Question I

I. SHOW US AN ACTIVITY YOU ENJOY DOING. TELL US HOW YOU THINK IT

CONTRIBUTES TO YOUR PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

By Emilie Herremans

Traveling

Learn new languages

Allows me to escape

Teaches me to be more

open-minded

Discover new things

Meet and bond with

people

Share experience

s

Whether I travel with my family or friends, climb a mountain or visit a museum, every experience and

memory is unique.

Why traveling?

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How does traveling contribute to my personal development?

LanguagesI have learned a few words in foreign languages and practiced the ones that I already speak.

People InteractionBesides landscapes and museums, what makes my trips memorable are the people I travel with and the ones I meet along the way. Traveling with someone is the best way to get to know them.

Traveling has exposed me to new people, languages, food and music, and deepened my general knowledge.

KnowledgeVisiting Mayan pyramids and Chinese tombs have increased my knowledge about topics that I have previously learned at school. Traveling has also allowed me to create my own opinion of places and then share them with my family and friends.

FoodI have seen and tried a lot of different types of cuisine during my trips. From starfish on a stick in Beijing to reindeer in Helsinki.

How does traveling contribute to my professional development?

InnovationI have developed new ideas during my trips, as I have seen things that do not exist or that are done differently in my country.

Team workTraveling has helped me better understand other cultures. I have realized that it is easier to work with others once you know something about your peers’ background.

Traveling has been beneficial to my career by improving my communications and people skills, and allowing me to be more innovative.

CommunicationCommunication is key to business success. Throughout my career I have constantly worked with people whose mother tongue are different than mine. Sometimes, it is difficult to get messages across, but I always try my best to express myself in their language (when possible), or use words that are less complicated.

Approaching othersIn the hospitality industry it is crucial to be aware of the guests’ culture as certain gestures and words that are acceptable in one country might be perceived as offensive in others.

The End