Corporate Social Responsibility

     This semester I served as Professional Chair for my business fraternity - Alpha Kappa Psi.  I organized two professional events every month.  I tried to balance the variety of events by integrating workshops in our traditional professional events: having professionals from different fields talk to us about their careers and how they got there.   On Tuesday, November 27^th I organized our last professional event for the semester.  It was a unique professional event: it was not a workshop nor was it pertaining to a specific major career path.  We learned about Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).  Our chapter was excited to welcome Lonnie Smith, Enterprise Community Development Manager, from State Farm to lead the discussion. 

Besides learning some cool things that State Farm does in regards to Corporate Social Responsibility, we learned concepts applicable to other firms as well.

     Lonnie told us to think about Corporate Social Responsibility as the answers to the following questions: who is the firm as an employer and how does it interact with the public.  For some firms problems arise when what they say does not match their actions to the previous questions. 

Key Learning Points:

•  Corporate Social Responsibility is more important for firms with intangible products or products that are not consumed on a daily basis.  Customers need other ways to be reminded of the firm.

•  It’s important to be consistent with Corporate Social Responsibility efforts because there is not always an immediate return.  Some campaigns/actions are more long term & results won’t be felt for a while.

• One good measurement of successful CSR efforts is if the firm’s employees become enthused ambassadors of the programs at hand.

• It’s important to engage your clients and see what kind of CSR programs they want to see because their money is going towards those efforts.

• Some states, such as California, actually have requirements on how much CSR a company must engage in at their respective state.

Lonnie also shared with us some great tips for success in the future.

• It’s important to always continue learning and to be continuously adapting.  Doing things the ‘old way’ may not be efficient anymore.

• Develop mutually beneficial relationships.  Nurture the relationships because you never know how they can be at your advantage.  Remember that everyone knows people, and that can come very handy.

• Don’t have a scarcity mentality: you don’t have to win at the expense of someone else.  

It was a privilege for me to be the Professional Chair for my fraternity.  My favorite part of the job was implementing changes that benefited the chapter.  I am excited that I was able to improve our professional events and am looking forward to working with the new Professional Chair and mentor him to continue improving our fraternity.

Opportunity of a Lifetime

One of the first organizations I joined on campus is the National Society of Collegiate Scholars.  To this day, I still thank my mom for pushing and encouraging me to join the society.  When I initially received my invitation to join I disregarded it because I thought the $85 fee was a scam.  My mom really wanted me to join and offered to pay the fee on my behalf.  What I didn't know then was that for those $85 I would learn things that my $20,000 yearly tuition wasn't teaching me.  The skills that I have acquired have helped me develop as a leader and a manager.

How did joined one student organization help me develop skills people spend their whole lives pursuing?
Well the answer is simple: luck and motivation.

Luck - rhetorical, right?  Well it's true.  I was lucky that as I joined the president at the time was stepping down and needed someone to take over for the upcoming year.  I was lucky that my mom and roommate encouraged me to step up and assured me that I was ready for the challenge.  So, I did and I became chapter President within 3 months of joining NSCS.  But luck didn't make me a leader.  I remember clearly talking with the previous president during my transition meeting.  She said, "This can be whatever you make out of it.  Honestly, you can get away with doing the bare minimum."  After that meeting I knew I was going to make the most of this opportunity.  So, I took initiative to support and improve the organization as best as I could.  I was dedicated to being an active leader, implementing new ideas, motivating members, and positively impacting my chapter and community.

Here are the most important lessons I learned first hand about leadership:

1. Intrinsic motivation is vital - all sorts of motivation is god, and different types of motivation works best  for different personalities, but I have found that intrinsic motivation is most powerful for me.
2. Great ideas can fail - it's hard to see ideas you're crazy about not do as successfully as you'd like or even fail.  The important part is to learn from these failures!  If it's an idea you're really passionate about it will show because you won't let it die.  Instead you can bring the idea back bigger, better, and stronger.
3. Earn your position - the way I acquired my leadership role was unconventional - I wasn't able to earn it  first.  But, I did not accept that - I  showed members that I was more than capable of handling the role, and would do great things with it.  I'm proud to say that I earned my position even thought it was after I was in it.
4. Share your vision - leaders are often in their positions because they have a vision they want to achieve.  In my case, I had a vision for the ISU NSCS Chapter.  Not only was it important for me to share my vision but to make sure we, all of the officers and members, had a common vision for our organization.  To achieve the vision, I knew I needed help from the rest of the members, so I continuously shared the vision, helped others understand it, and empowered my chapter to together word toward accomplishing our common goals.

