Today we heard from Eva Cejkova, a successful Czech woman who not only owns her own business, but she also supports the rise of other women to top managerial positions through her work. I felt as if she was not only extremely poised and confident in her capabilities, but I admired her dedication to helping and providing support to other Czech female entrepreneurs. Like many of our speakers, Eva attributes her success to a strong family foundation and support system and her personal drive and internal motivation. The necessity of a strong family support system has become a common trend in the stories told by most, if not all of the women that we have spoken to in each country. It makes sense that a persons' work ethic is shaped by those around them, especially through the support provided by their family. So, in light of this it also seems that in order to ensure that more women become managers there must be a re-education within the home that supports the development of young women and their aspirations to become something outside of the home. Perhaps this can be associated to the gender socialisation of women, where they are told that they have a choice to either continue working or stay in the home, but the reality is that there is no real choice. Women now have a choice to stay in the home, a privilege that was not always granted nor accepted, and so it has subtly been indoctrinated that staying in the home is representative of this choice.
This is all a bit confusing still and it is something that is extremely interesting to me. I hope that through our final de-brief and in reading my journal entries, that I will be able to better understand the illusion of a choice that women are faced with once they become mothers. I have a great trip, and I think that I have taken much more away from the program that I was anticipating. Thank you Professor Kelley and Professor Gupta :)
Friday, May 30, 2008
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Mid-Trip Post (Jenn Kowaloff)
I am writing this from Prague with only a day left before we come home. I have learned and seen so much on this trip, I am sure I will be making connections for months to come.
In terms of pathways to leadership, I have identified 3. They are networking, education, and support. Though education is important across the board, networking seems to be different in the countries we have visited. By this I mean that the ways women go about networking is different. The women we have met with have been dressed more sexually then many women I have seen in the American workforce. In addition, some women specifically mentioned using flirting to make connections. IN addition, many of the successful women we met were particularly attractive. There is no doubt that dressing more sexually did not hurt their success.
Support is important in two ways. First, it is helpful to have the "permission" of your husband and family to enter the workforce. But in addition, support can mean helping with the "second shift" duties women face such as cooking, cleaning, and taking care of the children.
Lastly, having a role model has seemed to be common thread amongst the women. I believe this is because a role model helps them remember that they are not the first woman to attempt to have both a career and a family. It serves as inspiration for them.
After we return home and I have more time to reflect, I will definitely be making more connections to the course material.
In terms of pathways to leadership, I have identified 3. They are networking, education, and support. Though education is important across the board, networking seems to be different in the countries we have visited. By this I mean that the ways women go about networking is different. The women we have met with have been dressed more sexually then many women I have seen in the American workforce. In addition, some women specifically mentioned using flirting to make connections. IN addition, many of the successful women we met were particularly attractive. There is no doubt that dressing more sexually did not hurt their success.
Support is important in two ways. First, it is helpful to have the "permission" of your husband and family to enter the workforce. But in addition, support can mean helping with the "second shift" duties women face such as cooking, cleaning, and taking care of the children.
Lastly, having a role model has seemed to be common thread amongst the women. I believe this is because a role model helps them remember that they are not the first woman to attempt to have both a career and a family. It serves as inspiration for them.
After we return home and I have more time to reflect, I will definitely be making more connections to the course material.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Predeparture(Lamis Nahas)
| Hey everyone,I am thrilled to be traveling to europe , I hope it will be a great experience , I'm a bit worried about the change in weather and cultural shock...however I'm so excited that we will meet successful business women whom I want to learn a lessons from and apply it in my future.I'm also excited about the different countries we will visit , I guess its going to be a rich course , as we are hedding towards different places and viewing different experiences of women there...I hope this will make me a smarter woman, and I will go out from this course holding alot of new information about real world obstacles and paths for success in the business world ...Oh , another thing I'm looking for is to build up relationships with students , and have a life time memory with them in europeI'm so excited to travel ,,,meet you all soon !!! |
Hey everyone,I am thrilled to be traveling to europe , I hope it will be a great experience , I'm a bit worried about the change in weather and cultural shock...however I'm so excited that we will meet successful business women whom I want to learn a lessons from and apply it in my future.I'm also excited about the different countries we will visit , I guess its going to be a rich course , as we are hedding towards different places and viewing different experiences of women there...I hope this will make me a smarter woman, and I will go out from this course holding alot of new information about real world obstacles and paths for success in the business world ...Oh , another thing I'm looking for is to build up relationships with students , and have a life time memory with them in europeI'm so excited to travel ,,,meet you all soon !!!
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Central Europe-Diana Magner
I have more then enjoyed my experience thus far in central europe. When we first arrived after our long day of flying I was a little worried about the safety in Hungry. As we drove from the airport I had a pit in my stomach that it wouldnt be what i expected at all. I was happy that those feeling soom surpassed once we went to the university and went on the cruise on the danube and to the gypsy dance. I really enjoyed the gyspy dance not only because we got the cool little men shot cglass, but because we got to try these good and got to experience what hungarians would do on a typical night. I really enjoyed the speaker at the unnniversity it really put into perspective how diffcult it is for women here to be able to live a life that fits anything, but the mold that society has created for them. They have so much pressure to have children and to stay home with then for almost a decade that it makes it near immposible to ever get back into the workforce. I never knew about parental leave until this and at first i thought it was great. You could graduate from college, work a bit, then have kids stay home on a paid vacation until they get older then go back to work. Then you think about and relize that their skills will deminish as they stay home and that thez are only allowed to go back to work for 1 month at their pervoius job so many people are terminated after that short time so they stay home. I enjoyed Marta presentation and the cartoon she showed. It really expressed that the women are suppose to dress sexy, care for the house, take care of the kids, and balance a job. I have also seen a trend that the women have the same right to education, but then alot less attention is paid to them and thez are supported less. It really makes one appericate our experience at simmons and see how lucky we are. Then we were off to Vienna and it was a beautiful ride. I could not believe how different the countries were from eachother considering how geogrpaically close they. When we drove into the city it felt like we were in a time machine and we had advanced about 200 years. It is such a richer countries and so modern and looks alot like other countries I have visited in Western Europe. It seems alot less effected by the communism. The city was so beautiful on the new danube sitting around I felt like I was on a tropical vacation. I loved the greek resteranut it was fabulous. I was surpized at how similar it was to our greek food because usually countries interrupt foods from other countries in different ways. It was really interested to speak with Catalina. I quickly realized that the womens have much more oppoourtunies here. They want to get educated and go into the workforce like us. They dont have to be tied down by marriage or having children at such a young age. On adverage the women get paid 20 percent less then men, but that happens in the US too. It was shocking that our guides need to go threw schooling and a difficult exam. That should happen in the US so they all know what they are talking about. Also 80 percent of tour gudies are women. So they have jobs that are dominated by one sex just like us. The walking tour was great, but I wish i was smarter about the shoes i decided to wear. It was interested to find out that their city is not divided like river as it is in Budapest and also in Paris. The people in austria also are more into fashion and dress much better then the hungarians. They also smile more and are more friendly and this is a direct correlation to their economic status. I cant wait to go to Prague and Bratislave and couldnt be happier that I came.
