Past Year Question free essay sample

Question 1 a) Define marketing management. Marketing management can be define as the analysis, planning, implementation, and control of programmes design to create, build and maintain beneficial exchanges with target buyers for the purpose of archiving organizational objectives. b) Describe the five(5) marketing management philosophies 1. Production The philosophy that consumers will favour products that are available and highly affordable, that management should therefore focus on improving production and distribution efficiency. 2. Products The idea that consumers favor products that offer the most quality, performance and features, and that the organisation should therefore devote its energy into making continuous product improvements; a detailed version of the new product idea. 3. Selling The idea that consumers won’t buy enough of the organisations products unless the organisation undertakes a large-scale selling and promotion effort. 4. Marketing Achieving organisational goals depends on determining the needs and wants of its target market and delivering the desired satisfaction more effectively and efficiently than competitors. We will write a custom essay sample on Past Year Question or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page 5. Societal Marketing The idea that the organisation should determine the needs, wants and interests of target markets and deliver the desired satisfaction more effectively and efficiently than competitors in a way that maintains or improves the consumers and societys well being. c) Determine which of the  philosophies would be suitable to manage a hypermarket store. State your reasons. The most suitable philosophies to manage hypermarket store is marketing concept. The Marketing concept holds that the key to archiving organizational goal is for the organizational to determine the needs and want of the target markets and efficiently than its competitors. The reason of marketing concept most suitable because it focus on customer needs well-define market, coordinates all the marketing activities affecting the customers and make profits by creating long-term customer relationship based on customer values and satisfaction. Question 2 a) Identify and list five (5) requirements for an effective segmentation. 1. Measurability The variables used to segment the market must be easily measured. 2. Accessibility The market segment should also be easily reached and served. 3. Substantiality When dividing the market, the segments should be large enough or profitable enough to serve. 4. Actionability. The marketing programs should also be designed to attract and serve the market segments. 5. Differentiable. Cater to need and want to different customer. For example shampoo Rejoice . b) Briefly explain four (4) bases for segmentation The four bases for segmentation are Geographic segmentation, Demographic segmentation, Psychographic segmentation and behavioural segmentation. 1. Geographic segmentation The process of dividing the market into geographical units. 2. Demographic segmentation The process of dividing the market into group based on demography such as age, gender, income occupation etc. 3. Psycographic segmentation The process of dividing the market into different groups based on psychographic Characteristics such as social class, lifestyle and personality characteristic. 4. Behavioral Segmentation. The process of dividing the market based on either the customer knowledge, activities, uses or responses to a product. c) Determine the best three (3) segmentation bases combination for a shampoo. State two (2) reasons to illustrate your answer. The best three segmentation are actionability, differentiable and substantiality. The reasons of these are because the product offered different types of shampoo which bases on hair types of consumers. Beside that advertising also the most important to attract the consumers to buy the product and these were include in actionability for effective segmentation. Question 3 a) List and describe the three (3) product level. The three product levels are actual product, core product and augmented product. 1. Actual product It can be related to quality level, features, styling consists of design and aesthetic aspects, brand name and packaging. 2. Core product Refer to what benefits the customer is looking for. 3. Augmented product Consists of the additional benefits that the customers expect from the products which must be built around core and actual such as service, installation, warranty etc. b) Explain the individual product decision by user and mobile phone as your example. The individual product decision by user can be related to quality level, features, styling consists of design and aesthetic aspects, brand name and packaging 1. Quality level Refer to product performances for example mobile phone user will look into which product that can provide them high quality in all aspects. 2. Features The features of mobile phones are the set of capabilities, services and applications that they offer to their users. Low-end mobile phones are often referred to as feature phones, and offer basic telephony. Handsets with more advanced computing ability through the use of native software applications became known as smartphones. 