It is hard to believe that two months have come and gone. I have completed my International Internship Program in the Czech Republic and am now back home in the states. It feels good to be back home in Houston with my family, but it is surreal to imagine that I lived a different lifestyle these past eight weeks. As I flew back to Houston, I remember reminiscing about the trip, scrolling through my camera roll and realizing all of it was a memory now. While this trip was the best experience of my life, I do not believe in the post abroad depression. I never realized how much I loved the United States and it felt so refreshing to be back. I have so much to look forward to this next year at Pitt and cannot wait to be back with my community. 

My last day of work was surprisingly a hard goodbye for me. I was shocked to see how attached I got to my coworkers, despite the little interaction we had with one another on a personal level. It goes to show that it is hard to leave behind familiarity whenever growing so accustomed to it. Upon my arrival at the office, I made sure to make a quick pit stop at the bakery to pick up some danishes for my coworkers to show my appreciation. I had no assignments left, so this last day was more of a final sendoff. I was able to have a chat with my supervisor as sort of a final evaluation conversation. He was very pleased with my work ethic and thoroughly explained why he thought I had a successful internship. In general, I believe that the Czech Republic defines success in a professional sense as someone who is capable of fulfilling their duties with the right attitude. All of my coworkers came in everyday with the same goal of completing their assignments they were prepared to do. There was no complaining or emotional distress involved in their work as they were just happy to be a part of the process. I feel that in corporate America, there is a lot of work politics that result in competition amongst workers or placating to higher ups for one’s own benefit. In the Czech Republic, there seems to be an actual sense of unity in the workplace and respect towards others that make the company successful. In the supply chain/logistics industry, an effective employee has to have a good attitude and be open to change as the business can bring all sorts of curveballs. It is a fast-paced environment and my coworkers were always ready for the unknown. Behaviors and actions of a successful employee differ from the Czech Republic compared to the United States by their mentality. The Czech Republic has a work to live mentality unlike the common mentality of living to work. Czech Republic employees are efficient with their time and excel in the workplace for the sole purpose that they have enough leisure time while United States employees are workaholics in order to surpass their peers in productivity so that they can be noticed for a promotion. 

It was good to hear from my boss how proud he was of me as I never really received feedback throughout the internship. I was glad that I was seen as a viable resource to the company and that my coworkers enjoyed my presence, despite the fast turnaround. One thing that stuck with me was that my boss shared how much he appreciated my good attitude. He explained that a manager’s best asset is a young employee with a good work ethic that is willing to take on assignments. These were some wise words that I will continue to remind myself as I continue pursuing my career goals. 

For the last week, I made sure to hit all my favorite spots around Prague and try out some new popular places before I left. I wanted to soak it all in one last time as I knew it might be a while before my return. This was my first time in Europe and I am content with how much I experienced. Six different countries, new friends, adventure, and a lifetime supply of memories: what more could a guy ask for! Before I left for this trip, there was a quote from Mark Twain I made sure to live by to make my time all the worthwhile. “Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do, than by the ones you did do. So, throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails.” Explore. Dream. Discover.