Central Europe Reflections - Kara Messenger
So far this trip to Central/Eastern Europe has been very interesting and enjoyable. We have experienced Budapest and Vienna so far and have Bratislava and Prague to look forward to. I enjoyed Budapest very much despite the fact that I was a little turned off by the apearance of the city while driving through it from the airport. My first impression of it was that it was very run-down with urban art and overgrown grass everywhere. However, after our tours I was able to appreciate the most beautiful parts of the city including both the 'Buda' and 'Pest' areas. Corvinus University was also extremely interesting. I was very impressed with the women leaders we were set up with and enjoyed talking to them about their experiences living and working in Hungary. Some common trends I have noticed throughout our discussions involve women's challenges dealing with their work/life balance, how much their looks have contributed to their success, and how much family support plays a role in their success. I am particularly interested in how these remarkable women have balanced both work and life as I plan to become a mother as I pursue my career. I am looking forward to meeting the women scientists of Vienna tomorrow; however, I wish we would be able to directly ask them about their experiences as women in the workforce, as that is the basis of this course. I suppose that the cultural difference of not being able to politely ask those questions is a strong statement in itself and we should ask other creative questions to discover what it takes to be successful in this city as a woman. As far as culture shock is concerned, I am doing okay even though it is my first time in Europe. Everything is so beuatiful here and I wish we had more time in each city to experience all the things they have to offer.
Greetings from the happy hostel in vienna! -mariel
Wow! We are about to say goodnight on our 2nd night in vienna and our 5th night of the trip... where has the time gone? While I am weirded out that we are half way done with our adventure with only 5 more nights left, I feel as if I have already had ample experiences that i can reflect back on.
So far our investigation into the similarities and differences between women's progression in Hungary and Austria in comparrison to the United States has been incredible. I had no idea that women (or men!) in Hungary could basically have up to 8 years of paid maternity leave from the government based on how many kids they have. How come there is no government regulation on maternity leave in the united states? Another interesting comparrison between women in the US and the women of Hungary is that they seem to be fighting different battles based on their country's history. Because women in Hungary were essentially forced to work during the communist era there has been a backlash in recent years of women dropping out of the workforce to stay at home with their families. While there is absolutely nothing wrong with that decision it is interesting to note that more and more women are making their decisions due to the fact that they could not before. Women in the US on the other hand were not allowed to enter the workforce in prior years, therefore the numbers of women choosing to stay in the workforce after having children has been increasing since the women's rights movement. I found it so interesting how two vastly different countries have women that are basing their employment decisions based on the history of the particular country.
On the fun side we have been able to enjoy some amazing tours and activities in the past few days that have successfully broken up our somewhat tiring in-depth analysis on women's leadership. My favorite thus far was without a doubt the mineral baths at the spa we went to in Budapest. It was so different than anything I have experienced before and it was a definite bonding time with the group!
Well we are off to brastislava in the morning and i need to re-pack yet again, this trip has been amazing thus far and we still have two more countries to go!
-Mariel Friedman
So far our investigation into the similarities and differences between women's progression in Hungary and Austria in comparrison to the United States has been incredible. I had no idea that women (or men!) in Hungary could basically have up to 8 years of paid maternity leave from the government based on how many kids they have. How come there is no government regulation on maternity leave in the united states? Another interesting comparrison between women in the US and the women of Hungary is that they seem to be fighting different battles based on their country's history. Because women in Hungary were essentially forced to work during the communist era there has been a backlash in recent years of women dropping out of the workforce to stay at home with their families. While there is absolutely nothing wrong with that decision it is interesting to note that more and more women are making their decisions due to the fact that they could not before. Women in the US on the other hand were not allowed to enter the workforce in prior years, therefore the numbers of women choosing to stay in the workforce after having children has been increasing since the women's rights movement. I found it so interesting how two vastly different countries have women that are basing their employment decisions based on the history of the particular country.
On the fun side we have been able to enjoy some amazing tours and activities in the past few days that have successfully broken up our somewhat tiring in-depth analysis on women's leadership. My favorite thus far was without a doubt the mineral baths at the spa we went to in Budapest. It was so different than anything I have experienced before and it was a definite bonding time with the group!
Well we are off to brastislava in the morning and i need to re-pack yet again, this trip has been amazing thus far and we still have two more countries to go!
-Mariel Friedman
Central Europe Reflections
Over the last week here in Central Europe, we have had an opportunity to meet some very strong willed, opinionated, hard working, self driven women who can be referred to as trail blazers. Not only are they changing the status quo, they are confident in their abilities and are not willing to go along with the expectations of others. I see these women working to make a change, not only for themselves but they are also working to help other women to take opportunities that are available to them and not to settle for what others think they should do, but to go after what they want.