3. Styling Styling of mobile phones also contributes to user decision. Question 4. a) List and briefly describe five (5) factors in price setting. The 5 factors need to consider in setting the price are everyday low pricing, high-low pricing, value added pricing, pricing power and cost-based pricing. 1. Everyday low pricing (EDLP) Involves charging a constant everyday low price with few or no temporary price discounts. 2. High-low pricing Involves charging higher prices on an everyday basis but running frequent promotions to lower prices temporarily on selected items. 3. Value-added pricing Attaches value-added features and services to differentiate offers, support higher prices, and build pricing power. 4. Pricing power Is the ability to escape price competition and to justify higher prices and margins without losing market share. 5. Cost-based pricing Involves setting prices based on the costs for producing, distributing, and selling the product plus a fair rate of return for its effort and risk. b) A pricing method in which a fixed sum or a percentage of the total cost is added (as income or profit) to the cost of the product to arrive at its selling price. Value-based pricing can be define as the setting of a product or services price, based on the benefits it provides to consumers. By contrast, cost-plus pricing is based on the amount of money it takes to produce the product. Companies that offer unique or highly valuable features or services are better positioned to take advantage of value-based pricing, than companies whose products are services are relatively indistinguishable from those of their competitors. Question 5 A) Marketing logistic B) Marketing logistics involve planning, delivering, and controlling the flow of physical goods, marketing materials and information from the producer to a market as necessary to meet customer demands while still making a satisfactory profit. Maintaining an organization’s competitive edge means  understanding and implementing an effective marketing logistics strategy regarding product, price, place and promotion. These four functions of marketing logistics help the organization to reach the target customers and deliver the products or services sold by the organization to these customers. C) D) Product Delivery E) One function of logistics marketing is finding out who your customer is and how to get the product or service to the customer. Each customer can have individualized needs so the logistical services provided may vary from customer to customer. Regardless of these differences, the customers expects 100 percent conformance and assured reliability at all times with every transaction. The goals of this aspect of marketing logistics include filling the order, on-time delivery, precise invoicing and zero damage. F) Price G) An organization bases pricing decisions on both internal and external factors. Marketing logistics must recognize price drivers. The profile of the customer, the product and the type of order are factors that drive the price. These changes are not typically controlled by marketing logistics. However, marketing logistics must react to these factors and understand how the factors affect customers’ decisions. Discounts for quantities and the related logistical cost structure can impact the price the customer will ultimately pay for the product or service. Additional factors driving price include the shipping costs based on the size, weight and distance the organization will ship the item. Further, the size of the manufacturing run, labor costs and the types, quantities and quality of the materials used in the manufacturing process can affect price. H) Promotion I) Promotion is another important aspect of an organization’s marketing logistics process. When bringing a product to market, the organization must coordinate the logistics of the various marketing materials. For example, the art department might design the artwork for the products box and an outside supplier might manufacture the boxes with the artwork. Marketing logistics can help to ensure that all of these entities work together and produce the marketing materials needed to sell the product. J) Place K) The function of place in marketing logistics allows the organization to simplify the transactions between a logistics provider and the customer. The organization must execute logistics in such a way that the customer is not aware of the complexities involved in the logistics process. For the customer, the output is always more important than the process. The organization should, therefore, never expose the backroom processes involved with logistics delivery to the customer. Also the location of the factory, warehouse and customer can greatly impact the marketing logistics process by increasing or reducing costs. For example, locating a factory in Mexico might reduce the labor costs associated with a product. However, at the same time locating the factory in Mexico might increase the shipping costs and negate any cost savings. c) CHANNEL-MANAGEMENT DECISIONS: After choosing a channel alternative, individual intermediaries must be selected, motivated and evaluated. Channel arrangements must also be modified over time Selecting channel members