Developig people managing skills came later.  Although even in my first year as Chapter President I worked with 5 other officers I was not as focused on that function of my position.  One of my main goals was to increase our executive board so we could plan more events and in return benefit more of our members, campus, and community.  My efforts pai of and for this year we have more than doubled our executive board - we currently have 12 officers.

Here is what I've learned about managing people so far:

1. Empower others - Since I have such a great team, full of amazing ideas and great intentions that is highly motivated, I think the most important role is to empower them to reach their full potential and make their goals for their roles realities.
2. Understand personality differences - no two of my offers are the same.  They each have different sources of motivation, challenges, strengths, and ideals.  This makes my relationship with each officer different - some need more guidance, some need more praise, and some need to be challenged
more.  If I had the same relationship with everyone, not all would be able to achieve their full potential in their respective roles.
3. Encourage Open Mindedness - this one is simple: 12 heads think better than 1.  I've found it necessary  to encourage individual creativity.  It's then even more necessary to encourage an open mind atmosphere while members share their ideas with the rest of the group to make sure good ideas don't fall of the radar.

I am very fortunate that at such a young age I am able to work on my leadership and people management skills.  I have really enjoyed my role as a leader, and plan on taking advantage of similar opportunities that come into my life, weather is it in my professional or personal life.

Exploring Normandy

Omaha Beach, Normandy, France

            Today is another long bus ride - 2 hour trip from our hostel in Normandy to Le Mont St Michele. So far the bus ride there has been very enjoyable - I finished the first book of the Hunger Games. It took me a day and a half to finish. There was plenty of time to read yesterday as well, as we were on the bus multiple times shuttling back and forth from a few historic sites.
     Actually, yesterday was my favorite ‘fieldtrip’ day so far. We started out by visiting battlefields in Normandy of WWII. The beautiful fields of wheat and occasional red flowers seemed endless. It was so calm, the remains of the forts used during battles seemed out of place. Beyond the fields, the waves crashed at black rocks along the beach. It was picture perfect! I could imagine myself spending day after day going on walks along the field and ending up at the beach. Being engulfed by the beauty would be an amazing way to relax.

Forts from the battlefields

     The next stop was U.S. soil! After WWII, the French president declared the American cemetery at Omaha Beach U.S. soil - a touching gesture. A very important point for the allies in WWII was D-Day - a collaboration between Great Britain, United States, France, and Canada to attack the Germans by air, water, and land by sending thousands of soldiers from Britain to the coast of France via the English Channel. It was a successful, but difficult battle - many men lost their lives, including lots of American soldiers. Omaha Beach was home to the worst battle, a battle that killed many American soldiers. Today, beyond the sand of Omaha Beach, there is a huge cemetery for the American soldiers, and as well a museum that tells the story of WWII.
     When we first arrived, the entered the museum. It was not a typical museum, but instead it was very modern and uncluttered. I am not very excited for history, so this started out as just another museum visit until I saw a video being shown about the courageous acts soldiers committed during D-Day. The stories brought tears to my eyes, but also made me curious to explore the rest of the museum. There were detailed descriptions of the war and the battle. For the first time since this trip, the main language was English and the small translations were in French! I found myself wrapped up in the story of the war - I read every sign. After that there were more plagues and pictures of other heroes from the war and the battle, which also brought tears to my eyes. 

At the Musem

     When I was done with the exhibit most of my classmates had already moved on, but a couple were reading along with me. We walked around the cemetery which was very well kept. There were a few monuments surrounding it which reminded you that this was no ordinary cemetery. The crosses were all the same size, perfectly lined up. In front of some of the crosses there were fresh flowers. It must be a very proud moment to bring flowers to a grandfather or father that fought in such an important battle. We reconnected with the big group and made our way down to the beach. There we had a mini picnic and ate our sandwiches, chips, cheese, and lemon pastry. The sandwiches were the best so far - crab meat! When my friend Danielle and I were finished eating, we started wondering off towards the water. It was a very wide beach with perfectly patterned sand. The walk was very calm, a perfect time to reflect on everything I head read in the museum. Today it is all such a beautiful area - the beach, the calm ocean, the perfectly symmetrical cemetery. It is hard to believe that not so long ago many men lost their lives there, their blood falling on the very sand I was walking on. It was a very touching experience.

