Hello everyone, my name is Ryan Luftig, and I’m a rising junior at the University of Pittsburgh College of Business Administration majoring in Finance and Business Analytics with an Economics minor. For the next six weeks this summer, I’ll be participating in the Pitt Global Business Institute (GBI) program in London, where I’ll be interning and taking an additional course. While I’m super excited to get into the coursework and internship, I’m even more enthusiastic about the personal and professional growth opportunities that exist outside of the classroom.

Obviously, I’m expecting the usual challenges that come along with studying abroad: culture shock, homesickness, and language differences (yes, even between British and American English!). But I’m truly looking forward to the experiences and learning opportunities that will shape me as a student, professional, and person as a whole.

I hope to become more adaptable and confident in unfamiliar situations as the program progresses. Being in a new environment/country will force me to be pushed out of my comfort zone daily. Whether it’s navigating London’s sophisticated Tube system, interacting with locals, or even ordering food at a restaurant or market I’ve never been to before, I want to embrace the discomfort and anxiety that comes with new experiences.

Professionally, the six-week internship in London will definitely be a major learning curve. Working in a multicultural office setting will allow me to observe communication styles and workplace cultures that differ from what I’m used to in the United States.

Overall, my goal is to return from this program not just with course credits and internship hours and something to put on my resume, but with a broader worldview and the confidence to navigate complex global environments.

In just a few short days, I’ve already experienced so much here in London. I have seen many of the major tourist attractions (Big Ben, Tower of London, Kensington Palace, and more!) and taken walks in beautiful locations (Hyde Park and Trafalgar Square). My housing location is also just a short walk from Emirates Stadium, home of the Arsenal football club. See below for some pictures of my experiences thus far.

Excited to share more in the coming weeks!