How successful was the Paris Peace Conference Essays

How successful was the Paris Peace Conference Essays How successful was the Paris Peace Conference Paper How successful was the Paris Peace Conference Paper The Big Three, representative of the three winning country. President Woodrow Wilson represented the US, Prime Minister Lloyd George represented the Great Britain and prime minister Clemencies represented France. Five major peace treaties were prepared at t he Paris Peace Conference. They include the Treaty of Versailles for Germany, Treaty of Smattering for Austria, the Treaty of Unlikely for Bulgaria, Treaty of Titration for Hungary and the Treaty of Sverses for Ottoman Empire. Treaty of Versailles was the most harsh treaty. The Paris Peace Conference FAA to solve postwar problem. The US president Wilson issued his 14 Points in a speech. According to Wilson, the 14 Points mainly focused on his National S Determination and disarmament of countries. It created for maintaining a lass world peace. However, things did not go smooth under the influence of the to her Big Three. Britain and France agreed some of the points but with sign efficient reservations. The 14 points failed to meet its original aim dealing with the word old peace due to the selfishness of the leagues. Whats more, there were some limitations in the 14 Points. Under the National Self Determination principle, 4 old empires were gone and 8 new nation states were set up. However, they w ere too weak which caused the aggression of the nearby countries for the invasion Power vacuum in Europe rose. Moreover, for the defeated country, The Treat Y of Versailles was too harsh that even directly led to German aggression and WWW The settlement fueled German nationalism from resentment over her treaty .NET by the Allies in the treaty rather than bringing about everlasting stability and pea In addition, the Paris Peace Conference was dominant by the Big Three who o considered their own interests especially France. It failed to meet the other country interests such as Italy and China. It rose the public anger and brought HTH the rise of nationalism and the rise of totalitarianism. First of all, the 14 Points of Wilson was not fully adopted by the leagues. The ideology of the 14 points was to create a peaceful Europe. 14 points include deed open diplomacy, Freedom of the seas, Free trade, Reduce the military forces and weapons etc. However, Wilson was too idealistic. Some of the points which affected their interests were opposed by the other Big Three. For example, for denationalization, Britain and France said that only those ho were defeated should demoralize but not them because they were the winning countries. The Big Three discussed the treaty terms according to their own interests. Although the 14 Points was described to be impossible to be all carried out, but it was still a good indicator of the world peace. If the leagues discussed the treaty term by following strictly on the 14 Points, most of the conflicts in Europe afterwards could be avoided. Politically, the Paris Peace Conference created the power vacuum in Europe. Ender the 14 Points and the National Self Determination advocated b President Wilson of the US, 4 old empires were gone including Strangulation, German, Ottoman, and Russian empires collapsed. 8 new nation states were set up. However, since they were small and weak, countries nearby could easily annex them. The nearby countries aggression increased due to the power vacuum. Those weak new nation states attr acted the invasion FRR mom the aggressive countries such as Germany. Therefore the National Self Determination created power vacuum and destroyed the peace of Europe. In the terms of the treaty terms, the Paris Peace Conference contributed the most on Germanys revenge. The Treaty of Versailles for Germany was too harsh. Germany had to pay a very heavy reparation. Germany had to bear the sole war guilt which was unreasonable to the Germans. Also, the German army was to be restricted to 100,000 men who would be obliged to enlist for twelve years. But still, the warbling clause was the cause Of lasting resentment in Germany moor e than any other clause in the treat ¶y. The original aim of the Treaty of Versailles was to weakened Germany to avoid its aggression. But it failed to do so. A overhears treaty created a counteractive effect which ran in the opposite erection for what it supposed to be. The Paris Peace Conference led to the resentment of the Treaty of Versailles from the Germans and made them decide deed to revenge. Not only did the Paris Peace Conference failed to maintain peace, but it also intensified the tension among the European countries. Furthermore, the Paris Peace Conference led to the rose of extreme nationalism and totalitarianism. Since the whole Paris Peace Conference was almost dominated by the Big Three, the treaty terms for those defeated count r;sees were decided according to their own interests, some unfair treaties were cream Ted. Also, some territorial conflicts still existed which the conference was unable to solve. For example the Sandhog conflicts among Japan and China. The league even meet an secret agreement with Japan. Moreover, for Italy, it did not get I TTS promised land and it was also given no say during the Paris Peace Conference although it was one Of the willing allies. People were unsatisfied with the exist inning democratic government and this led to the rise of Fascism in Italy. Similar to Italy, the resentment of the Treaty of Versailles from the Germans showed the ineffectiveness of the Whimper Republic and the democratic rule. This led to the rise of Nazism in Germany. The rightist totalitarianism advocates expansion a ND national glory which is the opposite as maintaining the world peace. What is more, the ineffectiveness of the League of Nations emboldened the aggressive countries to keep on their expansion. After World War l, Woodrow Wilson presented his Fourteen Points to achieve world peace. Among these points was the suggestion of forming the League of Nations. This organization was to help member countries discuss with one another about pressing issue s. At the Paris Peace Conference in 191 9, the League of Nations was created. The League had a few successes but many more losses before its end when no members wished to meet any longer. The League of Nations basically ended up had no significant influence on dealing with countries issues. If the aggressive countries like Germany, Italy and Japan were given an inch, they wanted a mil Japan even quitted the League of Nations and continued its expansion. This showed the lack of influence of the League of Nations which was one of the consensus made during the Paris Peace Conference. Up till here, although the Paris Peace Conference was proved to be not ally successful in solving postwar problems, yet, it did created a good start of setting up the worlds first peace maintaining organization, The League of Nations which contributed ideas to the set up of the United Nations after II.