Like women in the United States and other parts of the world, they believe that they can achieve it all. Children and family are important and they believe that they can work to achieve getting the better education, the perfect position or job and having a family. There is no question that they are confident that they can achieve all of the above and it is most evident that they are doing just that.
The same issues exist as in the United States and the rest of the world. The women in Central Europe continue to make less than men, the expectation is that they should stay home and be good mothers and wives, and they continue to try and knock down the glass ceiling.
All of the women that we met are trailblazers and as they continue to motivate and encourage other women, it is clear that they are going to make a difference.
Isaline
Like women in the United States and other parts of the world, they believe that they can achieve it all. Children and family are important and they believe that they can work to achieve getting the better education, the perfect position or job and having a family. There is no question that they are confident that they can achieve all of the above and it is most evident that they are doing just that.
The same issues exist as in the United States and the rest of the world. The women in Central Europe continue to make less than men, the expectation is that they should stay home and be good mothers and wives, and they continue to try and knock down the glass ceiling.
All of the women that we met are trailblazers and as they continue to motivate and encourage other women, it is clear that they are going to make a difference.
Isaline
Central Europe trip - Lauren Hassett
Its getting late here in the beautiful city of Vienna even though its not even 5pm back in the states. Our time here in this wonderful city is almost up and we only have one day left to explore and experience what its like to be in Vienna! I have learned so much about the history in not only Vienna but in Budapest as well and I cannot wait to see the other two citys we will visit although I will it here. I dont think that I would ever want to live in Budapest or Vienna but they are definatly places I would like to visit again.
The culture in Budapest and Vienna are so different in so many ways. Budapest has more laws towards womans rights than Vienna but I feel that Vienna is a much better work environment for women. After talking with Joanna who is attending the University of Vienna and studying law,she informed me that she didnt feel that she was personally discriminated against at all in school or in any of her jobs for being a woman working towards a leadership role. She felt that she was readily accepted and treated almost equal except for the pay. I found out that there are no equal pay laws in Vienna and that woman are usually paid less than 20% than men which is almost the same as the US even though we have labor laws against that.
I have so much more that I have learned and would love to share but its getting late and I'm exausted after all the walking around and exploring the city today, so I'm off to bed.
The culture in Budapest and Vienna are so different in so many ways. Budapest has more laws towards womans rights than Vienna but I feel that Vienna is a much better work environment for women. After talking with Joanna who is attending the University of Vienna and studying law,she informed me that she didnt feel that she was personally discriminated against at all in school or in any of her jobs for being a woman working towards a leadership role. She felt that she was readily accepted and treated almost equal except for the pay. I found out that there are no equal pay laws in Vienna and that woman are usually paid less than 20% than men which is almost the same as the US even though we have labor laws against that.
I have so much more that I have learned and would love to share but its getting late and I'm exausted after all the walking around and exploring the city today, so I'm off to bed.
Report from Vienna - Sylvia Corfman
It is our last night in Vienna; we are off to Bratslava tomorrow evening. The first 3 days in BudaPest, we met with many business women who talked about Hungary and the challenges of being a woman in business. I was struck about how similar the challenges are to my own as an American woman in business. Such things as work-life balance, spousal support and flexible work schedules. However, in the US, businesses are finally realizing the advantage of customizing work schedules to keep talent in the workforce. ´Hungary does not have part-time positions, to speak of, or they are low-pay and unchallenging. Austria, on the other hand, has offered a flexible work schedule, for as long as the young women we talked with, could remember, thus allowing young mothers to remain in the workforce while their children are young.
I must sign off now, because internet access is not allowed after 10pm and if 'caught' I could be fined $22 euro/hour.
I must sign off now, because internet access is not allowed after 10pm and if 'caught' I could be fined $22 euro/hour.
Expectations of Central Europe Visit Isaline
It would be very interesting to hear what the women in leadership positions in Central Europe would discuss. The women in the United States and other parts of the world continue to work to break through the glass ceiling and have a bigger voice in corporations and fortune 500 companies. While women leaders are making a difference and having a greater voice, there is still a long way to go and more work to be done to attain the fulfilment and achievement that women have hoped for. I am curious to hear where the women of Central Europe are in terms of their contributions in the workplace and where they see themselves in the next five to ten years. Are they earning equal pay to men? Do they hold top positions? Are they having a voice and are they still expected to be the ones who take care of the children and the home. I am most curious to hear and compare.
May 25, 2008 Brienne Black
Well sadly this will be quick, because there is a long line waiting for computers...since there aren't too many readily available. I have had an absolutely amaizing time here in Eastern/Central Europe so far. This is not my first time to Europe, so I am not too culture shocked, and since I am living in Boston, the city doesn't seem so odd for me. I have found it extremely interesting though to hear from women and what they have to say and the struggles they face. In some senses it sounds like they face fewer challenges than women in the United States, but in others they face more. I think this has been one of the most eye opening and interesting experiences of the trip. I did really like the trip to the Palace today though, I found it very stunning and beautiful! I also found it very interesting that Mary-Theresa was the ruler of the house and not her husband, what a change in roles that is. Over all I think this has been a great adventure, and I cannot wait to see what Bratislava and Prague have in store for me!
Mid-Trip Report
I find myself writing this in the beautiful city of Vienna. There have been a number of experiences that I have enjoyed thus far and I'm certain there will be more to come.
It does not come as a surprise the the cities that we have traveled to have been full of great architecture, sights, and history. The sightseeing and food have been great, but we have gotten to hear stories from several women leaders that have added a whole other dimension to our experience here.
