Some things business are more easily learned in a class room setting- accounting, economics, finance- yet there is the human side to business -human resources, management, and some cases marketing- which are studied in the class room but cultivated and developed in the field. In reflection of our recent trip to the Yucatan, our experiences visiting various maquilas and businesses were very eye opening especially from a cross cultural point of view. Only through internships do business students have the risk free opportunity to participate in business without a job depending on it. In Mexico, we had the privilege of witnessing first hand how business was conducted without an internship or job while learning about global business at the same time. From this experience I can only heartily recommend that any business student who has the opportunity to study business abroad pursue that opportunity to witness the cross cultural differences in management and actually witness business happenings, transactions, etc occur without have any sort of tie to it. It is one thing to read about management and human resources in a book, but experiencing it (in another country) is another. Having the opportunity to get in the trenches and explore foreign businesses, ask questions, and simply observe others is an invaluable learning experience you will never have in the classroom, that rarely available on the job. In the era of global businesses, I wish for every business student to have the opportunity to study abroad whether in the Yucatan or Europe to bear witness to how some of Americas competitors operate. While accounting is still math abroad, the human side of business especially abroad provides for excellent learning experiences.
Brandon Mong