The Difference Between Coordinate and Noncoordinate Adjectives

The Difference Between Coordinate and Noncoordinate Adjectives The Difference Between Coordinate and Noncoordinate Adjectives The Difference Between Coordinate and Noncoordinate Adjectives By Mark Nichol Writers are often confused about whether to punctuate a phrase that includes two or more adjectives. To determine whether a comma is required between any two adjectives, test whether they are coordinate or noncoordinate. Coordinate adjectives have equal status: They both modify a noun or noun phrase. By contrast, noncoordinate adjectives have different functions: The former type of adjective modifies a noun or noun phrase, and the latter modifies a phrase consisting of another adjective and a noun or a noun phrase when that other adjective is an essential description of the thing being described. The following sentences, and the discussions and revisions that follow, illustrate this point. 1. For decades, companies have assigned repetitive, manual tasks to robots. Repetitive describes a type of manual tasks- it does not have equal status with manual in modifying tasks- so the adjectives are noncoordinate and no comma should follow the word: â€Å"For decades, companies have assigned repetitive manual tasks to robots.† 2. The 218-acre, oceanfront estate is for sale. The phrasal adjective â€Å"218-acre† modifies â€Å"oceanfront estate,† not just estate, so the adjectives are noncoordinate and no commas are required: â€Å"The 218-acre oceanfront estate is for sale.† 3. A holistic forward-looking, risk-focused, continuous-monitoring approach is often difficult. Forward-looking and risk-focused both describe â€Å"continuous-monitoring approach,† and they’re interchangeable, so they are coordinate adjectives and should be separated from each other by a comma. However, â€Å"continuous-monitoring† is not equivalent to the other phrases; it is an essential part of the phrase they are modifying, so the final comma is incorrect: â€Å"A holistic forward-looking, risk-focused continuous-monitoring approach is often difficult.† (Also, holistic modifies everything that follows, so it is noncoordinate and therefore no comma should follow it.) 4. Recognizing how a home meets your needs, and the needs of your family, can help you contribute to the development of a happy, healthy, home environment. Home is not equivalent to happy and healthy, it is an intrinsic term describing the type of environment that can be happy and healthy. Those words, which are interchangeable, modify the phrase â€Å"home environment,† so the final comma is incorrect: â€Å"Recognizing how a home meets your needs, and the needs of your family, can help you contribute to the development of a happy, healthy home environment.† 5. The risks presented by this complex, fragmented, legacy architecture are rarely, if ever, considered. Complex and fragmented describe â€Å"legacy architecture,† so legacy is not equivalent to the first two words and should not be separated from them. Those words, however, are interchangeable and must be set off by a comma: â€Å"The risks presented by this complex, fragmented legacy architecture are rarely, if ever, considered.† Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Grammar category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:60 Synonyms for â€Å"Walk†20 Pairs of One-Word and Two-Word Forms7 Sound Techniques for Effective Writing

Interface's Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Interface's - Research Paper Example Practical application of GUI includes their significant role in solving problems in computing and the generation, design and development of programs during the processes of programming. Interfaces An Interface In information and communication technology the word interface or user interface is a concept that refers to a set of tools which facilitate the interaction between the user and a computer system (Takouachet, Couture, Reuter, Joyot, Riviere & Verdon, 2012). There are two main types of user interfaces. These are software and software user interfaces. These interfaces use a specific protocol which contains a framework of rules that define the manner in which users interact with computer systems (Su, Mavroidis, Shi, Ferreira & Papanikolaou, 2010). Browsers such as Mozilla Firefox and Internet Explorer are good examples of software interfaces. In this regard, software user interfaces are software applications. These applications are written with the use of Java programming language and as a result they are supportive of internet applications and online communications through the World Wide Web (Liqiong & Poole, 2010). On the other hand, hardware interfaces represents the physical components of a computer such as a graphic card which enhance the visualization of the software user interfaces and hence make them robust in their application (Sperling, 2007). The Role of Interfaces in GUI Applications Graphic user interface (GUI) is a form of user interface which is characterized with graphical representation of icons and menus to facilitate the interaction of the users with computer systems (Su, Mavroidis, Shi, Ferreira & Papanikolaou, 2010). The GUI was designed to overcome the problem of manual entry of commands in orthodox computing such as DOS OS. Therefore GUI allows users of computer systems use the mouse for efficient dragging of objects by simply clicking on them (Takouachet, Couture, Reuter, Joyot, Riviere & Verdon, 2012). Unlike the DOS OS which is comm and based, Mac and Windows OS are the most common forms of GUI. The application of GUI in contemporary computing demonstrates the roles of interfaces in computing. Interfaces within GUI applications play a significant role of making computing easy to learn and apply. This makes even novice users of computers to operate GUI applications such as browsers with ease (Liqiong & Poole, 2010). The various computer application such as copying and moving files within computer storage or memory locations are made easier through the use of GUI as opposed to entering commands manually (Kroeker, 2011). In addition, the GUI allows an interactive communication between the user and computer system. This is demonstrated by the responses that the interface displays for the user such as confirmation of dilatations (Liqiong & Poole, 2010). For example Microsoft applications are designed to provide users with immediate feedback during their interaction with the user including error messages and help fac ilities. In this regard, interfaces provide users with possible errors and problems in computing with consequent suggestion of solutions (Su, Mavroidis, Shi, Ferreira & Papanikolaou, 2010). Mozilla Firefox Mozilla Firefox is a common example of browser software which provides an effective GUI. This browser is likable because of its user friendliness. This is achieved through the use of

