Some soft skills I am developing most throughout this program are communication, adaptability, time management and planning. On this London study abroad program, I am consistently meeting and seeing new people. In order to have good relationships with these people that I am meeting, whether they are classmates, teachers, old friends, or the general public I need to have good communication skills, especially since I am in a new environment with unfamiliar culture. Adaptability has been a soft skill I have been developing since I am in a new place with new people, and unexpected things that I am not used to or familiar with happening are inevitable. Without adaptability, I would be significantly negatively affected by these events. Time management has been an important skill to have here so that I am able to complete my school work on time while also making sure to see friends, talk to family, and explore the global city of London, as well as the other locations I have visited so far. Lastly, planning has been vital in tying all of these other skills together in an effective way. 

Since I am not in an internship, I have not had the chance to develop hard skills through that professional work experience. However, although I have not been able to apply what I have learned at Pitt in my marketing classes or here in my International Marketing class in the work environment, I have been developing what I know about the field (which is important as a Marketing major). 

To navigate cross-cultural situations, I have been making sure to keep an open mind, listen to what other people have to say as well as my surroundings, and also ask a lot of questions. In my time abroad, I want to take advantage of this opportunity that not everyone has, and learn as much as possible. I want to remember this semester as one where I personally and intellectually grew more than ever, and hold my experiences here with me for the rest of my life. Interactions with locals as well as other people on my program has been shaping my own identity because it has been giving me the chance to learn from other people, hear their opinions, and develop my communication and relationship-building skills. All of this has been feeding into my own perception of myself and of life overall, which I believe to be extremely valuable.