I have experienced a lot of growth throughout this trip, both personally and as a student. Personally, I think this study abroad trip allowed me to explore myself as a person. It put me into a new environment where I would have to change how I adapt and interact with people. This is my first time abroad every and doing so with a random group of students did present some challenges. I was happy to say that I was able to overcome these challenges and really make the most out of the experience. The fact that I am able to have this opportunity is crazy and I have had an immense feeling of gratitude this entire trip. As a student I feel as if this expanded my eyes as to what my future could look like. I have always wanted to study abroad, and in terms of culinary I think that it is one of the best things that you can do. Food is culture and getting to experience those cultures first hand really helps grow you education and knowledge. I was able to connect with so many individuals on this trip that can help boost me into my career.
My ability to communicate has massively increased. Throughout this trip there were many instances where I had to adapt or change the way I interact with others. I was able to gain first hand experience on being adaptable and looking out for things that may need to communicated on. On this trip we are with each other for so many hours of the day that it can sometimes become overwhelming, learning how to communicate your feelings helps to avoid any misunderstandings that may happen. This does not only apply to personal situations but also Hospitality spaces as well. What surprised me about British Hospitality is there distance but still being interactive. In the US I feel as if our Hospitality is very much in your face. We always try to make a dramatic and outstanding impression. While that is a good technique, I really enjoyed the contrast in Britain. The service is still excellence but they let you work at your own pace. This was a nice change as the US way can be a little overwhelming and fake, I often like the impression they were trying to make was real.
Some specific take aways from the trip was the Bombay Sapphire experience and the markets. I really enjoyed our Bombay Sapphire tour. I enjoyed learning the history around the brand and how they commit to their core values such as sustainability. I really felt immersed throughout the entire tour, our guide was very insightful and engaging. I have always loved these behind the scene tours because it allows us to have a new perspective on the brand. In Hospitality its important to try and stand out, you want your brand or business to be shown. I think that experiences like these really help in building your brand reputation. For the guests that visit, its a way to see how the brand operates and why they operate it in that way. As an owner this is your chance to make an outstanding personal connection that helps to grow your brands reputation. The other take away is from all the markets we visited. Each where different but really taught me the power of entrepreneurship. Personally I have always wanted to have my own business, and while there are expos and markets in the US I feel as if they don’t compare to those abroad. This allowed me to experience how power growing and putting effort into your business can be. All the businesses at the market showed collaboration, communication, and work effort. These are all qualities that are vital to running a Hospitality business. I really enjoyed being at these markets and seeing all the vendors have their chance to shine.
This trip has made me reflect on what kind of leader I want to be. I hope to one that is powerful and emphatic. While its important to have organization, structure, and manpower. It’s just as important to have a team that’s built on trust and respect. I hope to be able to study abroad more, whether that be through more programs through FIU or studying culinary at an International culinary school. I would love to continue growing and expanding on my knowledge of cultures and how they function in the Hospitality world.