. During this trying ordeal, she had lost her de facto husband to medical malpractice and her mother. She was now all alone, and what's more, she was not educated. She obviously lived a very simple life. Yet, she kept a good attitude, and in some ways, was very proud of her ability to continue on.
I asked her if religion had something to do with her strength to continue on. She explained (and I heard this many, oh so many, times before when I was an LDS missionary in Lisbon) that she was a non-practicing catholic. This means that she didn't participate in any of the masses regularly, that she didn't go to church, and that she didn't really care about the ordinances of Catholicism, including marriage. However, she believed in God and felt very spiritual.
In fact, she explained to me that she had premonitions of the future. She said she could tell by virtue of her feelings and thoughts how things would turn out. I didn't believe her, but I didn't let on. When she said that she was certain that no one could fool her - "Ninguém me engana!" - I had to contain myself from rolling my eyes. This was a woman who was born and raised in the same little backwoods town in northern Portugal and, by her own admission, had never gone anywhere or seen much of anything beyond her little town. Yet it was apparent that she thought she had the whole world figured out. At least I can say that I was very glad to see she was confident.
We can see in these cases two extremes. The extremely devoted, and the "spiritual" but non-practicing. Somewhere in between we find another group to which I believe most young people belong. This third faction is that group that simply doesn't care about religion. I have seen many who don't care enough about the Catholic church to be a part of it. Many young people with whom I spoke in Portugal either didn't care, didn't think it was important, or didn't see the purpose in the Catholic institution in Europe.
Therefore, I have drawn a conclusion about Christian religion in Europe. It's influence is fading, and it's fading fast. The older the aging population gets and the more it dies off, the smaller the influence of the Catholic church will get. Yet, many people need a way to stay linked to something larger than themselves. With the increasing popularity of non-religious, spiritual practices, I can see the day when organized Christian religion is no longer relevant in Europe.
Being a Latter-Day Saint, I find this pattern to be tragic. The lady on the train to Porto had never even heard of the LDS missionaries, although I am sure that she has seen them but mistaken them for the Jehovah's Witnesses. The JWs are everywhere in Portugal, and they put a bad name on anyone with a nametag and a tie. It's tragic really.
I hope that this post made sense and was entertaining.
Switzerland to the EU?
About 10 days ago I was on a train from Lyon to Geneva. I was with Lindsie Hill who had accompanied me for the day to visit my brother, Drew - an LDS missionary in the Switzerland Geneva mission. As we finished up our day trip to the 2nd-largest French city and arrived at the train station, we realized that the last train to Geneva was a TGV train and that we needed to purchase reservations. We realized twice as fast that there was no way we were going to get that reservation purchased before the train left. There were at least 2000 people in the train station lobby near the ticket counters, and we had 10 minutes to board the train before it left. So, we hopped on and hoped no ticket checker came by to fine us. Fortunately no one did.
In order to remain inconspicuous, and because we didn't have a seat reserved, we stuck in the back near the baggage cart. While we were back there, we made friends with some of the other passengers. Per the French etiquette we learned in class and in "60 million frenchmen," I didn't ask their names, but I did learn a lot about the Swiss attitude toward the European Union.
The first young man we spoke with was a 19-year-old gentleman from Lausanne. He spoke English quite well and was very complementary on how I had progressed with my French. We asked him if he thought that Switzerland should become a part of the EU, if doing so was a good idea, etc. This young man was very adamant in his opinion that Switzerland would not be part of the EU. What's more, he said he felt very strongly that Switzerland should not be a part of the EU. He felt that Switzerland was doing very well on its own and that EU had nothing significant to offer Switzerland in return for its membership. As I recall, he also said that the banks there made sure that no one would attack Switzerland, and until things changed significantly, he thought things should stay like that.
Another gentleman was of the same opinion, but he was not Swiss. He was French. He thought along the same lines, but thought that the days of a divided Europe were numbered. He said he was of the opinion that Europe would eventually become a U.S. of Europe, and that slowly, little by little, the European nations would give up pieces of their sovereignty until there was none left. He thought that the idea of a European superstate was still a long way off, but that it was an inevitability.
So what do I think? I think that this will only happen in the very long term. If the common market is the goal, then that goal has been achieved in large part. Goods and services are allowed to move across borders without problems. Even through Switzerland and its neighbors are divided and do not share a market, Switzerland still sends out much of what it makes to Europe without many of the tariffs. It is also part of the Schengen agreement. As of now, I cannot see the overriding European identity overriding national identity in any sense, business or otherwise. When we went to Cailler, they were always presented as Cailler of SWITZERLAND, and held that Swiss banner high.
