My name is Haley D’Ambrosio, and I will be starting my last year at Pitt. I will be graduating a year early, so I consider myself a junior/senior. My major at Pitt is Accounting, with a minor in Economics. I have just arrived in Aix-en-Provence in the south of France, where I will be spending the next six weeks learning French language and the Global Wine Industry. This program is a Pitt Recognized Program, meaning I am with students from all over the world from varying universities. Studying abroad in France has always been a dream of mine ever since learning about the year my mom spent in Paris. This program, specifically, appealed to me because of its diversity and flexibility. I am so excited to meet so many new people with varying backgrounds that I otherwise never would’ve had the opportunity to.
In the future, I want to live abroad, so being exposed to this lifestyle at such a young age will allow me to experience the rich culture here. There are so many incredible opportunities that come from studying abroad, and I can’t wait to discover all of them. Personally, I’m most looking forward to immersion in a French community – speaking with locals, adjusting to their lifestyle, learning their cultural differences, appreciating the things they value. Being exposed to different cultures and ways of thinking can teach me so much about life and about myself. I am so excited to learn it all.
Additionally, I cannot wait to learn more of the French language. I took French for 6 years in middle school and high school, but it’s been a while since I’ve gotten to practice. So far, I’ve been able to handle myself pretty well. Being able to communicate with people here is a big accomplishment for me. I still have a lot to learn, though!
This program prepares me for one day going into the luxury fashion industry. The business of wine is similar to the fashion industry in the ways of status, marketing, consumers, etc. Learning the inner workings of the wine industry can be translated to any industry, really. Learning the ins and outs of the industry will fully immerse me into all aspects of business, rather than just accounting. This will provide me with a more well rounded education for whatever I will pursue in the future.
Ultimately, I’m looking forward to making connections, both personally and professionally. I’ve already met some incredible people within my first week. I anticipate that this will continue exponentially over the course of the next five weeks. I’ll find out soon enough!