Hi there!

My name is Allison (Alli), and I will be graduating from Pitt in December of this year with a degree in accounting. I’m local to the Pittsburgh area and have lived in Pennsylvania for almost my entire life. I have always been very interested in traveling and learning about new cultures and places, and I had the wonderful opportunity to spend a semester abroad in England last fall. Post graduation, I am hoping to be able to work in international business in some capacity. I would love to be able to combine my knowledge of accounting and business with my passion for global experiences.

For this summer, I was fortunate enough to receive funding towards a study abroad program in Prague! The program is called Monsters, Madmen, and the Modern City, and it covers two literature courses: Banned Books and The Gothic Imagination. I was fascinated by this program because it focuses on literature that was written by Czech authors or otherwise takes place in Prague. Throughout our stay in Prague, we will be visiting sites that inspired these works and learn about the Gothic significance of the city. I was excited by the idea of an international experience that was immersive and incorporated elements of the learning material with the location of the program.

In addition, as a business major, I was seeking a program outside my field of study that would allow me to learn about topics that I may not otherwise have the opportunity to explore. Gothic literature is something that has always intrigued me, and I am looking forward to having the opportunity to study it in an incredible setting. In preparation, I have started reading some of the novels we will cover in these two courses and am thoroughly enjoying them so far! They are quite different from the types of books I have gravitated towards in the past, but I am glad of the chance to expand my horizons when it comes to reading.

Throughout the course of this program, I hope to learn a lot about Gothic literature, as well as Czech history and culture. After spending an entire month in the city of Prague, I am looking forward to knowing about its different neighborhoods, the history of its buildings and their role in inspiring Gothic works, and what life is like for locals. I am excited to see how daily life in the Czech Republic differs from life here in the United States, as well as the United Kingdom. I am also hoping to make strong connections with the small group who is participating in this program alongside me. While my exchange program in England was a very independent endeavor, this one will allow me to connect with fellow Pitt students who share similar interests. I am so thankful to have the opportunity to pursue this experience and look forward to embracing all that it offers!