In short, I do not see the European identity overriding anything on the end of the consumer. The residents of the European nations are still very nationalistic. As for producers, they may see themselves in a National perspective, but they now have an international market. For producers, that's terrific. Consumers win too because they are presented with variety. However, the idea of Europeanism, especially in Switzerland, takes a back seat to the national identity.
In order to remain inconspicuous, and because we didn't have a seat reserved, we stuck in the back near the baggage cart. While we were back there, we made friends with some of the other passengers. Per the French etiquette we learned in class and in "60 million frenchmen," I didn't ask their names, but I did learn a lot about the Swiss attitude toward the European Union.
The first young man we spoke with was a 19-year-old gentleman from Lausanne. He spoke English quite well and was very complementary on how I had progressed with my French. We asked him if he thought that Switzerland should become a part of the EU, if doing so was a good idea, etc. This young man was very adamant in his opinion that Switzerland would not be part of the EU. What's more, he said he felt very strongly that Switzerland should not be a part of the EU. He felt that Switzerland was doing very well on its own and that EU had nothing significant to offer Switzerland in return for its membership. As I recall, he also said that the banks there made sure that no one would attack Switzerland, and until things changed significantly, he thought things should stay like that.
Another gentleman was of the same opinion, but he was not Swiss. He was French. He thought along the same lines, but thought that the days of a divided Europe were numbered. He said he was of the opinion that Europe would eventually become a U.S. of Europe, and that slowly, little by little, the European nations would give up pieces of their sovereignty until there was none left. He thought that the idea of a European superstate was still a long way off, but that it was an inevitability.
So what do I think? I think that this will only happen in the very long term. If the common market is the goal, then that goal has been achieved in large part. Goods and services are allowed to move across borders without problems. Even through Switzerland and its neighbors are divided and do not share a market, Switzerland still sends out much of what it makes to Europe without many of the tariffs. It is also part of the Schengen agreement. As of now, I cannot see the overriding European identity overriding national identity in any sense, business or otherwise. When we went to Cailler, they were always presented as Cailler of SWITZERLAND, and held that Swiss banner high.
In short, I do not see the European identity overriding anything on the end of the consumer. The residents of the European nations are still very nationalistic. As for producers, they may see themselves in a National perspective, but they now have an international market. For producers, that's terrific. Consumers win too because they are presented with variety. However, the idea of Europeanism, especially in Switzerland, takes a back seat to the national identity.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Medtronic
Before I started this semester, the only place I had ever heard of Medtronic was at work. There are some underwriting cuts that air over NPR as part of morning edition that promote the Medtronic foundation. I assumed the company had something to do with medicine, but really didn't know exactly what it was or what the extent of their operations were. I do now.
We toured the Medtronic facility in Morges, Switzerland today, Oct 12, 2010. I must say that I was thoroughly impressed with the facility and our presenter. He was great - not just because he was working for Medtronic, but because he was from Utah. We Huntsman Scholars completely forgive him for going to the U, and are very grateful for the fantastic tour and company history that we were able to receive from him.
We talked a lot about corporate social responsibility with this gentleman, whose name I forget just now. In a case study that we read before visiting the Medtronic facility, Medtronic's mission statement is to bring high quality health care and improve the lives of their patients. Medtronic has done that. They have continued to fulfill their mission statement for hundreds of thousands of people every year. An interesting statistic that I heard was about the frequency at which Medtronic pacemaker devices are used: a Medtronic pacemaker device is implanted in a patient every 5 seconds.
With such a large customer base, and with a product line that can potentially be life-threatening to the customer if something goes wrong, Medtronic is absolutely as careful as possible to do everything in its power to avoid product malfunction. Should there even be a risk of problems, and should medtronic become cognizant of this problem, they immediately notify every customer who can be affected by such problems and make remedial options available to consumers. At times, this can be a very costly procedure, and so Medtronic has a large incentive to get their product as correct as possible the first time around. Talk about a business where customer feedback translates directly to your bottom line. If there is a business in which reputation for consistent quality means everything, it's the pacemaker business.
I learned that business is not always about making a buck today. While making money is important - nay, essential - for a business, it may not always be the most important thing. Medtronic betters the lives of hundreds of thousands of people annually, and for that service, Medtronic is paid handsomely. Medtronic then turns and gives back to the patient and the community through the Medtronic foundation and through the development of new, improved life-saving products. Seeing the development and humble roots of the company and seeing where that company has come was very impressive.
This institution was also the first implementation of lean production that I've ever seen. I thought it was unique and interesting. Today was a very quality visit.
