Medallion Reflection

Global Perspective: The ability to take others’ points of view and assumptions into consideration when making a decision.

To be able to travel the world and explore new areas is a perfect way to practice Global Perspective. Visiting countries that you did not grow up in really helps you initially understand that your customs growing up are not universal. Children grow up learning from their surroundings; this may vary from growing up in the suburbs to growing up around war and poverty. These experiences change people and the way they see the world. Its important to understand where people come from and its way more important to understand that not everyone will see eye-to-eye with your thoughts and feelings.

My favorite example to use when it comes to global perspective is when people post videos on Facebook of different Latin descent participants telling the viewer how a specific item is named.

Words range from (for me ) the most common words to the most random assembly of letters. Its truly entertaining to watch how surprised people get when they find out how different a word can be in countries so near by.

For example:

COUNTRY: U.S.A

ITEM NAME: BANANA

COUNTRY: GUATEMALA

ITEM NAME: BANANO

COUNTRY: VENEZUELA

ITEM NAME: CAMBUR

This is a very simple example as to how things are sometimes just different in other countries. It is on us to embrace the fact that not everyone grew up the same way we did. Hence, opinions on topics may vary from time to time.

Global Awareness: Understanding not just what is going on in the world, but how it is all interconnected. Issues do not exist in a vacuum; they affect one another.

The act of globalization is a great way to start explaining just how connected every country is. Globalization basically means to expand an organization or business across the border of the country it originated from. My minor: Logistics and Supply Chain Management would not be as vast and useful if companies never decided to start globalizing. By expanding your business in another country, you are opening ties to that country. Setting up is going to take staffing, resources and money. Its basically going to economically affect the area being set up. ( On a large or small scale)

Coffee businesses like Starbucks and Juan Valdez have begun to invade foreign countries. What would be the economic impact on France if Starbucks decides to close all the franchises? It may be a minor hit but jobs would be lost, providers would have lost a clients, franchisees would have to look for a new franchise.

These are minor examples just to prove how delicate world connections are.

Global Engagement: Willingness to engage in local, global, international, and intercultural problem solving.

To have had the opportunity to travel, meet so many friends, and encounter amazing opportunities. It has become important for me to continue to have global engagement. I believe this is a great tool to demonstrate to people that you understand where the world is moving and you want to be a part of it. Global or International related projects will allow me to learn even more on a professional level.