Hello everyone! I’m back with more content from my time abroad in Sydney, Australia! Today I’ll cover some of the skills and competencies I’ve been able to build during my time here. Let’s jump right in!
Over the course of this semester, I’ve been able to work on a lot of my soft skills (i.e. communicating, interpreting, etc.). Whether it be in the classroom or out on the streets of Sydney, I’m constantly growing as I interact with the world around me. My communication skills have definitely increased the most during my time here. After living in a “foreign” environment for an extended period, I’ve found that I’m more thoughtful towards my word choice as I communicate with people of dissimilar backgrounds. I’ve learned that many of the colloquialisms we use in the US don’t have the same meaning in Australia, so it’s important to make sure the words you say have the intended impact. For instance, the people of Australia don’t typically understand what I mean when I say I’m a “yinzer!”
The Global Business Institute and CEA CAPA offer some great avenues for building these skills. I’m currently enrolled in a course called “Intercultural Communications,” and the course content is very helpful for putting my interactions into perspective. I’ve also been able to go on some amazing field trips with the course that have deepened my understanding of the cultures around me. CAPA also offers a voluntary program every Monday called “Careers & Coffee” which has been a personal favorite of mine. During the program we talk about how to leverage our study abroad experience as professionals while eating snacks!
I’ve developed some hard skills while abroad as well. My International Finance course and Global Supply Chains course have introduced me to new business concepts. I look forward to employing these new concepts in my studies back home at Pitt!
Finally, I’d like to touch on how I’ve navigated cross-cultural situations to this point. I’ve found that patience and understanding are the two best tools for managing situations. By taking your time and being mindful of your words and their meaning, it isn’t too much trouble to work through everyday situations.
That’s all for today’s post! This one was a bit quick so I’ll leave you all with some tales and photos from Spring Break! I had the opportunity to visit the Great Barrier Reef and learn how to surf during my time off, both of which I highly recommend to anyone visiting Australia! I think learning to surf was one of the most fun things I’ve ever done! I can’t wait to go surfing again!