Omaha Beach

     
     The final destination for the day was another WWII museum in Caen. This museum touched me in a different way than the cemetery and beach. It wasn’t focused on just one aspect of the museum but it explained the war in greater detail. There was a large section dedicated to the Holocaust It talked about the progression of the prosecution of the Jews, and the inhumane acts committed against Disabled people and the Roma Gypsies as well. The horror and misery these people experienced was just not right I can’t believe how one person was able to recruit so many people to accomplish these disgusting things. Yes, I do agree that Hitler must have known more than a thing or two about leadership in order to captivate and manipulate the minds of so many, but it is wrong to use that power in such a negative way. It scared me, because if people fell for it once, what will stop them from falling for it again? Today’s world is more developed - technology and machines are bigger and meaner - that if the wrong person comes to power we can ALL be in trouble. The section of the museum that touched me the most was dedicated to all of the Jewish children that were murdered in a matter of years. I once again found myself captivated by history. 

     This trip we have been touring numerous historic sites, looking at a lot of art, and learning about Europe but nothing has had such an impact on me as these three locations we visited. They brought so many emotions - I felt disgusted with the events that took place, proud of the courage soldiers had to save strangers, and terrified of the idea that history can repeat itself. I would recommend to all to visit these places especially since someone like me, who has never been a fan of history, had an amazing time learning and connecting with the past.

Day trip to Germany

Hello from Saarbrucken!

    
      It was hard to decide what we wanted to do on our last weekend in Metz. Initially we planned on going to Nice (a large city in Southern France along the coast) but that turned out to be out of our price range. Five of us girls decided we can have a fun Girl Day in Germany! Our director had given us a sheet of recommended cities to visit, and Saarbrucken, Germany was on there. Just an hour away by train, it was supposed to be a great spot for shopping and what better activity for a day out with the girls. We woke up around ten and by one in the afternoon we arrived in Germany. We decided to be adventurous and just figure out what we wanted to do once we got there - so my research went as far as checking the weather predictions for the day. We were very lucky that the train took us right at the heart of the city - a huge shopping area.

Walking through the main shopping area

     There was a huge indoor mall right in front of the train station! It had a three story H&M, Mango, The NewYorker, Zara and everything else a girl could ask for. The same street hosted hundreds of other stores. Some were big, some were little boutiques, some were local stores but many were world-known brand names. The store I was most surprised to see was TK MAXX - the equivalent of a TJ MAXX back in the USA. Between the stores were little cafes, restaurants, and lots of gelato stands. It was a perfect place to let loose and have a simple day. We tried looking for souvenirs but weren’t able to find anything that said Germany or Saarbrucken on it. We took that as a sign that most of the people that flooded the streets were not tourists.
     Even though this town was only a short distance from Metz, there was a huge difference. Everything seemed much more modern - from the houses to the streets. The people were dressed in fashion clothes, there were not afraid to wear colors unlike the French. We all felt that we fit in a lot more there than in France. I could tell we looked much more like the young people roaming the streets here versus than back in Metz. This town reminded us very much of the United States, and if you take away the sky scrapers it felt as if I was walking the streets of Chicago.

Exploring the streets off the center

     I really wish we had allotted more time to Germany. It seems like a great country to explore. On my next journey in Europe, which there will be (hopefully soon), I want to at least visit Berlin and Munich. Too bad that German seems very hard to learn!

