Welcome! My name is Josh Nguyen (he/him), and I am a senior in the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh. Currently, I am double majoring in microbiology and the history of art and architecture, with a minor in chemistry and a certificate in the Conceptual Foundations of Medicine. Outside of…
Tag: Spring 2023
Communication: from Cohort to Community
One of the predominant reasons that I applied to and accepted the Brackenridge Fellowship in the University of Pittsburgh Frederick Honors College was the opportunity to participate in the community of other scholars across disciplines. This community is also further broken up into seven different cohorts that allow fellows a chance to connect more closely…
Enfin: Reflecting on a Semester in Paris
For those just coming across my posts in the Honors blog community, my name is Laura Dibble, I am a rising senior at Pitt about to move back to Pennsylvania next week! I have spent an incredible 18 weeks in Paris with CEA CAPA, studying at a partner university, l’Institut Catholique de Paris. I am…
Do’s and Don’ts Abroad
Looking back to my anxious self back in January, stressing about prepping a great wardrobe and overwhelmed at the thought of organizing weekend travel plans, it’s easy to laugh at my worries. Travel ended up coming together just fine, and Paris is so full of shopping I never was far from access to the perfect…
Post Trip Reflection
I am now back home in New Jersey. I was definitely sad to leave France, but this past week spent relaxing at home was refreshing after 5 months of being abroad. My semester in Marseille has been nothing short of incredible. I have immersed myself in different cultures, tried delicious new foods, and met so…
Letter to My Past Self
Cher Ryan, I don’t even know where to begin. There’s so much I would love to tell you before you leave for Marseille. Just know that the next 5 months are going to be filled with highs, lows, and everything in between, along with a healthy dose of surprises. You’re going to make countless mistakes…
Sunny Days in Marseille
The end of March is approaching, and I only have a little over a month until the end of my program. There were times throughout the last couple of months I felt ready to go home, but now I wish I could stay here for the whole summer! The weather is getting so much nicer…
My (hypothetical) Future in France
Throughout my study abroad experience, I have been extremely fortunate to have had the opportunity to travel around France and see different cities and regions within the country. One of my favorite activities to do in the cities I visit has been to picture what my life would be like if I lived there full-time….
Facing Challenges and Faux Pas Abroad
When I first began my study abroad program in France, the biggest challenge I faced was learning how to cope with my mistakes. Living in another culture and communicating in another language are experiences that naturally come with a lot of missteps and blunders. At first, I was also extremely embarrassed when one of these…
Sweden’s Mark on Me
After being home in the US for almost a week, the culture shock is still hitting me, from driving a car everywhere to the water level in the toilets! I can hardly believe my semester abroad has come to an end. This means it is time to bring this blog series to a close as…