In Hungary, we learned about the system that is in place to allow mothers the opportunity to stay at home when they have children. They are paid 70% of their prior salary if they are insured, and oftentimes, their employers supplement that with the remaining 30%. This is in place for two years and by law, the employers have to hold their positions for when they return. This salary coverage can be used for up to 3 children and the mother can take time off until her youngest child reaches the age of 8. Although this may seem like a very good deal for us in the States, it is still removing the mother from the workforce and it is often difficult for her to get back into it when she returns. Although she has a guaranteed job, her employer can fire her after she has been back for a month if she is not holding up to their performance standards. These policies are still a way to keep women out of the workforce and Hungarian women do face the obstacles of balancing motherhood and their professional lives. Even if a mother wants to keep working, if she does not take this time off, she is looked down upon as a bad parent.
These difficulties aside, the women that we were able to speak with were very successful in balancing their professional and personal lives. They seem to have succeeded and enjoy the work they are doing. We will be meeting with Viennese scientists tomorrow and I'm sure we will get a completely different perspective from them.
It does not come as a surprise the the cities that we have traveled to have been full of great architecture, sights, and history. The sightseeing and food have been great, but we have gotten to hear stories from several women leaders that have added a whole other dimension to our experience here.
In Hungary, we learned about the system that is in place to allow mothers the opportunity to stay at home when they have children. They are paid 70% of their prior salary if they are insured, and oftentimes, their employers supplement that with the remaining 30%. This is in place for two years and by law, the employers have to hold their positions for when they return. This salary coverage can be used for up to 3 children and the mother can take time off until her youngest child reaches the age of 8. Although this may seem like a very good deal for us in the States, it is still removing the mother from the workforce and it is often difficult for her to get back into it when she returns. Although she has a guaranteed job, her employer can fire her after she has been back for a month if she is not holding up to their performance standards. These policies are still a way to keep women out of the workforce and Hungarian women do face the obstacles of balancing motherhood and their professional lives. Even if a mother wants to keep working, if she does not take this time off, she is looked down upon as a bad parent.
These difficulties aside, the women that we were able to speak with were very successful in balancing their professional and personal lives. They seem to have succeeded and enjoy the work they are doing. We will be meeting with Viennese scientists tomorrow and I'm sure we will get a completely different perspective from them.
Mid-Trip Report (Abi Rafeh, Raya)
It is an amazing experience to have the opportunity to meet so many people from the countries we have visited so far. Many, including professors, professionals in the workplace, and students, have been able to share their experiences as women who have succeeded in a country that still considers them as not equal beings. I realized that through these women’s perseverance and determination, they are creating a path for the younger generation towards a better life in the workplace and household. The city of Budapest is quite unique based on its people. I found that it is a city where many of the people seem to be more to them selves and reserved rather than Vienna where everyone is very friendly and assists strangers (foreigners). I am absolutely amazed by the energy and life in Vienna because there is more of a common bond among the people through out the day and night life. Furthermore, there are so many hidden subliminal messages around the city that it makes a person ponder upon the different meanings they symbolize. Overall, this trip is not over yet and I can’t wait to discover the new and exciting events in Bratislava and Prague.
Ciao for now.
Ciao for now.
blog in vienna
we are in vienna right now.We have already gone to budapest and we have two more places to go. I have had an awesome trip so far and I cant wait to see the other two areas. I am looking forward to seeing prague. Vienna is beautiful and the people are nice. This city is more modern than budapest. so far we have meet some amazing women. These women are driven and inspiring which really is partof the culture. This is reflected in the art we have seen in the palace today. men are pointing to the women and the women are pointing to themelves. this shows that the women are in charge and confident. this shows me that being confident and driven is what you need to get yourself to higher placesl, either in the workplace or in other areas of life. vienna caught me that these characteristics are important to success in this culture.
Jessie Sementelli
Jessie Sementelli
Blogging during the trip
Ok so right now we have seen one and a half city and spoken to several women. Budapest was an incredibly exciting city although I really can't help but wonder if the women who are so keen on encouraging other women to enter the work force and pursue leadership positions value the fact that women who take care of the household are also doing something. Even though the women who are not staying home aren't exactly moving mountains, they are doing what they can do best. There is a chance that maybe they will not be the least bit productive in a working environment outside the house. I DO agree that women should give it a try in order to find out, but a woman is still very valuable and is still a worthwhile woman if she chooses to stay home and "raise babies. Some people are better suited for that type of environment and who knows...maybe THEY will be able to take care of and raise the person who WILL move the visible mountains everyone is expecting to see. As with any life choice one makes, there needs to be preparation. If a woman chooses to stay home and take care of her household and the children, she should probably know that financially she WILL need something to fall back on in case the breadwinner of the household is one day no longer able to do so. There needs to be careful planning. Just as a women who ventures out into the work force needs to make sure that her household and children are being taken care of (through childcare, arrangements with members of the house to help cooking and cleaning, etc.) women who are suited to stay home need to make sure that other ares of their life (such as economic) are taken care of. Both lifestyles require the same amount of dedication, preparation, and attention and the women who are successful at either one of those areas should not be evaluated differently.
Half way into trip: Pamela Griffin
I can not believe that we only have half or time left in central europe. So far we have gone to Budapest and we are right now in vienna although tonight is our last night. Budapest was a really goos experience. It was a very old country especially in reagards to the artictecture. The buda hills was great because I really felt like I was in the old country. The presentations that we had were great because we got to learn about lots of womens experiences being in leadership experiences esp how they are trying to increase the fertility rate but the paternity leave for women can take them out of the work force for more than 2-3 years but then comming back to the workforce is very hard so it ends up being a double edge sword. Also it was interesting to here the Vienna is very different from Budapest because it is very more modern city and a lot more touristy. Tomorrow we are going to go see the scientists which I have been looking forward to becuase being a science major and not a managment major. Today was rainy and cold in the morning but then it opened up and got really sunny and nice. Tomorrow after a full day we are going Bratisliva.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Im leaving for the airport in about 5 minutes. When people ask me if I'm excited about going to Europe I tell them that I won't be excited until I'm actually there. I've been to Prague before and I loved it so I'm really excited to be going back. I researched the hotels, restaurants, and sites that we'll be going to. EVerything looks so interesting and I cannot wait to experience it all first hand. I'm most excited about going to the University in Austria and meeting with the other students. Being able to discuss the similarities and differences about being a student in the United States and a student in Europe is going to be a really great learning experience. I'm so excited!
