Studying abroad in Seoul has challenged me in ways that have helped me grow both personally and professionally. While I expected to learn about Korean culture and experience life in a new country, I didn’t realize how many soft skills, technical skills, and global competencies I would develop along the way. Living in a completely…
Pete to Poland
Hi! My name is Peter Frankunas, though most people call me Pete (hence the title). This summer, I’ll be spending eight weeks in Poland! I’ll be based in Kraków, but I’ll also be traveling to different regions of the country throughout my stay. Poland isn’t the most common destination for students studying abroad, so you…
Classes and Castles
It is the end of week one in Alcalá de Henares, Spain! I am having a blast so far, though the start of classes has kept me very busy. I am taking two classes this summer on Spanish film, and a culture and civilization class that is required for my minor. I was pleasantly surprised…
Anticipating Amsterdam
Hi everyone! My name is Marcie and I’m a rising fourth-year psychology major with a minor in social work at Pitt. On track to become a clinical psychologist, a career that feels tied to one basic thing – understanding people. Any conversation I have with a client will start with their story, and that’s exactly…
Looking Back on My Time Abroad
It is hard to believe that my time abroad has already come to an end. Looking back at the goals I set for myself before arriving in Sydney, I am proud of how much I have grown both professionally and personally. This experience challenged me in ways I did not expect, introduced me to incredible…
Past the Halfway Horizon
Hi everyone! I can’t believe I’m already over halfway through the program. It feels like just yesterday I was landing at the airport in London. There’s a lot to cover, so let me catch you all up to speed. The first time I stepped into King’s College Hospital for my internship, I’ll admit I was…
Traversing Rome without a Phone
Phones have become a ubiquitous part of nearly everyone’s lives. They allow for instant communication, quick photography, and simple navigation which are almost always essential tools for study abroad experiences. A phone’s versatility and omnipresence often makes it difficult to live without. While I walked along streets in Rome, I would find myself drawn back…
Thinking and living like a Parisian
Coucou, hello! I have been in Paris for a bit over a month now. Though I have experienced so much, it feels like time has went by incredibly fast. I’ve grown quite a bit from the first day I landed in Paris and felt somewhat clumsy using the metro or weighing produce for groceries. I…
Lessons Learned in Belfast: Inside the Classroom
I got home from my study abroad program a little over a week ago and have had ample time to sit with what I have learned during my time in Belfast. In my first blog post, I touched on some of the reasons why I thought this program would be beneficial to me. However, there…
Finding Community in Paris
One of the reasons why I chose to study in France is because it is part of my heritage. My mother was born in northern France, and was the only member of her family to immigrate to the United States. She rebuilt her life in America while the rest of her family remained in France….