Today we had the opportunity to visit one of Cyprus’s leading distribution companies. Founded in 1933, Vassos Eliades Ltd. is known for its extensive distribution network and strong relationships with international brands, positioning itself as a strong competitor in the market. As we walked towards the presentation room, I noticed how professional and welcoming the atmosphere was. Throughout the presentations, I learned Vassos Eliades’ core values, unique facts such as their thermal insulation and solar energy systems, and the supply chain aspect of the company. When we entered the storage room, I noticed that it wasn’t too hot or too cold. The facility has complete control over its thermal insulation systems so that none of its products spoil. Also, they showed us the technology they use to maneuver the large storage unit, as well as technology to register each product, which allows for simple communication between other areas. 

After our tour, we headed to UNIC to learn the history of Nicosia with Dr. Solomou. The lecture was very interesting and Dr. Solomou made sure to go in depth which each topic, which allowed me to fully understand the material. This lecture is very similar to some of the lectures I have at Pitt. For example, my Intro to Psychology class with Dr. Cousins had the same “informational” type of lecture that Dr. Solomou had. Both professors state the main topic of conversation and slowly break down the information for the students. While there are several similarities Dr. Solomou’s lecture style has with Pitt’s lecture styles, there are various differences. Dr. Solomou’s lecture seemed to be a one-way conversation versus some lectures in Pitt, who interacts with students. For example, Managing Complex Environment with Ray Jones was one of my favorite classes because of how much he interacted with us. He made sure to engage students by constantly talking with them about the material instead of at them. I learned several facts about the history of Nicosia, such as the Ottoman Conquest in 1570, and how 1/3 of the population were refugees after the Turkish military intervention in 1974.