Hi everyone! My name is Varun Patel, and I am a third-year student at the University of Pittsburgh studying Computer Engineering and Mathematics, and I will be traveling to Porto Alegre, Brazil this May. Located in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre is known for its deep-rooted history and vibrant cultural hub….
Communication Barriers
Living in Italy has made me much more aware of the importance of communication, especially when it comes to greetings and the level of formality. One thing that I initially noticed when I first arrived was how important it was to greet people properly. Every single time you walk into a store, restaurant, or any…
The Beginning of a New Chapter: Florence
Salve! My name is Natalie Carpenter and I am a rising senior studying Mechanical Engineering and pursuing certificates in Sustainability and Engineering Simulation in Design. About 4 years ago I traveled to Italy for vacation and on that trip we visited Florence for a day. Though it was only one day, I dreamed of traveling…
Reminiscing on my Scandinavian Spring Break
Looking back on all of my trips this semester, the highlight was definitely my two week spring break trip to Oslo, Stockholm, and Copenhagen. This journey was with two friends I met in my program, we each had a back pack and one shared carry-on which was packed to the brim. This trip gave me…
Finishing up in Florence
Being in a new country this semester has taught me a lot of valuable lessons, both academically and personally. One of my biggest academic takeaways is how enjoyable it is to take a wide range of classes. As I mentioned in some of my earlier posts, my Renaissance Art History and Oil Painting classes were…
The Moment It Hit Me: Arriving in Belfast
Boarding the flight from London to Belfast, Northern Ireland, marked my first “aha” moment. Up until that point, everything had felt relatively familiar. Traveling from the United States to London, I experienced a sense of comfort and accessibility similar to what I was used to back home, along with the usual hustle and bustle of…
Paroma à Paris (très bientôt !)
Coucou ! My name is Paroma Banerjee, or Pami, and I just finished up my junior year at the University of Pittsburgh. I am pursuing majors in Computational Biology and French with a certificate in West European Studies. Additionally, I am an undergraduate research assistant in an immunology lab at Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute…
Paris: A Green City!
Throughout my time here in Paris I have grown to love the sustainability and greenery of the city. From the many parks to the policy initiatives, I appreciate the care put into making a major city like Paris green, yet functional. I am taking a class called “Green Growth, Sustainability, and The New Economy” which…
Off to Amsterdam!
Hi everyone! My name is Sadie Mahan and I am a junior here at Pitt studying Urban Studies with a minor in Studio Arts and a certificate in Geographic Information Systems. I am in the Frederick Honors College and I participate in multiple clubs here on campus, including being the Art Editor for Collision Literary…
A semester of growth
As this program comes to a close, I find myself reflecting on how much my perspective has changed since the beginning. What started as a structured academic project evolved into a much deeper experience centered on adaptability, communication, and relationships. While I initially focused on what I would produce-deliverables, presentations, and training materials, I now…