Impact of technology in an organization Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Impact of technology in an organization - Article Example The other challenges include how to have proper incentives as well as team work. Some universities are still using a system, which is traditional and in turn, it has made the mass markets become exhausted. Organization structure is affected if it does not employ the use of information technology (Hitt & Brynjolfsson, 1997). Most of the employees who work in universities, which are traditional, are not happy with changes related to the existing organization structure and coming up with an organization, which is virtual. There is usually a need in universities to ensure that people are united, in order to increase their productivity. The theory of social action is extremely useful in knowing the impact technology has had on the universities. This is because their failures and successes are easily made known. According to Brynjolfsson and Hitt, organizations are forced to obey authority, which is decentralized. The latter is as a result of the impact of Information technology. Furthermo re, they believe that transmission of knowledge becomes cheap as a result of IT. Universities are now ensuring that all their departments are connected, in order to increase efficiency. Rights for making decisions are thus allocated to the entire optimum knowledge chamber, which exists (Hitt & Brynjolfsson, 1997). ... In order to obtain information, there is a central agent. It is vital in matters related to cost saving as well as its benefits. The disadvantage is that those involved in decision making especially the central ones are the ones who lose a lot. Decentralization occurs as a result of efficiency, which is induced. Decentralization is affected by the presence of decision makers who are multiple (Hitt & Brynjolfsson, 1997). On the other hand, Baroudi and Lucbas believe that there is a link between organizational design and IT design. There are many ways, which tasks can be coordinated, as well as be divided in order to increase productivity. The process of organizational design can also be used because it advocates for management decentralization (Lucas & Baroudi, 1994). This means that all the employees working in the university will be involved in decision making. Span control is an element of a variable used in the design process. At the different universities there will be many peopl e in management and they have to report to their heads. In every organizational chart, every employee’s job titles are made known and can easily be altered. The latter can easily be achieved as compared to strategy, culture and behavior. The frame work of social action advocates for constructs, which are key in any university. The most vital aspects of any organization should be technology, structure, tasks and people. Technology plays an essential role in bringing about changes in the universities structure. This means that there is a direct relation between organization form and IT. Relationships, which exist in firms, are due to communications as well as computers. In modern times, universities are seeking to become hybrid as compared to before when they were