-Katerina
-Katerina
Pre-Departure Post
Wow in about an hour I will be leaving for the airport. I must admit I have tons of butterflies as I have never been anywhere outside the country except for Canada and Brazil before. Goodbyes have been bittersweet even though I will only be gone for a few short days (we Brazilians are "special" like that). I keep thinking that I'm forgetting something. I am all packed up but refuse to close all my bags until I am leaving the house...because I keep remembering useless things I probably won't use but want to take and putting them in! I am also e
I am very excited about seeing the role of women in all these different countries. From the articles it seems as if women are probably more valued for their manual labor than for their "brains" but I'm hoping to see otherwise when we get there. Men don't seem to be very supressive but they are just indiferent to the situation and offer little support in light of the difficult situations the women face. I'm super excited about going on this trip with so many people and Professors Gupta and Kelley. From what I've seen in the schedule it'll be a little crazy but I think we can handle it.
I am very excited about seeing the role of women in all these different countries. From the articles it seems as if women are probably more valued for their manual labor than for their "brains" but I'm hoping to see otherwise when we get there. Men don't seem to be very supressive but they are just indiferent to the situation and offer little support in light of the difficult situations the women face. I'm super excited about going on this trip with so many people and Professors Gupta and Kelley. From what I've seen in the schedule it'll be a little crazy but I think we can handle it.
Pre-Departure Post (Kara Messenger)
I am very excited for our trip. Only a few more hours until I'll be on my way to the airport! I still have a lot of packing to do as I lost my passport on Sunday and had to be out for most of the day yesterday trying to get a new one. Thankfully, I received one in a matter of hours. I was very stressed out about losing it but am now able to be fully excited about visiting Central Europe. I have never been overseas before so I am looking forward to my first experience in a foreign country. The itinerary seems very full of fun and interesting activities and I can't wait to observe all of the things we have been discussing in this course in person. Many people have told me that Prague and Vienna are among the most beautiful cities in the world and I can't wait to see them for myself. I also just turned 21 yesterday and being able to travel to a different part of the world will be the best birthday gift of all. See you all later!
Pre departure Post - Ayesha Mohammad
12 hours to go, and finally I can feel the excitement. My visa arrived just yesterday, so knowing that I had to have a back up plan all along and being prepared for not being able to go was all that was running through my mind during the past few days. I have heard so much about Prague and Vienna being the most beautiful places in the world, I have been really looking forward to this trip. Since I love different cultures, expereincing their food and their way of living. I knew that going on this trip I would be able to learn a lot more about the place as it will be an academic experience combined with lots of fun! I am looking forward to getting to know the other students in the groups and treasure this experience and enjoy these awesome memories all my life!
Monday, May 19, 2008
Pre-Departure Post (Raya Abi Rafeh)
It has been two weeks since I moved back home to New York City and unpacked all my suitcases and boxes from my dorm. I was truly content that I ended my freshmen year on good terms and was ready to go on an adventure to new locations. I had finally arrived back in Boston and meet up with friends for dinner. We shared our experiences of how much traveling we have done in our lives, describing very first experiences to extremely funny moments of embarrassment. I had my first cross continental trip at the very young age of three months from New York to Italy. My father had a lot of business with the Italians; thus, my mother and I would join him on his trips. As I got older, I would travel mostly to Lebanon and France because of my heritage there. Having the opportunity to travel many countries opened my knowledge of diverse cultures to a higher level of appreciation for the citizens of the world. This will be my very first time I travel to countries in Central Europe. I knew I would most probably never have the chance again to visit these countries and decided what better way to discover true local cultures than through my school. It will truly be an unforgettable experience to meet people from every corner in those countries to really understand their unique and indigenous points of view. Traveling is my favorite passion and hopefully I will continue on with my adventures.
Pre-Departure Post-Brienne Black
Well…I just finished packing….checking everything…and packing again. I had quite the adventure finding my passport. I had it with me at school this year in a locked box, and somehow I misplaced the key to the box. I had to un-pack everything from school look all over and re-pack it all….and I still did not find the key. I had to tear the hinges off of the box to get my passport, but fortunately I did. I am very excited for the trip, however I am not looking at all forward to the flight. I have been to Europe before, and that is by far the worst part. I will be getting up bright and early tomorrow morning to catch a bus to Boston Logan Airport, which is scheduled to arrive at 3:55pm….hopefully it is on time. Well I hope everyone else is as excited as I am and is packed and all ready to go. I will see you all tomorrow.
Pre-Departure Post (Jenn Kowaloff)
I have to leave for the airport in 15 hours and I have yet to start packing. I loathe packing. To be honest, I'm pretty nervous about this trip. I've never been overseas and I don't particularly like flying over water. At the same time I think adrenaline will kick in when we land and I'm actually in Europe. I'm very excited to see the cities and talk to the people we are going to meet.
I hope we can really see all the things we have talked about in class apparent in real life in terms of culture and gender norms and expectations. I also hope we get a chance to see the differences between the countries. I'm sure with such a full itinerary we will not truly absorb everything we see until after the trip is over but hopefully group discussion will help us learn from each other's experiences and get the most out of this trip.
On a personal note, my mom's family is from the Czech Republic and Slovakia so it's also very exciting to see the places where my great-grandparents lived.
I also hope this will be a great bonding experience for all of us.
I keep having dreams that I arrive at the airport either having forgotten to pack or without my passport so keep your fingers crossed for me that neither of those things happen and we have a smooth trip!!
Good luck packing everyone!
