My name is Drew Morse, and I am very excited to begin my international experience in Sweden. As I prepare to leave for this program, I have been thinking about what I want to get out of it. This is a chance to challenge myself not just in the work culture, but in the Swedish culture as well. I want to experience the different culture and develop skills that will continue to shape my future.

I am originally from the Boston area and I am a huge Boston sports fan, except the Patriots (Go Steelers). I am a rising senior at the University of Pittsburgh majoring in Economics with minors in business and history. I have always been interested in history, which is why I added it as a minor just last semester. I have always enjoyed learning about how different cultures and economies develop over time, which is one of the reasons I am excited to experience a country with such a different background than what I am used to. I have never been to Europe, only Canada, so this is an excitingly new opportunity for me. I like to learn through new experiences and stepping out of my comfort zone. I get intrigued when thinking about how other countries work in a professional environment.

One of the big reasons I wanted to study abroad was to put myself in an unfamiliar environment and learn how to adapt. I think I can learn so many different values and life lessons being in a different country. Throughout my studies, I have developed an interest in finance and business. I am going to be working at a FinTech startup that focuses on crypto tax. I am very excited for this opportunity because this is not an area I am too familiar with, but I am always willing to learn. It is a small company with only 4 other employees that work in office. I think working in a smaller company will provide me with a unique experience because I will likely have the opportunity to see different parts of the business rather than focusing on one specific thing. I am excited to see how they communicate and how I will blend in to their work approach. I heard that Sweden has a very relaxed work life balance and people tend to get out at 5 and do not think about work until the following day. I am excited to see if this is true or if my company has different views on this. I also heard that they are more introverted than Americans, so I am interested how that will look in the office and around the city.

Coming from the US, where the work culture is very fast paced and competitive, I am interested to see how Swedish culture approaches productivity and personal time. I think it will give me a different way to approach life and work, but not necessarily having one be better or worse. I hope to gain lots of experience in this role and have a good time with the people I meet there. Professionally, I hope this experience helps me improve my communication skills and understanding of international business. I think gaining exposure to those areas will help my future career in finance.

I chose Sweden because for some reason I have always wanted to go there. Ever since I was a kid, I found the cities of Sweden to be beautiful because of the brighter colors of the buildings. Having seen that Stockholm was an option for this program, it was a no doubter. I am also a fan of hockey and I know that they are big hockey fans over there. It is going to be interesting that while we are there, the World Cup will be happening in North America. I was excited to see some premier league soccer matches, but they are suspended until after the world cup. It will also be tough to watch some of the games because of the 6 hour time difference. Most of the games will be very early in the morning.

Overall, I am excited for this chapter and everything it will bring. I hope to return from this experience with a deeper understanding of the world, stronger professional skills, and a broader perspective of my future. I am looking forward to exploring Sweden, and hopefully other countries, learning from the people around me, and making the most of this once in a lifetime opportunity.