We toured the Medtronic facility in Morges, Switzerland today, Oct 12, 2010. I must say that I was thoroughly impressed with the facility and our presenter. He was great - not just because he was working for Medtronic, but because he was from Utah. We Huntsman Scholars completely forgive him for going to the U, and are very grateful for the fantastic tour and company history that we were able to receive from him.
We talked a lot about corporate social responsibility with this gentleman, whose name I forget just now. In a case study that we read before visiting the Medtronic facility, Medtronic's mission statement is to bring high quality health care and improve the lives of their patients. Medtronic has done that. They have continued to fulfill their mission statement for hundreds of thousands of people every year. An interesting statistic that I heard was about the frequency at which Medtronic pacemaker devices are used: a Medtronic pacemaker device is implanted in a patient every 5 seconds.
With such a large customer base, and with a product line that can potentially be life-threatening to the customer if something goes wrong, Medtronic is absolutely as careful as possible to do everything in its power to avoid product malfunction. Should there even be a risk of problems, and should medtronic become cognizant of this problem, they immediately notify every customer who can be affected by such problems and make remedial options available to consumers. At times, this can be a very costly procedure, and so Medtronic has a large incentive to get their product as correct as possible the first time around. Talk about a business where customer feedback translates directly to your bottom line. If there is a business in which reputation for consistent quality means everything, it's the pacemaker business.
I learned that business is not always about making a buck today. While making money is important - nay, essential - for a business, it may not always be the most important thing. Medtronic betters the lives of hundreds of thousands of people annually, and for that service, Medtronic is paid handsomely. Medtronic then turns and gives back to the patient and the community through the Medtronic foundation and through the development of new, improved life-saving products. Seeing the development and humble roots of the company and seeing where that company has come was very impressive.
This institution was also the first implementation of lean production that I've ever seen. I thought it was unique and interesting. Today was a very quality visit.
Marie-Pascale Bonhomme visits Leysin
Marie-Pascale Bonhomme visited Leysin on Monday the 11th. It was a good visit.
Marie works for Amundi, an asset management firm owned by Credit Agricole and Societe General in France. They are worldwise company, specializing in the offering of investment products to local banks and large corporate and personal entities. They manage several billion dollars for some of Europe's most powerful companies and individuals, and they make solid money doing it.
Marie addressed the issues attending the asset management business, including risk management, diversification, corporate structure of Amundi, and Amundi's navigation of the Euro crisis.
I found Marie-Pascale to be a very intelligent and knowledgable leader in the field of asset management. I must say, however, that I do not find the field of asset management and investment banking to be of any interest at all to me. If anything, I learned that the world of asset management is simply not for me. For those who would be interested in an internship with Amundi, this visit could have been of extraordinary value, but for me, I didn't find the subject matter engaging, nor the presentation to be striking or interesting, despite the elite quality of the magnificent woman who was presenting to us and speaking to the class.
One thing that Marie-Pascale said outside of her presentation struck me as very intriguing. She mentioned that the banking and asset management industry is unique in the sense that rather than trying to kill competitors and put them entirely out of business, large banking and investment firms seek to become strong enough to swallow them up. The larger the bank, the less the risk of a massive run that can break the bank. Also, risk is much easier to predict when the client pool is much larger. The trends in corporate mergers and bank consolidation that came as a result of the recent banking crisis is a strong evidence of that. The wise banks ate up the stupid ones, and everyone's money was kept in tact - except that the now larger banks could gather a larger profit pool because of the larger clientele. That concept clicked for me in the meeting, and I was pleased for that.
Thanks to Marie for visiting us up in Leysin! It was terrific!
Marie works for Amundi, an asset management firm owned by Credit Agricole and Societe General in France. They are worldwise company, specializing in the offering of investment products to local banks and large corporate and personal entities. They manage several billion dollars for some of Europe's most powerful companies and individuals, and they make solid money doing it.
Marie addressed the issues attending the asset management business, including risk management, diversification, corporate structure of Amundi, and Amundi's navigation of the Euro crisis.
I found Marie-Pascale to be a very intelligent and knowledgable leader in the field of asset management. I must say, however, that I do not find the field of asset management and investment banking to be of any interest at all to me. If anything, I learned that the world of asset management is simply not for me. For those who would be interested in an internship with Amundi, this visit could have been of extraordinary value, but for me, I didn't find the subject matter engaging, nor the presentation to be striking or interesting, despite the elite quality of the magnificent woman who was presenting to us and speaking to the class.