I hope we can really see all the things we have talked about in class apparent in real life in terms of culture and gender norms and expectations. I also hope we get a chance to see the differences between the countries. I'm sure with such a full itinerary we will not truly absorb everything we see until after the trip is over but hopefully group discussion will help us learn from each other's experiences and get the most out of this trip.
On a personal note, my mom's family is from the Czech Republic and Slovakia so it's also very exciting to see the places where my great-grandparents lived.
I also hope this will be a great bonding experience for all of us.
I keep having dreams that I arrive at the airport either having forgotten to pack or without my passport so keep your fingers crossed for me that neither of those things happen and we have a smooth trip!!
Good luck packing everyone!
Pre-Departure Post (CE - Sylvia Corfman)
I arrived by plane from San Francisco this morning, napped a couple of hours, unpacked, washed and am ready to iron and pack again. Our oldest son's wedding was this past weekend in Monterey, where it was uncharacteristically warm, and as beautiful as ever. As I prepare to travel an approximate distance in the opposite direction tomorrow, I am mindful of the startk contrast between the two destinations. Reviewing the itinerary to plan appropriate attire makes this contrast even more apparent.
It is with mixed emotions that I begin this trip, mostly from the after effects as the 'mother-of-the-groom,' an invisible persona akin to the U.S. Vice President's position, and the little time to properly prepare for Central Europe.
I am eager, though, to see this part of the world. I have listened to many stories from acquaintances who have visited the area, before and after the 1989 Velvet Revolution, and the dissolution of the communist state. These stories along with our class readings, presentors and discussions about Central Europe, its people and history, have piqued my interest to learn even more personally about this culture and how it affects modern-day women.
From my pre-departure paper, I selected an excerpt about CE's cultural awareness:
"Central Europe is an area that is defined more by its historic legacy than its geographical boundaries. Its diverse culture has been shaped over the centuries by war and cultural hegemony, a theory put forth by Antonio Gramsci in the early twentieth century. Gramsci’s theory simply states “that man is not ruled by force alone, but also by ideas” (Bates 1975). Forty-eight Czech female factory workers provide evidence of this theory when they resign themselves to their plight of economic hardship after the Czech Republic’s stalled economic transformation from socialism to capitalism during the 1990’s (Weiner 2005). These women accepted the political mantra of delayed gratification for long-term gain, positioning themselves to see no other alternative than to remain as factory workers."
With the Velvet Revolution in 1989 and consequently the transition from a socialistic economy to a free-market economy, workers valued a higher future orientation. However, these same workers remained attached to their strong cultural heritage of family and group structure, as a means of protection against the disappointments forced upon them by the variety of government and regime changes. This strong family attachment illustrates Central Europe’s high in-group collectivism cultural dimension. When the anticipated economic hardship delay of five years stretched into ten, these Czech women, as well as the entire Czech Republic, became disillusioned. This repeated pattern, which played out across most of Central Europe, except Hungary, contributed to this culture’s low future orientation."
Now, back to packing, and the myriad other details that must be done, before embarking on an (additional) 11-day trip. See everyone at the airport tomorrow!
It is with mixed emotions that I begin this trip, mostly from the after effects as the 'mother-of-the-groom,' an invisible persona akin to the U.S. Vice President's position, and the little time to properly prepare for Central Europe.
I am eager, though, to see this part of the world. I have listened to many stories from acquaintances who have visited the area, before and after the 1989 Velvet Revolution, and the dissolution of the communist state. These stories along with our class readings, presentors and discussions about Central Europe, its people and history, have piqued my interest to learn even more personally about this culture and how it affects modern-day women.
From my pre-departure paper, I selected an excerpt about CE's cultural awareness:
"Central Europe is an area that is defined more by its historic legacy than its geographical boundaries. Its diverse culture has been shaped over the centuries by war and cultural hegemony, a theory put forth by Antonio Gramsci in the early twentieth century. Gramsci’s theory simply states “that man is not ruled by force alone, but also by ideas” (Bates 1975). Forty-eight Czech female factory workers provide evidence of this theory when they resign themselves to their plight of economic hardship after the Czech Republic’s stalled economic transformation from socialism to capitalism during the 1990’s (Weiner 2005). These women accepted the political mantra of delayed gratification for long-term gain, positioning themselves to see no other alternative than to remain as factory workers."
With the Velvet Revolution in 1989 and consequently the transition from a socialistic economy to a free-market economy, workers valued a higher future orientation. However, these same workers remained attached to their strong cultural heritage of family and group structure, as a means of protection against the disappointments forced upon them by the variety of government and regime changes. This strong family attachment illustrates Central Europe’s high in-group collectivism cultural dimension. When the anticipated economic hardship delay of five years stretched into ten, these Czech women, as well as the entire Czech Republic, became disillusioned. This repeated pattern, which played out across most of Central Europe, except Hungary, contributed to this culture’s low future orientation."
Now, back to packing, and the myriad other details that must be done, before embarking on an (additional) 11-day trip. See everyone at the airport tomorrow!
Post Departure
I am so excited and anxious about leaving for Central Europe. At this point I am very stressed out about packing and making sure I have everything and will be well prepared. I am a little nervous about how busy the trip will be. When I have gone away before, there is usually alot of free time to do whatever. I know the trip has to be micro-managed because we have a short time to do so much, but I am anxious to see how it will go since I have never been on a trip like this before. I am so excited to see 4 countries that I have never been to before and learn about how the women in management work there and how they got to be in the positions they are in now. I am excited to hear their stories and learn about their difficulites to make it to where they are so I can learn and hopefully take their experiences to help me. Leaving tomorrow and I still haven't packed!! Have to go do that now!
Pre-Departure (the 25 1/2 hour countdown)
Well, it's nearly time. My bags aren't packed, but I'm ready to go... Nearly 24 hours until I will be at the airport tomorrow for this whirlwind trip around Central and Eastern Europe.
