One last Hoorah! by Areen

The day many of us looked so much forward to, and not so much forward to had finally come. Joe, Chris, and Brad had waited all week to finally see the BMW museum, as Areen could not wait to see the home of the mighty Bayern Munich, the Allianz Arena. But many of us also dreaded the day because deep inside we all knew this was the last day of an unforgettable journey that we all felt went by way too quick!

The morning started with an amazing breakfast as usual provided by the hotel, and then we were off to the BMW Museum! As soon as we walked in, Joe’s eyes lit up like a kid seeing the presents under his Christmas tree on Christmas morning. As we walked by all the exhibits, Joe’s outstanding knowledge of every little detail of every single car and motorcycle ever built by BMW came out. He was our tour guide giving information I’m sure many BMW employees were not even aware about. His passion for cars and BMW was amazing to see and brought a smile to everyone’s face. We all then had lunch at the museum and stocked up on gifts for family members and friends in their amazing gift shop.

Once we left the museum, it was time to go to the home of one of the best soccer teams in the world, Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena. Once we arrived at the state of the art stadium, Areen could not get his eyes off of the stadium. He grew up watching so many of their games on T.V, that it almost seemed like the place was a myth. But then finally getting to see it was truly remarkable for him. When going in and getting familiar with our amazing tour guide, Areen found himself a new best friend as they both knew so much, and shared the same passion for the sport while having very similar views on the team they both loved. The group got to go right next to the field, then see all of the lockerooms and the tunnel where the players would come out of in front of 75,000 screaming passionate fans. There was then a shootout between the boys and girls that the girls won! Soon after that, everyone went back to the bus and to the hotel to get ready for our farewell dinner.

Some of the group went last minute shopping, while some went to rest for an hour before going. We all then met up and had one last dinner together. It was very emotional saying goodbye to our tour guide, Ursela and Anna, as we would not see them again before we left. The dinner was phenomenal, as everyone talked to each other and feasted. At the end of the dinner it was amazing seeing how most of us came into the trip not knowing each other the slightest bit, and suddenly looking around at the dinner table and seeing that we really became a family in only 8 days time while embarking a journey in such a beautiful city.

After the dinner, we all went out for one last drink and shared some quality banter before heading back to the hotel to get some sleep for our journey back home the next day.

Lenbachhaus and Dachau by Bonnie and Michelle

Today we visited the magnificent Lenbachhaus museum.  We viewed the collection of The Blue Rider.  We learned that in abstract artwork anything can be any color and that the colors are what are going on inside of the artists minds.

Following the art museum we arrived at the memorial, Dachau.  This was a very emotional and raw experience.  This experience left us emotionally exhausted yet appreciative.  We left with a huge depth of understanding and richness. 

Professor Smith's addition:

Prior to entering the Lenbachhaus, Ursula, our guide extraordinaire, showed us Konigsplatz and explained why 3 Greek-style structures are in the heart of Munich. It provided a great glimpse into the extent to which and for how long, cultures have intermingled and adopted tastes and styles from lands far away. 

Ursula telling us about Konigsplatz

Then we had an impassioned briefing about the Blue Rider and the Lenbachhaus by Bonnie and Michelle. What they didn't mention above was how well their briefing prepaid us for what we were about to see, particularly in the way that they taught us about the mindset of Kandinsky and is views on art.

Bonnie and Michelle preparing us for LenbachHaus

As Bonnie and Michelle succinctly noted, Dachau was difficult and moving. Greg and Jessica gave us a great briefing before arriving. Julie noted the "heavy" energy at the memorial once we arrived and we learned about Ursula's perspective experiencing the memorial when she 15 and what it meant to her as a German.

GE and KUKA by Heather and Julie

Today on Wednesday June 3, the class visited GE Global Research and KUKA Robotics.  Each of the business visits expanded our global business knowledge as well as the adaptations of the cultural aspects.

We were surprised that out of all the industries GE participates in, oil and gas is the fastest growing financially. When we think of GE, we associated appliances with the brand, and we were very intrigued to learn that they have sold the appliance sector because of the small business to consumer market.  The previous CEO, Jack Welch had an aim for large growth and experienced rapid changes with the changes in the internet, and his goal was to be as ”lean” as possible. With a variety of specialists, either possessing a master’s degree or a P.H.D., it seems obtainable and reasonable that they have achieved all of the success and goals that the company has. The speaker was very honest and direct and challenged our knowledge throughout the presentation.  Two things which were a surprise, was that he mentioned which we highly respected, was that energy saving lights are a myth and that the current marketing at GE “sucks” and needs improvement. 

Our visit at GE taught us comparisons with other businesses success and faults.  We learned that sometimes it can be difficult to adapt and understand all aspects of cultural needs. The example of Ford portrayed a huge mistake that was not considered in the production process which plummeted sales. Ford developed a car for the India market and did not take into deliberation the impact of not having power windows in the back seat of the vehicles. Reflecting on the situation, we learned that culture should be the first aspect when developing a global product, and a simple mistake could ruin a potentially profitable product.  Another example that stood out to us when considering cultural essentials is the differentiating needs themselves.  Not all products are applicable in all environments and cultures.  It does not seem logical to place a wind turbine in an environment without heavy winds or the impact which dust can have on the turbines and the effect can become negative and unprofitable. 

