As I look on my last few days abroad, I cannot help but feel grateful for the many experiences and memories I have made her. I had the opportunities to travel to a number of different countries, explore different cultures, and learn about history. I have made great friends that I cannot wait to see when I get back to Pittsburgh next semester.
Academically, this program offered a different pace than my usual course load. International finance offered me broader knowledge about foreign investments, multinational corporations, the Basel Accords, and many more concepts. Italian enabled me to understand the foreign world around me more. Oil painting gave me a place to explore my creativity. Cross-cultural psychology furthered my previous knowledge of psychology and the different psychological expectations there are in different cultures. All of my classes had a really nice balance of work outside of the classroom. Professors understand the the many opportunities available to students, and do not overload you with unnecessary or busy work. Some classes incorporated field trips to emulate some of the concepts talked about in class better. In Italian, our professor brought us to a market where we could practice ordering our food in Italian. Additionally, we often presented and had conversations in Italian class. I have always had issues with public speaking, but I feel as though this class took some of the pressure and stigma away from public speaking that I had previously held. Furthermore, in psychology, we were learning about the different coffee shop and restaurant customs in Italy compared to those of America. Our professor placed us in numerous coffee shops to observe firsthand some of these differences.
On another note, while away, I was working to find another internship for next year. It was very difficult to navigate the time difference during the interview process. A few of my other roommates were also interviewing for positions, they are on the medical track. They did not have a ton of resume and interview skills, so it was very rewarding helping them out and giving them a couple of pointers.
Overall, I am forever grateful for the opportunity to study abroad. I have learned so many things, not only academically, but about myself. I have furthered some of my skills like time management, communication, public speaking, and cooperation. These are all skills that assisted me in my interview process and will be used in my future endeavors.
