Hi everyone! We have already surpassed the halfway mark; time flies by when you’re having fun! We CEA CAPA Florence students are on our week-long fall break, which has allowed me to reflect on my experience so far. The skills and experiences I have gained inside and outside the classroom and during my internship are invaluable. I can confidently say that this experience so far has impacted my life in so many ways!
The most important transferable soft skills that I have gained during my time here really stem from my internship experience. I have gained a range of skills and experiences that I am excited to bring back to the States and use in the workplace. The most prominent soft skills that I have gained would be effective communication. I have always been proud of my communication skills in the workplace. However, this internship experience has taken them to the next level. I have the opportunity to speak to people from all over the world, which helps me evolve my cross-cultural verbal and nonverbal communication. Being able to interpret both verbal and nonverbal communication and cues is key in building a relationship with not only clients but your team around you as well. In addition to effective communication, my time abroad has taught me how to effectively manage my time. My internship runs from 12-7 most days, so if I am not in the classroom, I am in the office. This has allowed me to keep a steady routine, but it does cause a little bit of chaos when it comes to fitting in studying and homework at the end of a long day. In Italian culture, especially business culture, they place a high importance on making time for themselves and surrounding themselves with friends and family during their free time. If I am not in class or my internship, I make it a priority to spend as much time as I can with my roommates because they feel like a small piece of home!
I have also picked up various transferrable hard skills. The most common one would be language knowledge. It is extremely beneficial for me to use my Italian skills in the office, whether it is with my colleagues or the clients that I talk to. I have a very basic foundation of the Italian language, but using my language skills helps me build up that foundation and feel more comfortable while speaking. I use my language knowledge outside of my internship as well. Right now, I am in Palma De Mallorca for the first portion of my fall break. It is a Spanish island right below Barcelona, and during my trip, I have been able to use my Spanish-speaking skills that I have not been able to use during my time abroad so far! I studied Spanish for five years during middle and high school, so it has been so fun to be able to put my skills to use again!
Out of Pitt’s three “Paths to Distinction,” I would say that my journey in Florence falls into the “Business and Societal Impact” category. It has been so interesting and refreshing to navigate life here as an American. My colleagues who have lived here almost all their lives are so invested in understanding daily life as an American and how the “American Dream” works. Having local Florentines asking me questions about life in the States and genuinely being interested was not something that I had ever thought about. I knew that I would be interested in their daily lives, but it is surprisingly nice to have people ask me questions- no matter how personal they are!
Every day is a new adventure, especially when it comes to navigating cross-cultural interactions in situations. Luckily, I have adapted many different skills since coming here, which help me navigate my everyday life! This experience has allowed me to grow both personally and professionally, and I cannot wait to continue this journey here!
Bye for now,
Caidyn Hurley
