I’m back and better than ever! This week was yet another busy week abroad, and I cannot wait to tell you all about it (spoiler alert: I’m writing this from the Catania Airport).
My week started as normal, going to my internship, grocery shopping, finishing assignments, and resetting for the week to come. That’s always an essential part of the week, I can’t go go go forever! After work on Wednesday, my friends and I decided to have a picnic in front of the Eiffel Tower! We all brought different charcuterie foods (cheese, fruit, macarons, etc) and hung out until we got to see the Eiffel Tower sparkle at 11. It doesn’t get dark until around 11 in Paris, and it’s still something I’m getting used to. Honestly, it’s pretty awesome being able to explore the city until super late and still have light until I go to bed. Definitely a switch up from the Pittsburgh sun setting so early.
Thursday was my favorite day at my internship so far, as I got to set up for an event at The InterContinental Hotel in Paris! We met the people at the spa and talked to them about D-LAB and the event, and set up a cute little display with the products and the ice cream machine so that spa customers can try the supplements! It was really cool to see the hotel, meet new people, speak some French, and make a meaningful contribution to my team at my internship! Even though I’m still having trouble with the conversations and comprehension (they speak SO fast), I feel like I’m getting better every day. There are definitely a lot of skills that I’m developing through my internship, and just by being in another country in general. I’m getting better at time management, especially when balancing tasks that I have to complete at my internship, and making sure to make the most of my free time afterwards. I am definitely getting better at communicating, especially in a marketing context, where I’m sitting in weekly meetings and experiencing what it’s like to plan marketing events, product launches, or just progress on the brand in general. My cross-cultural communication has skyrocketed, and I’m feeling more and more confident with speaking to my coworkers, shopkeepers, or just people I pass on the street! It has been a learning experience understanding the work etiquette in Paris, but I am now beginning to adapt to their culture, how they speak, standard greetings, and how work gets done in general. Safe to say, work culture in Paris is very different than the U.S.
Friday was a big day, because I had to get up bright and early to catch our flight to SICILY! Me and a few friends decided to visit my roommate on her study abroad program in Ortigia for the weekend, and we could not have had a better time. Our first day was full of travel: flights, buses, walking… it was a lot, but the payoff was worth it. Immediately after checking into our Airbnb (which we were beginning to understand why it was so cheap…), we headed into the little streets of Ortigia. Walking along the shops felt almost magical, with handmade ceramics and jewelry on one side, with gelato and cannolis on the other, all while listening to an accordion player in the Piazza du Diamo. The beach looked like a postcard (pictured below), and before we knew it, we were changing into our swimsuits to jump in. The water was the clearest I’ve ever seen. We eventually met up with my roommate and her friends for dinner, where we had delicious pizza and pasta, and eventually made our way back to sleep and reset for the next day!
Saturday was what I would describe as the perfect day. We got breakfast at this cute little cafe, with pistachio brioche and cappuccinos (so Italian), and quickly changed to head to the beach, where we sat all day long. We swam, tanned, walked around, and just enjoyed the beautiful beach that Ortigia has to offer as much as we possibly could. My favorite part of the day was when we booked a last-minute sunset boat ride around the island, where the driver took us through the sea caves and let us swim before heading back to the island… he even let us connect to aux and play ABBA! He also gave us an amazing recommendation for a dinner spot, and he did not disappoint. I was desperate to find the best seafood spot in Sicily.
To say the least, it was the best seafood pasta I’ve ever had. The little restaurant was called Sapuri e amuri, run by a mother-daughter duo off the tourist path by the water. I got the swordfish pasta (which she said was caught that day), and it was incredible. I simply didn’t want the meal to end. We also got the tiramisu, and I got to pour the coffee in it myself. Paired with a bottle of white, I can say this was my favorite meal abroad so far. I’ll never forget you, Ortigia!!
Sunday, we took advantage of every single minute left of our stay. We got up early to take a quick dip in the ocean, hurried to breakfast, and eventually met up with my roommate again to walk around, shop, and eat. I left with some adorable souvenirs (I can’t spoil it for my readers out there), along with some jewelry and some Italian pastries to eat on the plane (literally what im doing rn as im writing this). It was a perfect day.
That’s it from me for now! I’m excited to land in Paris, get some sleep, and reset for yet another exciting week. A very special guest will be visiting me next weekend… you’ll just have to find out next blog!
P.S. I unfortunately did not see the White Lotus hotel, but maybe that can be an adventure for next time!
À la prochaine!
Hailey Krawczyk