In my experiences of traveling, you can never really have expectations about what the trip will be like. I like to approach travel with an open mind and heart and a willingness to go with the flow. That said, I am excited about the people we will encounter and the places we will see. I am particularly looking forward to exploring the cities and soaking in the culture and history. I expect that any of my preconceived notions about European countries will be blown away and replaced with real memories and concrete experiences. I want to find out more about what life is like in the four countries we will be seeing. I'm interested in learning about business practices in Europe and how sustainability fits into their business model.
From my pre-departure paper, I would like to share a passage where I reflected upon awareness of cultural dimensions after completing the class readings and interacting with my classmates: "For women living in Central Europe, India or the United States, having children still makes it more difficult to advance in the workplace. There is still the existing stigma that women should fulfill certain roles, while men should be in others. It is often expected that women should raise the children while men will financially support the household. This pushes women into either staying home to care for the children, or taking jobs that allow them to bring in additional income while working with the children's schedule. In some countries in Europe, it is easier for a women to take time off because there are social supports for this. Many countries offer several months of time off for maternity leave and it is even paid time off in some areas. There are often times when women have to choose between the work and family and this makes it challenging for women to rise to leadership positions." I am interested to see if this perception holds true and see how women balance their busy lives.
I know this is going to be an incredible experience. I am looking forward to sharing it with the other women and professors who are coming along. It is certain that we will all learn a lot and will hopefully be able to bring back some key learning experiences to apply to our lives at home.
Look forward to seeing everyone tomorrow!
-Justine
In my experiences of traveling, you can never really have expectations about what the trip will be like. I like to approach travel with an open mind and heart and a willingness to go with the flow. That said, I am excited about the people we will encounter and the places we will see. I am particularly looking forward to exploring the cities and soaking in the culture and history. I expect that any of my preconceived notions about European countries will be blown away and replaced with real memories and concrete experiences. I want to find out more about what life is like in the four countries we will be seeing. I'm interested in learning about business practices in Europe and how sustainability fits into their business model.
From my pre-departure paper, I would like to share a passage where I reflected upon awareness of cultural dimensions after completing the class readings and interacting with my classmates: "For women living in Central Europe, India or the United States, having children still makes it more difficult to advance in the workplace. There is still the existing stigma that women should fulfill certain roles, while men should be in others. It is often expected that women should raise the children while men will financially support the household. This pushes women into either staying home to care for the children, or taking jobs that allow them to bring in additional income while working with the children's schedule. In some countries in Europe, it is easier for a women to take time off because there are social supports for this. Many countries offer several months of time off for maternity leave and it is even paid time off in some areas. There are often times when women have to choose between the work and family and this makes it challenging for women to rise to leadership positions." I am interested to see if this perception holds true and see how women balance their busy lives.
I know this is going to be an incredible experience. I am looking forward to sharing it with the other women and professors who are coming along. It is certain that we will all learn a lot and will hopefully be able to bring back some key learning experiences to apply to our lives at home.
Look forward to seeing everyone tomorrow!
-Justine
Sunday, May 18, 2008
pre-departure blog
Jessie Sementelli
I cannot wait for this trip. I have been to Europe before but never to these countries. It is still hard to believe that this trip is around the corner. I am looking forward to meeting new people from these countries and to see the different cultures. I am excited to see the different lands and go on the tours. It will be very interesting to compare and contrast what we have learned thought readings and the classes, to the real experience of being in the country. It will also be interesting to be able to compare it to what India students experienced. I want to find out how people in Central Europe live their life I am expecting this trip to expand my multicultural knowledge and to be very interesting and fun. In my pre-departure paper, I mentioned that I expect these countries to be similar but very different. Even though the countries have many similar aspects, I predict that when we visit the different areas we will find distinct differences in the cultures, the societies and the environment. This trip seems to so short but reading the itinerary it looks like we will be very busy. I hope that when I come back from the trip I will have a new aspect of different cultures and lots of pictures.
I cannot wait for this trip. I have been to Europe before but never to these countries. It is still hard to believe that this trip is around the corner. I am looking forward to meeting new people from these countries and to see the different cultures. I am excited to see the different lands and go on the tours. It will be very interesting to compare and contrast what we have learned thought readings and the classes, to the real experience of being in the country. It will also be interesting to be able to compare it to what India students experienced. I want to find out how people in Central Europe live their life I am expecting this trip to expand my multicultural knowledge and to be very interesting and fun. In my pre-departure paper, I mentioned that I expect these countries to be similar but very different. Even though the countries have many similar aspects, I predict that when we visit the different areas we will find distinct differences in the cultures, the societies and the environment. This trip seems to so short but reading the itinerary it looks like we will be very busy. I hope that when I come back from the trip I will have a new aspect of different cultures and lots of pictures.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Pre-Departure Blog
Pamela Griffin
I can not believe that in 5 days we will be traveling to Central Europe. This whole semester I have been looking forward to the trip and finally it is just around the corner. We have learned so much about the countries that we will be visiting through the two full day workshops along with readings. However, you can not fully experience a country until you actual go and visit. The itinerary is packed full so I have no doubt that despite our short amount of time in each city we will be ale to get the full experience and learn a lot. I have never been to Europe so this trip is going to be an amazing experience. I am really looking forward to just being in the moment and taking the whole experience. I am looking forward to experience all the cultures and comparing and contrasting them to each other to see how they differ from our readings and workshops. Of course, I am really looking forward to getting to know all the girls that are going on the trip and making long lasting bonds with them. There is not one particular thing on the trip that I am looking forward more than the other; I am excited to do everything.
