Hi! My name is Camryn Samuel, and I am a junior Marketing major in the School of Business. I am currently participating in the Global Business Institute in Florence. I chose this program because I was very intrigued by the opportunity to not only study abroad but also participate in an international internship. Traveling has been a passion of mine for the past couple of years, and through the School of Business, I have been able to explore this interest through the Haller Global Fellowship in Dublin and the Plus3 Program in Vietnam. In both of these programs, I had the opportunity to research abroad-based companies and present my findings. Through these experiences, I learned that I deeply enjoy learning about new cultures, especially while being immersed in the country. Because of this interest, I wanted to participate in an international internship. I felt that this opportunity would help me discover Italian culture more than if I were only taking classes. I chose Florence as my location because I wanted to experience a culture very different from the U.S. so that I could challenge myself and learn more. My goals for the program are to grow my cultural awareness and develop my marketing skills through my internship.

My host institution is CEA CAPA. What I enjoy about this host institution is that there are students with a variety of skills in the program, so I have had the chance to meet students from all over the U.S. This is different from the University of Pittsburgh, where most students are from Pennsylvania or the surrounding areas. One similarity between the institutions, however, is that there are many programs available to connect with fellow students. Both CEA CAPA and the University of Pittsburgh offer clubs and experiences that allow students to not only develop relationships with others but also develop a relationship with the city. What I enjoy about my neighborhood in Florence is its location. My apartment is in the center of the city, making it very convenient to walk around Florence and find new places to visit. I am adapting to living in a new city by developing a routine throughout the week. Having a routine helps decrease my stress and makes me feel more comfortable in my surroundings. I have also been adapting through journaling. By writing about my experiences, thoughts, and feelings, I have been able to reflect on my progress in adjusting to a new country and culture. So far, my time studying abroad has been exciting and challenging in a good way, and I look forward to the next few months.