                  KUKA Robotics' mission is to excel in innovation and variety to become a strong and reliable partner in the business to business market.  Their enthusiasm for technology is to inspire tradition with a future using robot based automation.  Most would have the belief (ourselves included) that this particular industry would eliminate jobs, however the speaker enunciated that jobs will be created by the advanced technology. KUKA’s vision is to know today what people will need tomorrow.  In this particular industry, the globalization expansion seems endless.  We believe that their biggest obstacle is the determination of how each culture or country can benefit from this advanced technology.  

                  During the tour the speaker proved the need for individuals in an automated technological business. One aspect we found very interesting and challenging was the high inventory of essentiality replacement parts KUKA has in their warehouse.  They were very strategic in their location of their facilities, located close to the airport, so they have the ability to deliver in a timely and effectively manner to their consumers. They are willing to increase their costs to improve safety and time efficiency when considering the importance of high customer satisfaction.

                  KUKA’s branding is very consistent with their orange color, however they understand demand and competition.  They will produce their robots in custom colors based on special requests for a higher price to ensure returning customers and prevent competitive obstacles. Although colors seem like a minor detail in our everyday life and culture, being that it is a global brand with intentions to grow, it was very intriguing to learn their marketing strategy and willingness to adapt. Consistency in marketing and branding is key and this demonstrated an exception in the rule. “We talk your language” is KUKA’s motto, and this particular situation fully demonstrates the cultural satisfaction needs.

                  GE Global Research and KUKA Robotics were very different companies, however very insightful when considering cultural and business related aspects. Both of these company visits relate to our global business studies and it was inspirational to experience the opportunities first hand. 

Scavenger Hunt by Brad

Tuesday June 2nd, our 4th day in Munich was a day filled with a bit of free time and a scavenger hunt. Most of the group slept in until about 10 am. There has been so much to see and do we needed a good rest. Once we were charged up and ready to go. We began the scavenger hunt as a group. Over time we split into a few smaller groups. Bonnie, Michelle, and Joe saw horses in the English Garden and decided they were going to go horse back riding. Unfortunately they couldn't find the right area fast enough and they were closed when they arrived at the stables. However the successfully completed a vast majority of the scavenger hunt.

Joe at Karlstor/Stachus

The rest of the group split up in pairs and did various things. Chris and Areen went walking through various stores on Marienplatz. Julie and Heather did the same thing while Brad went off on his own to explore the city. During that time he had a good conversation with several locals. Near the end of the day the whole group trickled into the hotel to prepare for our next big day.

Addition by Prof. Smith:

The day was intended for the students to find their way to certain city sites on their own and decipher some clues. Of the 10 items on the scavenger hunt, students accomplished most by buying some unknown and seemingly "weird" food at the grocery store and trying it. Jessica bought hamburger flavored chips and Joe tried a cola/fanta mix called MezoMix, of which he now can't get enough. Another activity required trying some German in the Victuals Market and reflecting on the experience of trying to make oneself understood in an unfamiliar language. The students also went inside the Frauen Kirche and through the HofGarten. The one activity that eluded the group was discovering a memorial to the Scholl Siblings, university students who spread flyers in the main entrance of the University that encouraged others to question the Nazi regime. They were caught and executed days later. We visited the site as a group the following day to make sure we all understand the importance of Scholl siblings and their intellectual resistance to the Nazis.

Day 3 - Business visits

This post was written by Jessica and Greg:

Monday we embarked on our first day of European business endeavors. The group hit the floor running with a briefing at breakfast on the two places we’d visit for the day. Greg and Jessica presented on the Department of Labor and Economic Development and Michelle and Bonnie on Knorr Bremse.

During our visit to the Department of Labor and Economic Development we received a presentation on Munich as a business hub.  Munich itself has one of the world’s lowest unemployment rates at 3.6% with its top industries being information and communication technology/media, automotive engineering, and aerospace/satellite navigation. 

Knorr Bremse, the worlds leader in manufacturing brake systems for rail and commercial vehicles, was kind enough to host us for lunch and provide an insightful presentation on its history and position in a global market. Aside from learning about key aspects that a company must incorporate when expanding into different markets and cultures, we also gained a piece of German business etiquette when we learned that in such a setting it is not typical to drink directly from the bottle of water/soda/juice we had received with our lunch. There were glasses on the table, but we did not pick up on the que and some thought they would’ve provided an inconvenience by “dirtying” a glass for them. This miniscule detail gives some great insight on how we on one hand often do not mean to offend other cultures and on the other hand are not mindful of their cues in our surroundings. This will be an experience we will certainly take with us on the rest of the week’s visits.