One thing that Marie-Pascale said outside of her presentation struck me as very intriguing. She mentioned that the banking and asset management industry is unique in the sense that rather than trying to kill competitors and put them entirely out of business, large banking and investment firms seek to become strong enough to swallow them up. The larger the bank, the less the risk of a massive run that can break the bank. Also, risk is much easier to predict when the client pool is much larger. The trends in corporate mergers and bank consolidation that came as a result of the recent banking crisis is a strong evidence of that. The wise banks ate up the stupid ones, and everyone's money was kept in tact - except that the now larger banks could gather a larger profit pool because of the larger clientele. That concept clicked for me in the meeting, and I was pleased for that.
Thanks to Marie for visiting us up in Leysin! It was terrific!
McDonalds Euro Style
On Sunday, Luci, Andrew, Becky and I went to Bern. It's a terrific town. Absolutely picturesque. The only downside to our visit was that Sunday was the first day of the real cold. It was very, very cold that day in Bern, and I unfortunately didn't bring my gloves. However, we did get to see the LDS temple in Bern, the Einstein house, a massive cathedral, the Swiss Parliament building, the Swiss central bank, and a massive fountain featuring a depiction of an ogre eating children. Classic.
Near the end of the day after touring Bern, the gang and I decided to take a trip to McDonald's just outside the train station. Now, there are a number of differences between the American version and the Euro version. Let me take these differences and categorize them into product offering and restaurant style.
The product offering at your average Swiss McDonald's, if the one just outside the train station in Bern can be assumed to be average, is of a much higher quality than the product in the United States. The beef is much tastier - much leaner beef with more spices mixed into it. The burgers are not as condiment heavy, the bread in the bun is of a much higher quality, and the burgers are smaller. The Coca-Cola offered at McDo's in Switzerland is much, much, much better than the American coke at McDo's. No Question.
Also, the menu differs from the standard American version. For the first time, I saw "deluxe potatoes" being offered at a more premium price than the standard french fries. Also, the headline burger was the New York Crispy burger - a burger that used McDonald's American reputation to its advantage. Apparently, Europeans can justify spending a few extra francs to get a product not only that is American but that is also labeled American.
Which leads me to the next difference between the Swiss McDo's and the American McDo's - the price. The burger alone costs CHF 6.50, which is nearly $7 with the exchange rates. The combo meal for the NYCrispy burger, the one I purchased, was just about CHF 14.-, which is just over $14... for a combo meal. I don't care who you are - if you are at an American McDo's, you are not paying $14 for a combo meal. If you're paying $14, you had better get organic fries fried in organic oil along with a soft drink completely free of corn syrup as well as a back massage to facilitate the digestion of that food product. No American would dream of paying $14 for a combo meal, but the Swiss don't bat an eyelash.
I'm convinced that the Franc has been significantly inflated to the Swiss. Everything costs boatloads of francs everywhere. Finding a shirt for less than CHF 35 here is impossible. But then, that's an entry for another day. Clothes shopping in Switzerland.... ugh.
McDonald's atmosphere is also substantially different in Europe. This McDonald's was contained in two stories of the 5 story building in which it was housed. Video games and an HDTV were on the second floor, as well as a couple computers for web surfing. McDonald's is working hard to attract a youthful clientele, and that is what they are doing. While we were there, the only age group of customer in the store was 18-30. I saw no senior citizens. However, I should note that we were there on a Sunday night. The type of person who is going to be out at McDo's on a Sunday night may not be representative of the entire customer base. This mainly doesn't matter though; it was painfully obvious that the restaurant was designed for the youth of Europe.
Given the higher product quality and modern environment, perhaps I can justify a bit of a price increase. But for the average American college student touring Switzerland, eating anywhere is nearly prohibitively expensive, and eating at McDonald's is no exception.
Near the end of the day after touring Bern, the gang and I decided to take a trip to McDonald's just outside the train station. Now, there are a number of differences between the American version and the Euro version. Let me take these differences and categorize them into product offering and restaurant style.
The product offering at your average Swiss McDonald's, if the one just outside the train station in Bern can be assumed to be average, is of a much higher quality than the product in the United States. The beef is much tastier - much leaner beef with more spices mixed into it. The burgers are not as condiment heavy, the bread in the bun is of a much higher quality, and the burgers are smaller. The Coca-Cola offered at McDo's in Switzerland is much, much, much better than the American coke at McDo's. No Question.
Also, the menu differs from the standard American version. For the first time, I saw "deluxe potatoes" being offered at a more premium price than the standard french fries. Also, the headline burger was the New York Crispy burger - a burger that used McDonald's American reputation to its advantage. Apparently, Europeans can justify spending a few extra francs to get a product not only that is American but that is also labeled American.
