It felt unreal to me when I realized 2 weeks of my internship already went by. I’ve finished over half of the analyses for my project and after I asked my supervisor for feedback, he said the project was advancing at a good pace. It did not stop me from questioning everything and comparing myself…
Category: Martinson Elevate Award
Recipients of a Martinson Elevate Award
Looking Back to Lisbon
Since my return home from Portugal, I have had some time to reflect on my experiences this summer. My time in Lisbon not only provided me with valuable insights and lessons for my academic and professional career, but also helped me understand how to better enjoy life. While I learned countless things working in my…
Time Flies
Two months sounds like a long time. It can also feel like a long time; for example when you can’t sleep on the plane ride or when your allergy medication runs out. But two months can also feel incredibly short; like when one month into the program, half of the friends you’ve made go home…
World Cup!
The Portuguese love soccer. Children, teenagers, and adults pass around soccer balls in parks and on the sidewalks. My coworkers discuss their favorite club teams, praise their best players or criticize their coaches on a daily basis. It seems as though every other person I walk by wears a Ronaldo jersey. In normal times, the…
Working in a Different Culture
During the short time I’ve spent living and working in Lisbon, I have observed a significantly different work environment then what I am familiar with in the United States. The 9-5 here is not strict like in the U.S. As my boss Sarah put it, “nobody is looking at the clock”. At my office, if…
Romania: Explored and Demystified
My title follows up thematically with my first post on this site and for good reason – I am significantly more aware of the inner workings of Romania, and I feel confident that I traversed much of the country. That being said, “significantly more aware” than the zero knowledge I had going into this trip…
A Party at the Palace!
Needless to say, the 20+ hour travel day gave me an indication that I was no longer in the United States, but my first true “wow” moment came very soon after. On Sunday, May 10th – only one day after arriving in Romania – my group attended a garden party hosted by Her Majesty, Crown…
What We Can Learn from Europe About Public Transportation
During my time in Europe, I was aware of many cultural differences between my host countries and my own, but few were more apparent than the stark gap in public transportation. Throughout the trip, our main method of movement was public transport – ranging from taking the subway to hopping on the bus to even…
Tchau Portugal!
It has been 2 weeks since I came back to Pittsburgh after spending the most eye-opening and fantastic summer in Portugal. After taking time to adjust back to my routine schedule at home, spending time with family, and catching up with friends, I still can’t believe that I had such a great opportunity with the…
Reflecting on Portugal: Adventures in Architecture
After working, living, and exploring for two months in Portugal, I am excited to be back in the United States. I am incredibly grateful for all I got to experience while abroad. The lessons I learned through my internship and my travels will stay with me as I move on from Pitt towards the next…