Weekend in Amsterdam

The famous IAMSTERDAM sign

      I was really unsure of what to expect from our weekend trip to Amsterdam. It was something the group had talked about since the first days we were all gathered in a friend’s room playing card games. I was probably the only person who was not aware that so many taboo things were legal there. Nevertheless, I was excited to visit the Netherlands. It was a rollercoaster trip - all of the logistics were very inconvenient, but our time out on the town was fascinating. On the way to Amsterdam we had to change trains in Belgium. It was a nine hour trip but it passed quickly. There were 21 of us, and also a big group of students from Georgia Tech. Even though we were spread out throughout two train carts, it was fun to see everyone playing games and hear English being spoken all over. From the train station we took a TRAM to our tiny little hostel. A tram is like a bus but runs on electricity. I have taken much smaller trams in Bulgaria. Since there were so many of us, we were spread out among 4 different hostels.
     When we arrived to our hostel we were in for a treat. Online we had booked one 10 person room for 2 nights - Friday and Saturday. We had paid a deposit and let the hostel know that we would be arriving later on at night. This in the United States would guarantee the 10 person room we had booked. When we were checking in we found out that that isn’t necessarily the case in Amsterdam. For Friday night, we had for us one room with six beds, and a second room with three beds. There would be one mattress put on the floor of the six people room for the 10^th person to sleep. On Saturday night they only had the six people room available. This meant that they would just add one extra mattress on the floor and all ten of us would be expected to fit and sleep in there. It sounds outrageous right? Well it was, but we also knew that we had no option. Complaining in Europe does not get the customer anywhere, since here the business is king unlike the US where the customer is always right. We suffered through it. The room smelled horrible, the shower was in the middle of the bathroom without a curtain or cabin around it, which meant that the bathroom flooded every time someone showered. With the two mattresses on the floor there was no room to keep our backpacks on the ground, they had to be stashed underneath the bottom bunk beds. The hostel had a cat that would dive into our room whenever the door was open and hide in the already clustered room. This weekend made us all probably a little too close than we were hoping.
     Friday night we discovered a center of the town - two streets full of cafes, bars, and clubs. Since most of them were free of a cover charge we hoped around a bunch of them. They were mostly filled with tourists. There were people of all ages and nationalities. You could definitely tell when someone was European versus when you spotted other college students from the States. The music was a combination of techno and popular radio music that we listen to in the US. We were having a really good time - definitely not expecting most of the places to shut down at 4am. We found out that all of the food places closed at 4 as well, which was inconvenient since we all had the munchies. There were many American food places in the area - McDonald’s, Burger King, KFC, Domino’s, New York style pizza. I was really craving some good ol’ American pizza but I was out of luck. Then just our luck - it started pouring. I was the only one of our group that had brought an umbrella so I did not get too wet.
      Saturday we woke up early. Well actually, one of the girls felt a spider and freaked out. The tight quarters left no choice but for the rest of us to wake up as well. The room was so disgusting we just had to get out of there. We stumbled upon an open air market nearby our hostel. There was everything you could imagine there - fruits, clothes, cheese, make-up, shoes, waffles, smoothies. It was heaven for the girls. It was an easy way to buy souvenirs. The waffle stand was delicious. For 2-3 euros, you could get a freshly made waffle with a variety of toppings - white chocolate, cinnamon and powder sugar, milk chocolate, M&Ms, sprinkles, or a combination of any of the above. I enjoyed a white chocolate waffle - it was amazing! We eventually separated into little groups because it was too hard to keep together on the busy streets. Nicole, Adam, Benard, and I ended up wondering all over town. We discovered the IAMSTERDAM sign. I am embarrassed to say I could not climb on top of the letters for a picture, so I posed next to an M & a T instead. We also walked past the Heineken brewery/museum. It looked like a fun place to visit but we were trying to save money and did not want to splurge on a tour. The Van Goth museum also looked fascinating, but we only looked from the outside. The city had canals running all through it. There were many houses on the canals, and as well tourists cruising on little boats. That is one of the things I would love to do if I could go back to Amsterdam. We also, accidentally, stumbled upon the Red Light District. It was during the day, so there weren’t any ‘attractions’ out yet so it took us a while to recognize it. It was swarmed of tourists but also many people that looked like locals who had young children with them. It was very strange for me to see parents take their child to a place full of prostitutes and drugs - that is definitely something that would be frown upon in the US and the rest of the world actually. 

There were canals throughout the whole city

       Another thing that stood out about Amsterdam was the use of bicycles. The bike lanes were very wide. At first we were very confused because we could not tell the difference between bike lanes and pedestrian side walks. We all had our problems with the bikes, but I think I struggled the most. I almost got hit by a bike two times, and I accidentally knocked a parked bike down as well. The one good thing about bikes is that it was usually locals who were riding them. Whenever we needed directions, we would ask someone on a bike since it seemed like most people walking were tourists like ourselves. A group of people from our program rented bikes on Sunday, and they only paid 7 euros for three hours. They said it was definitely fun and a much easier way to get around town.
     At night time we returned to the Red Light district again to see it in full action. It was something that I could have never imagined. Someone from the group had went on a guided tour earlier that day, and explained to us that most of the women were freelancers and just rented window space. The guys were acting like guys, but me and the girls could not help but notice the sad look on the women’s faces. Some of them looked very young, much younger than us and we were surprised they were allowed to be working. You could see the devastation and fear on their faces.
     We ended up making our way back to the little center that we had discovered Friday night to spend the rest of our night. Most of us headed back earlier than the previous night since we were exhausted from a long day of walking. Also we wanted to get first picks from the limited amount of pillows and blankets. The girls ended up crashing on the two mattresses on the floor, and the boys each had a bed.
The trip home was much more exhausting and annoying than the one on Friday. To start off our train from Amsterdam was canceled, so we had to wait an extra hour at the train station for the next train. From there we changed trains twice in Belgium, and once in Luxembourg. It was a very long trip. I wish I could sleep on trains, but unfortunately I wasn’t able to even take a 20 minute nap. We were all very excited to finally have some privacy, shower normally, and sleep in a clean bed.
     As unpleasant as some part of the trip were, overall I really enjoyed it. Amsterdam was a huge city - filled with so many people. The biggest city I have ever been to before was Chicago, and I think Amsterdam made it look like a joke. I do not know if Amsterdam does have a bigger population or if it is bigger size wise but it sure seemed like it. The streets were full of people, there was not a quiet area in sight. The streets and canals seemed to never end. There were much more Asian people in Amsterdam, than I have seem so far in France or Luxembourg. Come to think of it, the diversity of people was much broader than in France. I would definitely go back to Amsterdam but in a smaller group. I would like to spend more time there, so that I am not in such a rush. It would be nice to take a 4-5 day vacation there so I can rent a bike and not have to rush everywhere. One day, I will be back!