Which leads me to the next difference between the Swiss McDo's and the American McDo's - the price. The burger alone costs CHF 6.50, which is nearly $7 with the exchange rates. The combo meal for the NYCrispy burger, the one I purchased, was just about CHF 14.-, which is just over $14... for a combo meal. I don't care who you are - if you are at an American McDo's, you are not paying $14 for a combo meal. If you're paying $14, you had better get organic fries fried in organic oil along with a soft drink completely free of corn syrup as well as a back massage to facilitate the digestion of that food product. No American would dream of paying $14 for a combo meal, but the Swiss don't bat an eyelash.
I'm convinced that the Franc has been significantly inflated to the Swiss. Everything costs boatloads of francs everywhere. Finding a shirt for less than CHF 35 here is impossible. But then, that's an entry for another day. Clothes shopping in Switzerland.... ugh.
McDonald's atmosphere is also substantially different in Europe. This McDonald's was contained in two stories of the 5 story building in which it was housed. Video games and an HDTV were on the second floor, as well as a couple computers for web surfing. McDonald's is working hard to attract a youthful clientele, and that is what they are doing. While we were there, the only age group of customer in the store was 18-30. I saw no senior citizens. However, I should note that we were there on a Sunday night. The type of person who is going to be out at McDo's on a Sunday night may not be representative of the entire customer base. This mainly doesn't matter though; it was painfully obvious that the restaurant was designed for the youth of Europe.
Given the higher product quality and modern environment, perhaps I can justify a bit of a price increase. But for the average American college student touring Switzerland, eating anywhere is nearly prohibitively expensive, and eating at McDonald's is no exception.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Nestle/Cailler
The Nestle/Cailler facility in Broc was probably my favorite trip to this point. I absolutely loved the chocolate factory. It was not only educational, but entertaining.
Upon our arrival, we immediately entered the facility and got inline for the tour. From what I understand, this visit was different from the other visits we will make for the remainder of our stay because there was no executive available to answer our questions and explain the inner workings of the company. While that would have been nice, I doubt that it would have been necessary to understand how chocolate is made. The presentation they gave was not only informative, but very entertaining.
I was not expecting the chocolate experience to be on par with the Disneyland experience, but it was. The presentation that Cailler gave about its chocolate was animatronic, and explained the roots of chocolate from the days of the ancient Aztecs to the French Revolution to the Great Depression to today. All the while, several different interactive displays highlight the various production elements and procedures that are engaged in the chocolate production process. And of course, at the end, we were able to taste-test the various Cailler chocolates.
I would like to take this moment to salute Cailler on a terrific business strategy. They charge you for this really cool tour that tells you all about the history of Cailler and the history and importance of Chocolate in Switzerland, then they let you see how some of the chocolate is made, then they let you taste some of it, and then they lead you into a shop where you can buy chocolate at incredibly high prices. I was told that our group spent nearly CHF 550 on the chocolate alone, nevermind the cost of the tour and the bus that got us there. Cailler made bank on us.
As we studied, Cailler gets practically all of its beans imported from South America. In the presentation, they mentioned the ancient Aztecs and Quetzalcoatl as well as the European conquistadores. They said that after Cortez brought back the cocoa bean, Europe became addicted to chocolate and took complete advantage of this South American plant. However, up until now, the question of whether or not Nestle contributes much to the economic well being of these nations beyond taking advantage of the cocoa beans that grow there remains unanswered. I would be curious to know if Nestle makes significant contributions to the well-being of the nations where their commodities are grown, if that information is available.
All in all, a very informative and entertaining visit. I loved it.
Upon our arrival, we immediately entered the facility and got inline for the tour. From what I understand, this visit was different from the other visits we will make for the remainder of our stay because there was no executive available to answer our questions and explain the inner workings of the company. While that would have been nice, I doubt that it would have been necessary to understand how chocolate is made. The presentation they gave was not only informative, but very entertaining.
I was not expecting the chocolate experience to be on par with the Disneyland experience, but it was. The presentation that Cailler gave about its chocolate was animatronic, and explained the roots of chocolate from the days of the ancient Aztecs to the French Revolution to the Great Depression to today. All the while, several different interactive displays highlight the various production elements and procedures that are engaged in the chocolate production process. And of course, at the end, we were able to taste-test the various Cailler chocolates.