Digestion of a Sandwich Essay -- essays research papers

As I look at the ham sandwich sitting on the plate before me, I start to feel queasy with disgust. The slab of ham is laced with fat. The white solid stuff is just sitting there, taunting me. Daring me to eat it. The bread is stale, crumbling, falling apart. I know that as soon as I pick up the sandwich, the bread is going to disintegrate in my fingers, leaving me with nothing but the malicious ham. No, I think to myself. I will not eat this sandwich.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I just cannot bring myself to put this, this thing into my mouth. I know that if I make myself, I will only get it into my stomach, and then it would come right back up. I stand up and walk over to my kitchen sink. I open the cupboard door that is beneath, and I dump my sandwich into the garbage can. Now, I think to myself, what to do about lunch.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I walk over to the refrigerator and open the door. My eyes start scanning the shelves. Hmmm, no†¦no†¦yes! I will make myself a turkey sandwich. I like turkey. I like turkey a lot.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I take the turkey and set it on the counter. Then I grab the Buttermilk White bread, freshly made by my mom. She’s like Martha Stewart, you know. She grows the wheat herself. She uses some kind of mill we have in the back yard to grind it into flour. We have a cow. She milked it herself. Then she made the buttermilk to put into the bread. Anyway, that’s off the subject.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I take out two slices of bread and put them onto a wooden cutting board. I put a few thin slices of turkey onto one piece of bread. I then take the other piece and gently nestle it on top of the turkey. I put the sandwich onto a paper plate and take it to the table. I look at it and think to myself, job well done. But I can’t help thinking that I’m missing something. Oh yes! Miracle Whip.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  I quickly jump up and run over to the refrigerator. You see, I’m very hungry by this time. I grab the jar of Miracle Whip. I run over to our silverware drawer and grab a butter knife. Taking the two things over to the table, I sit down. I delicately remove the top slice of bread, and apply a thin layer of Miracle Whip. Then I put the top slice of bread on the turkey. I pick up the sandwich and am just about to take a bite. Then I remember. I’m supposed to be eating a ham sandwich for this essay. Well, considering I don’t like ham, I won’t eat it. But†¦this essay is supposed to be about a ham sandwich. So, we’l... ...he Buttermilk White bread. The food makes its way to the transverse colon and extra nutrients are released form the cellulose of the undigested particles. It continues on to the descending colon. There I start to manufacture vitamin K and other B-complex vitamins. Those are then absorbed into my large intestine.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The waste of my "ham" sandwich keeps going. The haustra removes any excess water that was not absorbed in my small intestine. It doesn’t have to do much work, because there is hardly any area for absorption. The waste then travels down my sigmoid colon to my rectum. There the waste, now called fecal matter (A.K.A. feces) is stored until I have enough to defecate through my anal sphincter.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  That was only my the first bite of my "ham" sandwich. I have the rest of the sandwich to go. But I think my digestive system is a little screwed up. For most people, the whole digestion process takes quite a few days. The food stays in their stomach for up to eight hours, the small intestine for a long time, and in the large intestine for anywhere from three to five days. For me, this whole process took a little over five minutes. Mmmm, I’m looking forward to my second bite.

Defining Experience

I have always considered myself an open and welcome person who treated everyone fairly. Other people that I knew would often express views that people, who lived in the United States, whether legally or not, should learn how to speak â€Å"our† language. While I tended to agree with them I never gave it much thought, until I found myself in a foreign country, and unable to speak the language. It was there that I learned, not only how it felt to not be able to communicate easily, but to be more tolerant of other people’s non-native speaking. I have always loved to travel with family and friends, and there was no better time than when I was living and working in Serbia. While I worked with people from many nationalities most, if not all, spoke the English language. I took this for granted, and while I made some attempts to learn new languages, I did not try too hard. After a particularly stressful month of work I felt the need to get away from it all, to rest and relax, and to broaden my perspective of the world. I made reservations for six solo days of scuba diving in Croatia. I was excited, nervous, even a little scared of traveling alone. I told myself that I’m 36 years old, have two kids, and lived in another country, so I held my head high, bid my friends farewell and took off. Upon arrival in Croatia I picked up my rental car at the airport in Zagreb. I got on the A1 motorway and pointed the Fiat Punta south towards the small fishing village of Rocogniza. I arrived there late in the afternoon and promptly found the dive shop that had arranged all my accommodations. I settled in and then set off into the village to explore and buy food to prepare for dinner. The sun was shining and felt warm as I parked my car started walking towards the village. I traveled past centuries old houses, a large stone Orthodox Christian church, and into the village. Once in the village I saw the bustle of people coming to and from the outdoor market and the fisher men peddling their catches along the dock. There were people of all ages in the town centre, young kids playing, and elderly people sitting at the cafà ©Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s talking. I walked through the market and saw a very old lady selling fresh fruits and vegetables. I stopped at her cart and she was very warm, with bright eyes, a big smile on her face, and arms opened as if she were going to hug those around her. I said hello to the old lady who only nodded and I realized that she did not speak English. Even though there was a language barrier I was able to purchase the fresh fruit and vegetables that I would need for the next few days. I then walked to the docks and again I was greeted with a warm welcome by the fishermen. I bought several mackerel, red mullet, and bukva, more that I needed, thanked the fishermen and bid them farewell. After making my purchases I stopped at a small cafà © to have a coffee. The waiter Mario, whose brother was always living and working in Kosovo, spoke almost perfect English. I sat at that cafà © for several hours talking with Mario. Mario told me about the people of his village, how they had survived through the war, and how the Croatian people generally loved having foreigners visit their great land. Although I hated for our talk to end, I had to bid Mario farewell, and head out before dark. As I left the village I turned back and looked towards the small fishing village that I had just visited. I thought about the warm and welcoming reception that I had received and that I would always remember the people that I had met. I also thought about those people who come to the United States to either visit or in search of a better life for the families. I vowed to myself that I would learn some of the local language while traveling in other countries. This experience also changed the way that I would interact with people who were in my own country and did not know how to speak what we consider â€Å"our† language.