Departing from Metz

     Today is a bittersweet day. I am currently sitting on a bus, about to depart from Espace Pilatre de Sant Rozier, my residence for the past three weeks. The school part of our trip is over, we have taken our last exams and moved out of our rooms. We are headed to Brussels, Belgium to visit the EU Council. After that we will be spending a couple of days in Normandy visiting World War II Memorials and such. Then the last two days of the program will be spend in Paris. I am excited for all of the adventures we have ahead of us, but I will dearly miss the little life we had going on in Metz.
     It was quite simple actually, but it was so relaxing. We joked around many times that we felt disconnected from the real world because the days were so enjoyable and carefree. My only responsibility was attending class, which was only for a couple of hours a day and was usually pretty interesting anyways. Back home I am constantly juggling multiple tasks and running on a tight schedule - I would never have the time to take a relaxing two-hour lunch or a stroll late at night around town. This trip allowed me to rediscover how much I enjoy the simple things that I have had to exclude from my life because they weren’t a “good investment” of my time. What I liked the most was that enjoying life was part of the culture here, it was acceptable and an easy fit in the lifestyle. My personal opinion is that in the United States people are encouraged to always be on the go, to lead a busy aka ’fulfilling’ lifestyle. People who take time out for themselves and their enjoyment are seen as lazy and unproductive. Isn’t that just sad? Yes, it leads to a rich and productive society, but many people pass their lives without really enjoying them or feeling happiness. I personally am a go-getter, I like to be a winner, and I fear that if I continue my life in the United States I will have to sacrifice a relaxed lifestyle so I can come out on top.
     Overall, this trip has reassured me that studying international business is right for me. I am much more comfortable with the idea of pursuing a career outside of the United States. I will also be applying to graduate schools abroad. I think it will be amazing if I find a university that is right for me in Spain, Luxembourg, or even Germany. It is sad that if I choose to go on with this move I will be starting all over again in a new place. It means starting friendships from scratch again and building a brand new self-image. The idea of not really being able to live in a place where I have a lot of history and childhood friends does scare me and will probably be one of the forces that has potential to hold me back. I can only wait and see what will happen, and the decisions that I will be making!

Weekend Getaway to Luxembourg

     When I signed up for this study abroad program, I was told everyone spends their weekends traveling throughout different countries in Europe. Right away I was making a mental list of the countries I wanted to visit, but never did I consider Luxembourg. To be quite honest, I did not know much about Luxembourg at all. It was not one of the countries we studied in my world history class, nor did we talk about it in my International Business course. When our main instructor was giving us our orientation of the school and introducing us to the structure of the program he suggested visiting Luxembourg. “It’s a short trip there, and a great place to see,” he said, and I am so glad I listened.

     When we first arrived we decided as a group that we wanted to visit Switzerland, Amsterdam, and Nice. The first weekend, we were planning on heading to Switzerland but it seemed like it would be a long and expensive trip. We then decided to look into Luxembourg and were pleasantly surprised. It was less than an hour train ride away, and the roundtrip was only 28 euros. We decided to stay in Luxembourg City Youth Hostel which cost each person 41 euros for two nights and included breakfast each morning. I mean, it was a weekend trip to another country which cost less than 70 euros! Opportunities like this don’t come around in the United States! 

Walking to our hostel

     Since we were very busy with classes and the different activities that were organized for us, no one had much time to do research about what to see or do once we got there. That was not a problem! When we arrived at Luxembourg we easily found a bus that took us to our hostel. It seemed that most people spoke English, which later made much more sense since the city/country was flooded with large groups of tourists. The bus driver was even nice enough to let us on without paying! Merci monsieur, for saving us a couple of euros! When we arrived at the hostel, we found out that the people in Luxembourg just like the French hate the idea of people laying separately. The man at the reception told us very loudly multiple times how long it would take to process each person’s check in separately but we had no option, since some people had to pay with credit cards. In all reality, it was a very quick procedure. As a customer I did not feel that I had to wait much at all. I think Europeans in general (at least those I have experiences with) are used to making logistics easier for the businesses rather than for the customers. As one of our Professors told us, “They are a business, they are big. You are a customer, you are nothing to them.” It is a very different philosophy than the one that businesses operate on within the United States, but it seems to work for them so why not?

