Cultural fluency and teamwork. These were the two main takeaways for 1/c Roseann Brown returning from her summer assignment in Portugal. Travelling to Portugal, as part of the Olmsted Scholar experience, Brown immersed herself in the culture. Spending nearly two weeks there, she navigated the new language, territory and customs.
How did you overcome the challenges involved with travelling to a new country?
“Whether it was travelling from place to place via the local transportation systems or speaking with the local people, it was a challenge to acclimate to the Portuguese culture. I overcame this by relying on my classmates and our program coordinator In Portugal, most people spoke English and luckily our program coordinator spoke fluent Portuguese, so we were able to learn a few basic words while travelling and could rely on him for any issues we had during our travel.”
What has this experience taught you about being a future Coast Guard officer?
“I believe, as a future Coast Guard officer, it is important to understand foreign countries and becoming a culturally fluent officer. The Olmsted program prepares cadets for this role and provides them with an increased understanding of the world, other cultures and builds interpersonal skills.”
What part of the Portuguese culture really stood out to you?
“I observed how much more relaxed the Portuguese culture is, especially about dinner time. While in the United States it’s customary to eat around five to seven in the evening, in Portugal it is customary to eat later at night.”
What were the highlights of your trip?
“I enjoyed the cities of Aveiro and Lagos. In Aveiro, I watched soccer star Christino Ronaldo play which allowed me to understand the importance of soccer in Portugal and how it plays a cultural role for the Portuguese. In Lagos, I was amazed by the beauty of the scenery, and how it served as both a base for maritime endeavors and discoveries.”
What was your most memorable experience?
“My most memorable experience was being able to visit the NATO headquarters in Portugal and speak with military officials about the importance of maritime strategy,” said Brown. “We even got to meet one of our fellow cadet’s dads who is in the Spanish Marine Corps.”
How has this trip shaped your outlook as a future Coast Guard officer?
This experience has played a major role in shaping my future as an officer, because I have realized the importance of cultural fluency as well as being able to work together as a team towards common goals. No matter my career outcome, I believe this program will make me a better officer because I am able to both acclimate to different cultures and work in a team.”
