Hi! My name is Sai Govindaraju and I am currently a senior at Pitt majoring in marketing and minoring in French and Chinese! Outside of classes, I am a brother of Alpha Kappa Psi and a sister of Tri Sigma. I am currently abroad in Reims, France studying at NEOMA Business School for the fall 2022 semester. I chose this program because it allows me to be fully integrated into the day to day life of French business students. NEOMA has a great program for international students so I was excited to be able to meet business students from all around the world. I also wanted to be in Reims specifically because it is a hub for the luxury market and a short TGV ride away from Paris, so I knew I would be able to further myself here professionally. My goals for this program are to improve my french fluency, learn more about the international luxury market, travel, and make new friends from around the globe!

My new home, Reims, is located in the northeastern region of France in the center of the champagne region. Reims is home to the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Reims where French kings were coronated for almost 1,000 years. The city is beautiful, walkable, and very livable. The culture here is very relaxed. People are always out and about, whether to take a stroll with loved ones or catch up with friends over a glass of wine. The city has everything from bars and restaurants, to shops and salons, to museums and bakeries and everything in between. I am currently living in a studio in student housing which is a quick 15 minute walk from the city center. I walk to the city almost everyday and I have to take the tram to school which is about a 15 minute ride. The main difference between where I live now and where I used to live in Pittsburgh is the distance from school and the architecture. All of the buildings here are beautiful, even the McDonald’s. After about 2 weeks of being in Reims, I feel almost fully adjusted. The first few days were difficult but everyone was extremely nice and helpful. I am looking forward to the next 3 months in my new home, Reims!