     The hostel was flooded with Americans. There were students from all over the United States, and as well from Australia, Asia, and of course other Europeans. And I am not surprised, the nightlife in Luxembourg was like nothing I have seen before. The bars were so crowded there were groups of 30-40 people standing outside of the bars drinking beer and laughing. Music was blasting everywhere and laughter could be heard throughout every corner. We discovered what I can only describe as an amusement park for nightlife. We were looking for a place to go, and a group of locals told us to follow them. Since we were a big group, and they seemed very friendly and were around our age, we decided it was safe to do so. We arrived at these gates where security guards checked our IDs. I am not sure what age you had to be to get in because there were kids who looked like they were no older than 15. I passed the test, and I was stunned when I walked in! It was a huge area full of bars, cafes, and nightclubs. They were literally one next to another, like an outdoor mall. It seemed like each place was different from each other. There was no cover to pay to enter a place, so we got the chance to explore a lot of them. One dance club, was beach themed. The floor was covered with 5-6 inches of sand and there were palm trees everywhere! Another club had dinosaur bones as decorations! Overall it was a really good place to go out in, and it seemed very safe since there were policemen and security guards everywhere.

     Saturday during the day we were able to explore the city. I found the architecture beautiful. It is much different than any other country I have visited. The roofs were very unique - tall, large, and dark. It was very consistent throughout the whole area. The city was not build on even grounds. There is a huge hill up to the main center area, there are many bridges, towers, and a river. It is a very beautiful place to see. And I am proud to say I saw it in 4 inch heels. Most tourists were wearing gym shoes, but you could tell the natives weren’t intimidated by walking uphill as all of the women also rocked high heels. We did not take any guided tours since we wanted to save money but I could tell the town was full of beautiful history. It is a very rich country and the prices at restaurants were a little too high than what we wanted to spend. The streets were filled with cafes, bakeries, and high end stores. There were also the European favorites: Zara, Mango, and H&M. It would have been a lovely place to be stranded at if I had a platinum credit card that someone else was paying for J

The town's center was transformed into a market Sunday morning

 
     I would definitely recommend Luxembourg as a place to visit for a young person in their early twenties. There are many beautiful spots that make you appreciate life. The sophisticated people and luxury items are a reminder to keep your head in the right place so one day you can experience these things first hand. And really, the beauty of the city is serene. You can stand over one of the bridges for hours just absorbing everything and reflecting on your journey. Be prepared to do a lot of walking, and bring clothes you can layer!

                                          Here are some pictures of the delicious food I had!
　

Pasta for dinner

Best breakfast ever

My first kebab ever

　

Bonjour from Metz!

     I have officially been on French soil for a week. What can I say, I love it! I am an European girl at heart! I thought I might have difficulties readjusting to the European lifestyle after spending the last 10 years in the United States, but that was not the case. Of course, there are many differences in the French culture from the Bulgarian culture I grew up with.

     I did start off on a bad foot with Paris thought. After an exhausting 12 hour trip and then waiting at the airport for 3 hours alone to meet up with my friends, the last thing I wanted to do was walk aimlessly around the busy streets of Paris looking for Gare de L’est. It did not help that my French vocabulary consisted of ‘Bonjour’ and ‘croissant’. I am very thankful that my traveling buddy Danielle had formally studied French culture and language before our trip. After lugging our luggage around hopelessly for what seemed like forever we finally got ourselves on a high speed train to Metz.

     My first mistake was that I underestimated the complexity of Paris. I thought that since I am able to get around without much preparation through the big cities in the United States I would be able to do the same easily in France. I was shocked by how much people flooded the streets, as I thought being used to the chaos of downtown Chicago and using the public transportation system was a big deal. So lesson number one of my learning experience: IT’S ALWAYS BETTER TO OVERPREPARE!

     Once we got to Metz and met our wonderful guide and instructor, I felt a little more love for France. The town of Metz is much more like the cities I have lived in Bulgaria, so it brought back wonderful memories and I honestly felt right at home. The first night we arrived we had dinner at our residence, freshened-up, and went out to a café to enjoy a glass of wine - legally! Even though we wore some of our most stylish outfits the locals were still starring at us whenever we walked past. To be honest, all I wanted to do was stare at them as well and observe their behavior and appearance.

