Before students participating in the AJY Heidelberg program arrive in Germany, we are given five housing options to choose from. While the most commonly-chosen option is a dormitory/apartment-style situation, two other Americans and I opted to live in a large house (called a Wohnheim in German) shared by 27 students. For us, this living situation…
Starting New in Sydney
Hey! My name is Adi Mitchell and I am a current sophomore in the Frederick Honors College studying Marketing and Supply Chain Management with certificates in Public and Professional Writing and Sustainability. Outside of classes and extracurriculars, I love to go on hikes, run, and play the piano—really anything that keeps me moving! Studying abroad…
First Month in London
Hi! My name is Ryan Lawville, and I’m a junior at the University of Pittsburgh from Wilmington, Delaware, majoring in marketing with a minor in economics. This semester I am studying abroad in London through the GBI London program. As someone who had never traveled before, I felt like I had to take advantage of…
Munich Culture from an American Perspective
As I reach closer to the end of my time in Munich, I find myself reflecting on how different my experiences here have been from those back home. The culture of Munich, and perhaps Germany as a whole, is similar in many ways to what I am familiar with, but there are certainly a few…
A New Journey in London
Hi! My name is Riley and I am a third-year undergraduate student at the University of Pittsburgh College of Business Administration and the Frederick Honors College. I am majoring in Business Analytics and Business Information Systems, and pursuing a minor in Political Science. Outside of the classroom, you can catch me running, crocheting, or trying…
The Little Things: Small Culture Shocks
I am familiar with the concept of culture shock and was always expecting to experience it while studying abroad. However, I have been surprised to discover that, in my experience, it often comes in smaller packages than I imagined it would. For the most part, daily life in Germany looks pretty similar to the US…
Celebrating the Winter Holidays in Germany
Though the German winter semester does not actually end until the beginning of February, classes are now on pause for holiday break. The house — typically buzzing with activity and occupied by 27 students — all but emptied out as my housemates returned home to spend time with their families. For me, this is the…
A Semester in London
Ahead of my semester in London, I held nothing but excitement in my heart. As I packed my bags, I looked forward to a semester full of travel and new friendships. More than that, I was excited to experience a country with a different government. I fantasized about strong public transportation systems and social welfare….
Final Thoughts for Florence
While I studied abroad in Italy, some of the biggest learning moments I experienced were outside the classroom. For the first time in my academic journey, I balanced an internship where I worked 20 hours a week with a full course load. On top of that, I also maintained a social life, visited museums, and…
Listening Before Leading: ACRI, DC Presentation
Early this December (2025), my team and I found ourselves in the heart of DC, awaiting to present our findings and recommendations for Fayette County to the funders, external stakeholders, and other participants of the Appalachian Collegiate Research Initiative (ACRI). The Annual ACRI Conference, hosted by the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) and East Tennessee State…