Hello again! I am reporting back after my second week in the Comparative Healthcare in Graz program. Last weekend, I enjoyed a weekend trip to Salzburg, Austria, and this weekend, I had a beautiful getaway to Budapest, Hungary. We only have one week left in Austria before we head to Slovenia! Between the two weekend…
Category: Martinson Elevate Award
Recipients of a Martinson Elevate Award
Tạm Biệt Saigon
Reflecting on this trip, the biggest takeaway is that seeing a country’s economic shift in person is completely different from reading about it in a textbook. At Pitt, we often discuss emerging markets or global development in an abstract way, but walking through Saigon and the Mekong Delta grounded those concepts in reality. I will…
Achievement in Vietnam
How success is defined in Vietnam depends entirely on which generation you are asking, but in a professional sense, it is tied heavily to status and the corporate ladder. Success here is defined by high-paying corporate jobs and the ability to show off that wealth through consumption. It is very common to see people wearing…
Hello from Belfast!
Despite a missed flight and long travel days, I finally made it to Belfast, Northern Ireland! I’m Eileen and I’m a first-year student majoring in rehabilitation science on the pre-occupational therapy track. I’m participating in the Social Roots of Medical Innovation Maymester pilot program partnered with Queen’s University Belfast (shown below). I chose this location…
Finding my way around Florence
One of the things that I immediately noticed that was different about Florence was how small and compact the city is. The first thing we did after we landed was take a cab to our apartment, and the roads felt so different from the expansive multi lane highways we have at home. While in the…
Visitors in Belfast
Everyone was shocked when I announced I would be gone from January 2 until June 1. Out of every abroad program at Pitt, I just so happened to choose the longest one possible. At the beginning, I was a little nervous being away from all the people I know and love. Especially because I did…
Reflecting on my Experience in Spain!
As this study abroad program comes to a close, it is difficult to fully put into words how meaningful this experience has been for me. Over the past few weeks in Bilbao and throughout Northern Spain, I learned far more than I expected both inside and outside of the classroom. While our program focused on…
Redefining Success in Spain!
Before coming to Bilbao, I had a very specific idea of what professional success looked like. In the US, success often feels tied to productivity, leadership positions, and constantly working toward the next accomplishment. While those ideas still exist in Spain, my experience in Bilbao showed me a healthier and more balanced perspective on professional…
Gains in Spain: What I hope to Learn!
Hi! My name is Aseda Asomaning, and I am a first year nursing student from Collegeville, Pennsylvania, just outside of Philadelphia. I am currently a student in the Fredrick Honors College and am pursuing a Global Health Certificate alongside my nursing degree. Growing up surrounded by family members in healthcare, I was exposed early on…
What the Vietnamese Streets Taught Me About Community Priorities
Studying business abroad provides useful insights inside the classroom, but some of the most distinct lessons happen entirely outside of program coursework. Navigating the streets of Vietnam has forced me to look at infrastructure, public space, and advertising through a new lens. When compared to the car-centric, corporate-dominated landscape of Pittsburgh, the daily reality here…