     Over the weekend, other students from our program arrived. We quickly befriended each other on our adventures of exploring the city and French culture. We are all around the same age. Some people have no experience traveling or living outside of the United States but a few other students have also lived abroad. It is a good combination of knowledge and experience. The girls are trying more to blend in more by always looking their best, while the boys are proudly rocking cargo shorts and t-shirts. Nevertheless, whenever we are out as a group we always stand out as the "Rowdy Americans". As much as we shush each other, there are always multiple conversations going on which make us try to talk over each other.

     Taking classes here is not much different than our lectures in the United States. Of course, all of the professors who are working with us have experience with visiting American universities and I believe they are tailoring their teaching methods to what we are used to. Having worked with four different professors so far, I am enjoying the different backgrounds each professor comes from. I am definitely able to recognize the differences, and I think as a class we are able to tailor ourselves to fir that instructor’s style. Of course, some students are better at picking up the differences than others.

     The topics we have covered so far include history of the Lorraine region, geography of Europe, French Civilization, Self Image in Europe, History of France, and one French class for beginners. I think the most unique class was Self Image in Europe because the professor specialized in working with French politicians and business executives to determine which colors, glasses and hairstyles work best on them to help them portray different images they want the general public to see. The aspect of the course that was the most exciting for us was when Professor Ceccarelli told each of us our color pallet, body shape, and square shapes. She also gave everyone recommendations. I don’t think this would happen in the United States because students would not be as open about professors actually taking a look at their body even though it is in a completely formal and non-sexual way. Needless to say, I have gotten some really good advice on how to portray myself as the intelligent yet approachable young woman that I strive to be!

     In the last five days that we have had organized activities, we have already visited two museums and participated in two guided tours. It is amazing how much history one can learn just by walking the streets of a couple of neighboring towns. What is most amazing about Metz, is that even though it is very close to the German boarder and is in an area that was fought over by both the French and the German, barely anything was destroyed here during World War I, World War II, or any of the smaller wars between the two countries. Most of the buildings are older, full of charm, and tell a story.

     This weekend a group of 16 of us are headed an hour north to visit Luxembourg City, Luxembourg. The train ride there and back is costing us less than 30 euros per person! Imagine, not only being close enough to go on a weekend trip to a different country but also having it be relatively affordable! A lot of the native students I have met, have traveled throughout the countries of Europe multiple times. It saddens me how isolated we are at America and how much we are missing out on experiencing other countries culture.

    So far, we are planning on visiting Luxembourg, Amsterdam, and Nice (Southern France) in the three weekends we have to ourselves. What countries of Europe would you like to visit?

Study Abroad: Why Do It?

At 4:10 PM tomorrow, I will be on my way to Metz, France where I will be studying various business concepts at an international setting at ICN Business School.  The concept of "Study Abroad" sounds like a movie plot, but in reality it is attainable for most college students.  Yes, it is expensive, it often involves long plane rides and separation from one's friends and family but the benefits extend far beyond what is thought in the classroom.  One can always learn theories behind Japaneses business strategies or the reasons behind the creation of the European Nations from a textbook, but it is the unexpected lessons one gains from study abroad that are the most beneficial.


So why should you and your parents invest thousands of dollars for what may seem like a lengthy vacation?


One of the biggest benefits for those who don't have much experience outside of their home country or with interacting with people from different backgrounds than them, is to be able to view the world and everything about it from a different viewpoint.  People from different backgrounds have different views on many important issues and also on basic everyday situations.  Understanding things from a different perspective is a very important life skill as it may benefit your everyday life and open doors for you.


Many people think that American students in particular need to study abroad to 'get the full picture' but I believe that students from all countries can benefit from this.  Living in a foreign country can open one's eyes about how his or hers home country or actions contribute to the world as a whole.  They can see the positive and negative impact they leave for other countries and people.  All countries, weather rich or poor, big or small, have an unique role on Earth and it is important for foreigners to recognize and cherish that.


It is also important to remember that while you are learning customs and traditions of your temporary home you are learning about yourself.  When you find yourself in a new environment, away from the usual people you rely on you are forced to discover yourself.  You learn your strengths, your weaknesses, your fears.  You learn how to recognize challenges and work through them.  You learn to be independent and rely on yourself.  In reality, not only does studying abroad help you learn about yourself, it helps you develop yourself.