I would like to take this moment to salute Cailler on a terrific business strategy. They charge you for this really cool tour that tells you all about the history of Cailler and the history and importance of Chocolate in Switzerland, then they let you see how some of the chocolate is made, then they let you taste some of it, and then they lead you into a shop where you can buy chocolate at incredibly high prices. I was told that our group spent nearly CHF 550 on the chocolate alone, nevermind the cost of the tour and the bus that got us there. Cailler made bank on us.
As we studied, Cailler gets practically all of its beans imported from South America. In the presentation, they mentioned the ancient Aztecs and Quetzalcoatl as well as the European conquistadores. They said that after Cortez brought back the cocoa bean, Europe became addicted to chocolate and took complete advantage of this South American plant. However, up until now, the question of whether or not Nestle contributes much to the economic well being of these nations beyond taking advantage of the cocoa beans that grow there remains unanswered. I would be curious to know if Nestle makes significant contributions to the well-being of the nations where their commodities are grown, if that information is available.
All in all, a very informative and entertaining visit. I loved it.
A Swiss Restaurant
Today I went and ate lunch with my mates at a restaurant here in Leysin. We enjoyed our meal out on a patio under a number of table umbrellas on a warm day in the middle of the Swiss alps. It was a terrific experience.
There are a number of differences between a European Restaurant and an American Restaurant. The first and most distinct difference between restaurants here and the restaurants back home is the language. Some might take this detail for granted, but the difficulty of communication is all-pervasive when one is in a completely foreign land. Without being able to communicate clearly with those who are serving you, progress is virtually impossible. Fortunately, the owner spoke English and Portuguese, so I was well taken care of.
Lunch was served outside on the patio. This was part of the business model of the restaurant. I do not believe that there would have been sufficient space to seat us all inside the restaurant even if we had asked. There were 30 of us and there was no way to fit everyone inside. Almost never will you encounter an American restaurant that maintains its entire business model on the outside patio. Yes, there are a few that offer patio service for those that prefer to eat in an open-air environment, but in my experience, those restaurants that do offer a patio also offer seating inside--usually much more inside than out.
On the menu for us today was Pizza, but of course we had to have a salad as an appetizer, along with plenty of bread. The bread, as always, was terrific. The salad was equally as good. They had some sort of ranch/vinaigrette dressing on the salad that was perfect; as soon as I finished the salad, I used the bread to clean up what was left of the dressing. Magnifique!
If we were getting pizza in America, forget the salad. What's more, forget the restaurant. Pizza is no longer a restaurant food in America. We get it either on the go or delivered to our homes. In Europe, they still sit down and they still enjoy a hearty lunch. The American attitude is such that eating is a burden and a hassle - we've got more important stuff to do. In Europe, eating is a pleasure and a social experience. Many European cultures take an hour or two off for lunch, closing businesses and slowing the city down.
Anyway, Pizza. The pizza itself was different as well. I ate a few slices of cheese and sausage pizza, mushroom and ham pizza, and bleu and fetta cheese pizza. None of them were bad, but all of them were different from the American variety. Why? Spaghetti sauce. Swiss pizza has none. Also, the crust is much thinner and crispier than American-style crust.
Probably the weirdest thing about the pizza, and the one European eating habit that I refuse to adhere to is that of eating pizza with a knife and fork. Uh uh. No way, sir. I am still going to pick up a slice and eat away with my hands. That's the way that pizza was meant to be eaten. Although, to his credit, my good friend Andrew Arveseth did eat the pizza with a knife and fork. He's very conscious of his surroundings and of Swiss/French cultural practices.
By far, my favorite part of this was after the dinner when I noticed the group on the next table was speaking Portuguese. I stopped and talked to them for about 5 minutes. It was sweet! I love speaking Portuguese. So much fun!
There are a number of differences between a European Restaurant and an American Restaurant. The first and most distinct difference between restaurants here and the restaurants back home is the language. Some might take this detail for granted, but the difficulty of communication is all-pervasive when one is in a completely foreign land. Without being able to communicate clearly with those who are serving you, progress is virtually impossible. Fortunately, the owner spoke English and Portuguese, so I was well taken care of.
Lunch was served outside on the patio. This was part of the business model of the restaurant. I do not believe that there would have been sufficient space to seat us all inside the restaurant even if we had asked. There were 30 of us and there was no way to fit everyone inside. Almost never will you encounter an American restaurant that maintains its entire business model on the outside patio. Yes, there are a few that offer patio service for those that prefer to eat in an open-air environment, but in my experience, those restaurants that do offer a patio also offer seating inside--usually much more inside than out.