I can not believe that in 5 days we will be traveling to Central Europe. This whole semester I have been looking forward to the trip and finally it is just around the corner. We have learned so much about the countries that we will be visiting through the two full day workshops along with readings. However, you can not fully experience a country until you actual go and visit. The itinerary is packed full so I have no doubt that despite our short amount of time in each city we will be ale to get the full experience and learn a lot. I have never been to Europe so this trip is going to be an amazing experience. I am really looking forward to just being in the moment and taking the whole experience. I am looking forward to experience all the cultures and comparing and contrasting them to each other to see how they differ from our readings and workshops. Of course, I am really looking forward to getting to know all the girls that are going on the trip and making long lasting bonds with them. There is not one particular thing on the trip that I am looking forward more than the other; I am excited to do everything.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Less than a week until arrival!
I am so excited that we leave for central Europe in less than one week from today! I feel that this trip will be an experience of a lifetime for everyone involved and that everything we have learned in the classroom will be able to be applied to this trip. I am so grateful that we were given two full days of cultural education, so when we go over to central Europe, we will have a basis to enhance our learning while we are there. I think that meeting all of these women entrepreneurs will be very enlightening and also motivating, because these women are breaking the mold in business. I am looking forward to fully immersing myself in the cultures of these four countries. I know that with the short amount of time, we will be in sensory overload, but I am looking forward to learning about the culture, the demographics, and the history. Based upon our readings in class, central eastern Europe has so much history within each country and it will be interesting to compare what we see in present day, to our readings about the history of these countries and the cultural and economic development that has been occurring during the post-communist years. I am going over to central europe with a completely open mind and a great attitude for whatever we are able to experience. Our itinerary is jam-packed, but that means that there will never be a dull moment. I'll keep you posted on what happens next!!
:) So excited!
L.R.
:) So excited!
L.R.
Pre-Departure Blog
Elizabeth Hennigan
I'm looking forward to traveling Central Europe. After receiving the final itinerary I became even more enthusiastic about the trip. Visiting 4 countries in the short time we have can be challenging but with everything we have planned it looks like it's going to be nothing less than a rewarding experience. This will be my first time to Europe so my expecations are all over the place. I'm most looking forward to the conversations we will be having with leaders, tour guides and the locals. The open dialogue will be both enjoyable and informative. Even though there will be a language barrier, the end result of shared information will be beneficial in comparing and understanding the culture. I'm also looking forward to seeing as much of each city as possible. Each city offers beauty and is vastly different from the environments in which I'm accustomed. I'm interested in seeing how the cities and living dynamics effect and influence the various cultures. In the end, I think comparing cross cultures will be interesting. I'm interested in seeing the various roles of women in each country and the roles of the women leaders in their respected businesses. I am excited to embrace each culture, learn as much as I can, and get as much out of this experience as possible.
I'm looking forward to traveling Central Europe. After receiving the final itinerary I became even more enthusiastic about the trip. Visiting 4 countries in the short time we have can be challenging but with everything we have planned it looks like it's going to be nothing less than a rewarding experience. This will be my first time to Europe so my expecations are all over the place. I'm most looking forward to the conversations we will be having with leaders, tour guides and the locals. The open dialogue will be both enjoyable and informative. Even though there will be a language barrier, the end result of shared information will be beneficial in comparing and understanding the culture. I'm also looking forward to seeing as much of each city as possible. Each city offers beauty and is vastly different from the environments in which I'm accustomed. I'm interested in seeing how the cities and living dynamics effect and influence the various cultures. In the end, I think comparing cross cultures will be interesting. I'm interested in seeing the various roles of women in each country and the roles of the women leaders in their respected businesses. I am excited to embrace each culture, learn as much as I can, and get as much out of this experience as possible.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Pre Departure Blog
Diana Magner
I am looking forward to experiencing so many different cultures in a short period of time. It will be amazing to be able to apply what we had read and learned about this countries to actually observing these countries and their customs. I have never been to central Europe so I look forward to comparing the role of women there to what I have seen in other parts of Europe and in the United States. I also would like to see what different experience we have in comparison to the group that visited India. The thing I am looking forward to most is meeting with the Austrian women scientists. This fascinates me because I am a science major here and one of the mar topics that always comes up is the challenges that women face in the science and technology industries, similar to the glass ceiling effect that women in the business industry face. It thinks its such a cultural difference that they will not wish to discuss being women scientists especially because we go to a women's college so are such empowered women and love to discuss that topic. One thing that I discussed in my predepature paper is the fact that before I read the book I assumed that all the countries would be very similar. The more I research and learn about these cultures the more I realize how different each one is and how much progression each has experienced post communism. I look forward to see how much Prague has changed since the guest speaker visited it over a decade ago. I cant wait to go!
I am looking forward to experiencing so many different cultures in a short period of time. It will be amazing to be able to apply what we had read and learned about this countries to actually observing these countries and their customs. I have never been to central Europe so I look forward to comparing the role of women there to what I have seen in other parts of Europe and in the United States. I also would like to see what different experience we have in comparison to the group that visited India. The thing I am looking forward to most is meeting with the Austrian women scientists. This fascinates me because I am a science major here and one of the mar topics that always comes up is the challenges that women face in the science and technology industries, similar to the glass ceiling effect that women in the business industry face. It thinks its such a cultural difference that they will not wish to discuss being women scientists especially because we go to a women's college so are such empowered women and love to discuss that topic. One thing that I discussed in my predepature paper is the fact that before I read the book I assumed that all the countries would be very similar. The more I research and learn about these cultures the more I realize how different each one is and how much progression each has experienced post communism. I look forward to see how much Prague has changed since the guest speaker visited it over a decade ago. I cant wait to go!
Monday, May 12, 2008
Pre-Departure blog
I cant wait to step off the plane in Central Europe and emerge myself in culture. I want to see how each country runs differently and how woman really are looked at in comparison to America. I cant wait to taste their food, photo graph their historical land marks and get to know more than just what you read in the textbooks.
Pre-Departure blog
I cant wait to step off the plane in Central Europe and emerge myself in culture. I want to see how each country runs differently and how woman really are looked at in comparison to America. I cant wait to taste their food, photo graph their historical land marks and get to know more than just what you read in the textbooks.
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