I have not yet met a person who wouldn't benefit from studying abroad, but it's obvious people have to be mentally ready for all of the 'lessons' they are signing up for.  When you are planning a study abroad trip, make sure you are at a point in your life where you can allow yourself to be open to differences and ready to mature as a person.  Most importantly, don't be scared to take on this opportunity.  Have you ever heard anyone say they regret studying abroad?  I haven't.  And what's the chances you'll be the first to? 

Professional Etiquette for Business Meals

Monday evening, Illinois State University’s Business Week committee organized an amazing evening for networking and learning proper meal etiquette.  As a participant, I had the opportunity to meet and network with representatives from Travelers Companies Foundation and StateFarm.  The Keynote speaker was Anthony Knierim, Chief Marketing Strategist for RadMatter and Global Digital Media Solutions Lead for Aon Hewitt.  He spoke about the power of Social Media in the recruitment and hiring process.  Following my discussion of proper meal etiquette, I will share some of the tips and tricks he shared.

Tips for presenting yourself properly during a professional meal: 

 

1. Your drinking glass is the one that is farthest right.  You should keep it to your right. 
2. Your bread plate is the one to your left hand side.
3. Utensils should be used in order, from the ones on the outside to the ones closest to the plate. 
4. Bread should be broken off piece by piece and buttered individually as you eat it.  It is considered impolite to cut your bread roll in half (like a sandwich).
5. Napkin should be placed on your lap as soon as you sit down, not tucked into your shirt.
6.  If you are leaving the table and will return, leave your napkin on your chair.
7. When you are done eating, place your napkin to the left of your plate.
8. Do not let any used utensils (including handles) touch the table.
9. If you drop your napkin or a utensil, do not grab it from the floor.  Instead, discretely ask your waiter for a new one.
10.  It is best to avoid controversial topics during a professional meal.
11.  It is best to avoid ordering alcoholic beverages.
12.  Any utensils placed on top of your plate are to be used for dessert.
13.  Do not use your hands to aid your food onto your fork.  Instead, use a knife.
14.  Do not lick any of the utensils.
15.  Pass bread/salads/dressings always to your right.
16.  If someone asks you to pass the salt or pepper, it is polite to pass both at once.
17.  Do not start eating until everyone is served.

Tips for creating a successful online presence:

1. Include a picture of yourself on your Social Networking Websites.  Do not upload any inappropriate photos.
2. Include your full name on profiles you wish to be identified/traced to you.  Remember phone numbers or addresses can also be searched and connected to you.
3. On LinkedIn make sure you have at least three recommendations.
4. You should be connected to at least 30 people on LinkedIn to ensure that your profile pops-up in a Google search.
5. Join groups that share your interests.  For example, if you join a group on LinkedIn you have access to messaging the members, even those who you would not be able to message otherwise (if you lack connections).
6. Most recruiters and hiring managers will do a Google Search of a candidate.  Make sure you do not have profiles that portray you in a negative way.  Especially if you are still in college, pay attention to the pictures you are tagged in and the statuses you post on Facebook – all of that can be traced to you!
7.  Blogging is always a great way to leave positive online traces of yourself.

These are the main points from the presentations that stood out to me.  Until last night, I had no idea what the correct way to eat bread was!  Even if you have plenty of experience in these settings, periodically attending seminars can refresh your memory and keep you updates on any new standards.  

What tips can you share regarding proper meal etiquette or maintaining a positive online presence?      

Introduction

Hello, my name is Gabi Radanova.  I am a junior at Illinois State University pursuing degrees in International Business and Finance.  I have always had an interest in traveling, interacting with people of different cultures, and learning to solve problems by looking at the issue through a different perspective.  When I started taking business courses, I was fascinated by the effects businesses have on the world as a whole and how the decisions made by top executives affect people from every corner of the world!  I was thrilled to find the right program for me that combines my passion for travel and managing money.  To further my understanding of  International Business I will be studying abroad in Metz, France during the summer of 2012.  I also plan on exploring various countries throughout Europe to gain more experience.

I dedicate my time at ISU to various organizations.  I am the chapter president of The National Society of Collegiate Scholars, an honorary society for the top 10% of students in universities all over the country.  As well I am an active member of Alpha Kappa Psi, a professional Business fraternity.  As part of the Professional Committee I help bring guest speakers to our chapter.  I am also honored to be mentored by a retired French teacher through the Senior Professionals program.  Being a student at the Honors Program I am also able to take advantage of numerous enriching activities.

I hope all of the ways I spend my time prepare me for a challenging, global career.  My dream is to retire as the Director of the International department of a multinational financial institution where I can oversee international projects and be the decision maker for which projects are in the company’s best interest to undertake.