On the menu for us today was Pizza, but of course we had to have a salad as an appetizer, along with plenty of bread. The bread, as always, was terrific. The salad was equally as good. They had some sort of ranch/vinaigrette dressing on the salad that was perfect; as soon as I finished the salad, I used the bread to clean up what was left of the dressing. Magnifique!
If we were getting pizza in America, forget the salad. What's more, forget the restaurant. Pizza is no longer a restaurant food in America. We get it either on the go or delivered to our homes. In Europe, they still sit down and they still enjoy a hearty lunch. The American attitude is such that eating is a burden and a hassle - we've got more important stuff to do. In Europe, eating is a pleasure and a social experience. Many European cultures take an hour or two off for lunch, closing businesses and slowing the city down.
Anyway, Pizza. The pizza itself was different as well. I ate a few slices of cheese and sausage pizza, mushroom and ham pizza, and bleu and fetta cheese pizza. None of them were bad, but all of them were different from the American variety. Why? Spaghetti sauce. Swiss pizza has none. Also, the crust is much thinner and crispier than American-style crust.
Probably the weirdest thing about the pizza, and the one European eating habit that I refuse to adhere to is that of eating pizza with a knife and fork. Uh uh. No way, sir. I am still going to pick up a slice and eat away with my hands. That's the way that pizza was meant to be eaten. Although, to his credit, my good friend Andrew Arveseth did eat the pizza with a knife and fork. He's very conscious of his surroundings and of Swiss/French cultural practices.
By far, my favorite part of this was after the dinner when I noticed the group on the next table was speaking Portuguese. I stopped and talked to them for about 5 minutes. It was sweet! I love speaking Portuguese. So much fun!
IMD
Our visit to the International Institute of Management and Development (IMD) did not go entirely as planned. We left the hotel very early, only to arrive several hours later due to traffic and poor planning. When we arrived, I was already mildly upset because of the group’s lack of punctuality. However, I’m fairly certain most of our group felt the same way, so I’m glad that I was not alone in that regard.
Upon our arrival and during the presentation, I became aware of the grand scale of IMD. Although we had studied the school before, the degree of difficulty and the magnitude of the cost of the IMD program became much more apparent during the school’s presentation. The manner in which the IMD admissions officer presented the requirements of the school and the aims of the school was very informative as well. However, after reviewing the presentation, I felt as though this visit was mostly pointless for me.
I am really not extremely interested in getting an MBA degree, and if I do get into the field that I want to get into, which is multimedia, broadcasting, and public relations, my likelihood of needing an MBA in order to obtain my job of choice is practically none. In my field, work experience is everything; all that is necessary is graduation, and after that, no one cares where you went to school.
The most appealing aspect of IMD was its internationality. However, I also found it striking that while IMD is such an international institution, they insist that all of their applicants speak English. In a sense, this requirement is very practical. Under the surface, this practice could be considered quite insulting, especially to members of a culture that values and protects its language, such as French. I found this drawback, small as it is, as mostly insignificant.
The most important thoughts that passed through my mind during this visit were reflections upon my personal goals and values. Would I be willing to pay $116,000 in order to get a degree that can earn me a six figure salary? Would I be willing to put myself through the rigor in order to get the prestige and network at the cost of potentially doing something that I would not really enjoy? The answer is no. I would not. Although, going to school in Lausanne, Switzerland would be incredible – no argument there.
Upon our arrival and during the presentation, I became aware of the grand scale of IMD. Although we had studied the school before, the degree of difficulty and the magnitude of the cost of the IMD program became much more apparent during the school’s presentation. The manner in which the IMD admissions officer presented the requirements of the school and the aims of the school was very informative as well. However, after reviewing the presentation, I felt as though this visit was mostly pointless for me.
I am really not extremely interested in getting an MBA degree, and if I do get into the field that I want to get into, which is multimedia, broadcasting, and public relations, my likelihood of needing an MBA in order to obtain my job of choice is practically none. In my field, work experience is everything; all that is necessary is graduation, and after that, no one cares where you went to school.
The most appealing aspect of IMD was its internationality. However, I also found it striking that while IMD is such an international institution, they insist that all of their applicants speak English. In a sense, this requirement is very practical. Under the surface, this practice could be considered quite insulting, especially to members of a culture that values and protects its language, such as French. I found this drawback, small as it is, as mostly insignificant.
The most important thoughts that passed through my mind during this visit were reflections upon my personal goals and values. Would I be willing to pay $116,000 in order to get a degree that can earn me a six figure salary? Would I be willing to put myself through the rigor in order to get the prestige and network at the cost of potentially doing something that I would not really enjoy? The answer is no. I would not. Although, going to school in Lausanne, Switzerland would be incredible – no argument there.
