My experience abroad:

My time in London has come to an end! I am feeling extremely grateful to have been given this opportunity to travel to London, take a class, complete an internship, experience a new culture, and make new friends.

My internship at Marriott has been a valuable experience. I’ve learned about the various parts of a finance department, such as revenue control, accounts payable, and accounts receivable. In addition, I learned about what it is like working in the hospitality industry for a huge multinational hotel brand.

I also took a great international marketing class. I really liked the professor and his British teaching style. Professor Willie explained that in the UK students write papers and complete projects instead of taking exams. I definitely feel that this is a better way for me to learn the material in addition to the small class sizes. It was fun to take an international marketing class in London because we were able to take advance of our resources outside of the classroom such as museums!

During my time in London, I was fortunate enough to experience the culture and travel. A few of my favorite things I’ve explored include the local markets, Buckingham Place, Brighton Beach, Sky Garden, and Oxford Street. My favorite weekend trip was when I few friends and I visited Dublin, Ireland and traveled the coast to see the Cliffs of Moher.

Growth:

Since coming to London, I’ve noticed growth in myself personally, academically, and professionally. Studying abroad has helped me become more independent and adaptable. It is easy to freak out when something goes a little wrong in another country, but whenever I found myself in this type of situation I just needed to remind myself not to sweat the small stuff! I also noticed personal and academic growth when working in teams. Whether at work or in class, I have learned so much about working in multicultural teams. At work, every single person was from a different country in Europe, so I quickly learned the importance of effective communication.

Looking forward:

This program has been a wonderful experience for me. I have grown so much personally, academically, and professionally. I look forward to bringing my new hard and soft skill back to Pitt Business. This experience will help me in the classroom and in my future career. I will be sure to communicate my positive experience to other Pitt Business students so they are aware of this incredible study abroad opportunity.

Thank you so much to everyone that has helped make this experience possible.

Best,

Athena Grivas