Day 2- Salzburg

On our second day, some of us got some sleep for the first time since our flight. We took a bus to the Austrian city of Salzburg. Many of us were surprised by the lack of customs or formal border station as we crossed in to Salzburg. As we drove to Salzburg, the city featured in the movie "The Sound of Music" and the birthplace of composer Mozart we will amazed at the shear size and beauty of the Bavarian Alps.

We took a walking tour of Salzburg and saw many of the locations where the Sound of Music was filmed. We also visited the childhood home of Mozart which was also a museum. One of the most impressive sights at the museum was Mozart's childhood violin. Parts of the city were build into the side of a mountain.

After our tour of Salzburg we went to Adolf Hitler's mountain retreat known as the Eagle's Nest. The long bus ride through the winding mountain roads of the Alps was truly aw inspiring. From the base of the mountain to the top and back this was the most profound bus ride any of us had taken. We went through a tunnel and got on an a gold elevator to the summit that sat at a moderately high 1800 meters. The Eagle's Nest has been converted to a restaurant and museum.

We then finished our day at a beer garden in the Northern side of the city.

In Salzburg

Ankunft and Orientation

Got luggage, ready for adventure

Everything with our travel went according to plan: we all met at O'Hare on Friday afternoon and embarked for a mostly on-time departure to Munich at 6PM. Brad was so pumped with excitement that he did not sleep the entire 8 hour flight. Once on the ground in Munich (Ankunft=arrival), Joe's love of cars was quickly being satisfied as he noticed European brands on the tarmac at the airport (Opel, Skoda) and was thrilled by the sheer volume of BMWs, Fiats, VWs we encountered on our way from the airport to the hotel. Guess who will brief the group before the BMW visit.


Our guide for the week, Ursula, met us at the airport and made our trip from the airport to the hotel on public transportation hassle free. We stamped our tickets (which allowed us to understand a different system of financially supporting the public transportation system), and hopped on the S8 to the main station. The 45 minute ride was full of observations, describing conversations with our neighbors on the plane (the US as an outlier in regards to the metric system), the speed, quietness, and efficiency of the train, and some different cultural frames we caught ourselves using. We were also impressed by the ease of the public transportation system, which landed us just steps from our hotel.

Arriving at the G Hotel

Once checked in, we left no time for the temptation of napping. We ventured to the Viktualienmarkt (open air victuals market) to grab some lunch and enjoy the beautiful spring day. We sampled Leberkäs, pretzels, O'batzda, marinated garlic gloves, caprese sandwiches, fresh strawberries, smoothies, etc., etc. Get the point? There were many fresh and delicious options and we tried several. We also made new friends, with the lads of our group bonding with some lads from Italy. Many pictures were snapped and perhaps my fellow travelers can post a few in a comment below. 

Biking through Englisher Garten

Once satiated, it was time to venture out on a 2-hour bike tour. We had a wonderful guide who took us along the Isar, past the Deutsches Musuem, past the Bavarian state building and Peace Angel, through the English Garden, and back into the Innenstadt. Along the way we learned about the different neighborhoods of Munich and how they developed (artists in Schwabing, conservative, traditional families in Lehel, most famous residents of Munich in Bogenhausen) and we snapped many pictures. It was also entertaining to traverse the city as most Munich residents do, by bicycle. It not only kept us awake, but also allowed us to learn about the history of Munich, major landmarks, and how modern Müncheners might spend a Saturday afternoon. Our guide then suggested the Schneider Weisse Haus for a classic Bavarian meal and we are all happy to follow his suggestion. After eating Schnitzel, more Leberkäs, Apfelkucherl, Scheinsbraten, and wurstl, the days events and jet lag caught up to us. A couple of travelers almost fell asleep at the table. Thank goodness our waitress had a great Bavarian sense of humor.

Content and tired after a busy day and great meal

We walked through the Marienplatz, the most recognized square of Munich, before heading home on public transportation. Before walking back into the hotel, we all provided one reflection about the day. Most were observations about symbols and gesture that give us clues about the culture: why do the traffic lights go from red to yellow to green? Why is pork such a staple of the diet? Why don't people apologize when they bump you? And why do Germans follow so many rules, official and unspoken? We tried to not only observe but also interpret and explain why.

My reflection of the day was simply experiencing Munich through the eyes of my fellow travelers. For a city I know well, it was fascinating to see it experienced through fresh eyes. Of course, I was overjoyed to hear Areen say he loves Munich after only 3 hours in the city, or Brad say that it is the best city. I was also thrilled that so much of what we experienced today primed us for exploring throughout the week. The lunch oriented us to the Innenstadt and the bike tour give was a taste for how might experience Munich in our free time. By the end of tour, Bonnie had decided she will move to Munich when she retires. It was remarkable to observe what we wanted to photograph, which often included things that become second nature after only a few days: the S-Bahn, residential buildings along the Isar, tunnels, road signs, car brands, advertisements, traffic lights. The sense of wonder from the first day of travel is energizing and contagious in any city in the world. But today's experience was off the charts. At dinner, Brad wondered how we could possibly top this day. Well, let's see what Salzburg has in store for us tomorrow.