Monday, October 4, 2010
Trip to the Grocer
Today I visited the Grocer in Leysin. I went in to grab a relatively inexpensive lunch, since everything in Switzerland is vastly overpriced. (A franc and a half for a can of soda? Who are you kidding?) Anyway, I went in to the grocery store Co-op, and immediately I felt at home. It reminded me a lot of minipreço, the grocers all over Portugal, except everything was much more expensive here in Leysin.
The entry to the grocer is gated, just to make sure that no one sneaks away with groceries. Off to the right was a small produced and yogurt section. Standard groceries--chips, water, cereals, etc.--lined the aisles just behind the registers. And oh yes, there were only two cash registers. The most prominent sections in the store were the produce section (which I have already mentioned) The wine and liquor aisle, and the cheese section. All the other groceries were arranged logically in limited quantities on the shelves.
Forget about Wal-mart. This place was like a shop on Main Street in Logan converted to a grocery store. Perhaps the best American shop I can compare it to is the old Bear Lake Market in Paris, Idaho. That place is all shut down, but it was similar in its build and in its style. Checkout was similar to the standard American grocer, and I managed to pay for my sandwich, Guarana, chocolate and bread without much of a hassle.
Like I said, it's not much like an American grocer. American grocers are all corporate and huge. This place also may have been part of a chain - it's difficult to believe that it's not. However, the chain outlets much smaller than the retail stores. That could very well be because Leysin is not a very large place, and I believe that it is.
On a side note, French is a really good language. I hope I can learn a lot more before I leave. I'd love to be able to speak it well.
Aight - peace out.
The entry to the grocer is gated, just to make sure that no one sneaks away with groceries. Off to the right was a small produced and yogurt section. Standard groceries--chips, water, cereals, etc.--lined the aisles just behind the registers. And oh yes, there were only two cash registers. The most prominent sections in the store were the produce section (which I have already mentioned) The wine and liquor aisle, and the cheese section. All the other groceries were arranged logically in limited quantities on the shelves.
Forget about Wal-mart. This place was like a shop on Main Street in Logan converted to a grocery store. Perhaps the best American shop I can compare it to is the old Bear Lake Market in Paris, Idaho. That place is all shut down, but it was similar in its build and in its style. Checkout was similar to the standard American grocer, and I managed to pay for my sandwich, Guarana, chocolate and bread without much of a hassle.
Like I said, it's not much like an American grocer. American grocers are all corporate and huge. This place also may have been part of a chain - it's difficult to believe that it's not. However, the chain outlets much smaller than the retail stores. That could very well be because Leysin is not a very large place, and I believe that it is.
On a side note, French is a really good language. I hope I can learn a lot more before I leave. I'd love to be able to speak it well.
Aight - peace out.
The Switzerland Blog - Expectations
This is to chronicle my trip to Switzerland, France, Italy, Portugal and Belgium in October, 2010. This is going to be an awesome trip
The first thing I expect is to be really, really tired from the travel. I’ve traveled before, and I remember that it was pretty brutal in terms of the time change. So, I expect the first few days to be sort of rough.
After I get over the jetlag, I expect to feel really uncomfortable because I can’t speak the language at all. Oh, sure, I know how to say “I can’t speak French—do you speak English?” However, that’s not what I want to deal with. I want to be as fluent as possible, so I plan on spending time with Rosetta stone in the evenings to improve my language skills.
Professionally, I expect an expansion of my horizons. I plan on being exposed to a variety of different professions and practices. I plan on seeing European business for the first time, and I’m excited to see what the differences will be and what I can incorporate into my professional habits. I believe that we can take the best from every culture and practice and incorporate them into our daily lives and habits to improve. I am very, very grateful for this wonderful opportunity.
The first thing I expect is to be really, really tired from the travel. I’ve traveled before, and I remember that it was pretty brutal in terms of the time change. So, I expect the first few days to be sort of rough.
After I get over the jetlag, I expect to feel really uncomfortable because I can’t speak the language at all. Oh, sure, I know how to say “I can’t speak French—do you speak English?” However, that’s not what I want to deal with. I want to be as fluent as possible, so I plan on spending time with Rosetta stone in the evenings to improve my language skills.
Professionally, I expect an expansion of my horizons. I plan on being exposed to a variety of different professions and practices. I plan on seeing European business for the first time, and I’m excited to see what the differences will be and what I can incorporate into my professional habits. I believe that we can take the best from every culture and practice and incorporate them into our daily lives and habits to improve. I am very, very grateful for this wonderful opportunity.
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