Hi! My name is Hannah Geist, and I just finished my sophomore year at the University of Pittsburgh’s main campus. I am in the School of Business, dual majoring in accounting and finance with a minor in economics. As you can tell by my major, I love anything number-related. I wanted to challenge myself this May by taking a class that is completely opposite to what I see as my comfort zone. In Paris, France, I have been studying the history of art and architecture in the city. I am more than excited for this experience and to get to immerse myself in another culture. I chose this program due to my love for Parisian culture and for art overall. One of my favorite artists is Claude Monet, so I figured this course and country would be the perfect fit for me. I wanted to give myself a chance to dive into a different mindset. Essentially, I wanted to get more into the artistic and creative side of my mind, while still holding on to the more analytical and historical side.
Although this is my first time studying abroad, I have been to a few different countries outside of the United States. The one thing that I am most excited about for this opportunity is the fact that I get to establish a routine in an entirely different place. Traveling is a hobby that completes my soul and feeds my mind. Whenever I have traveled in the past, it was for no longer than a week, so I am happy that I get to explore a more long-term trip and what that is like.
I hope to gain, or in better words, improve, the confidence to try new activities. Whether it be French cuisine or spending a day on the weekend going to places only Parisians would know, I want to step out of my routine-oriented mindset and give myself the freedom to be spontaneous. Another important thing I hope to gain from this experience is the bond with my peers that I will be going abroad with. Our cohort is relatively small, about 12 people, and throughout these 3 weeks, I hope to create long-lasting friendships that will live forever in my memory.
To wrap up, I would like to list my top 3 goals for my time abroad. They are displayed below!
- I hope to gain a basic foundation of what architecture is and what being an architect really means. This could be the vocabulary they use or the ways that they see varying infrastructures.
- I took three years of French in high school and one class my freshman year, so as I spend my time in Paris, I would love to be able to improve upon my French accent and overall proficiency in both speaking and understanding the language.
- One last major goal I hope to achieve is to better my problem-solving skills. Being abroad without any family or people you trust can be extremely difficult. Getting around a foreign country, communicating, and handling school assignments, all while trying to make friends, can be a lot. I hope to come up with ways to manage these tasks and solve any issue that crosses my path.
Thank you so much! I look forward to updating soon 🙂
Hannah Geist