The work I did this week could feel somewhat monotonous to the previous weeks. I am continuing the same work as I have done before, writing up a policy report and working on the interview portion of a maternal health report. I was finally able to meet my supervisor in person over lunch. This was a great opportunity to make stronger connections and learn more about the European Institute for Women’s Health outside of the work I am completing on my own. I was also able to meet a new employee who is starting this week after completing her master’s degree. We were ablet o talk about graduate schools in Ireland and their funding for international students which was very insightful if I would want to move abroad for my masters or doctorate degree.
A soft skill I have learned is how to better my remote communication. I used to be less consistent about responding to emails and being proactive about communication before issues arrive. I am now much more confident in my abilities to communicate effectively and advocate for myself. In the past, I have not always been the best at explicitly stating my needs for how I can work best, but I have learned the importance of it. I am also learning to work fully independently which can be useful in a world where remote opportunities are on the rise. My work ethic when I am not under direct supervision at a job has improved greatly.
Hard skills I have developed is understanding the development of policy advocacy through non-profit organizations. I am currently learning how to create a policy report to focus on a specific concern individuals face and explain how policy development can create positive change. I have also been applying it to mental health recognition by writing a report on explaining pre-menstrual dysphoric disorder, its impact, and how change can improve the situations of many women in the European Union. This knowledge can translate well into my future careers by helping me to both understand and implement advocacy work.
Over the weekend I was able to take a trip to Milan. Stepping off of the plane was like getting hit by a wall of heat. I was surprised to be so shocked by the hot temperatures since it can also get in the 90s back home. I guess I have gotten too used to the cooler Irish summers. I was there to see one of my best friends who has been living there for two years. This was my first time seeing her in about a year so we had the whole weekend to catch up with each other. It was really great to have my own tour guide and see the city moreso through the eyes of someone who lives it rather than as a tourist. Friday and Saturday were spent exploring the city despite the intense heat wave going through Europe. I got to see iconic parts of the city like the Naviglio Pavese canal, Pinacoteca di Brera art museum, and the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. We also weaved in and out of many historic churches and cathedrals. I was in awe of their innate designs in the forms of frescos, stained glass, sculpture, etc. Though I didn’t go inside the Duomo, I was taken aback by its exterior. I also learned that the term Duomo refers to the principal church or cathedral within a city. My last day there was on Sunday. We made sure to get up early and took a 30-minute bus ride to Bergamo. This was a much smaller city with still just as much to see. The city is split into two distinct upper and lower levels. To get to the upper city we took a funicular railway which turned out to be just like the Pittsburgh incline. We spent the day walking around to enjoy the architecture, stopping in various churches, getting gelato, and checking out a Sunday market with beautiful handmade items. When we were ready to head to the airport, we journeyed back down to the lower city by going down the old venetian walls. This short trip is something I probably wouldn’t have been able to do in the next couple years if I hadn’t chosen to study abroad. Despite the crazy heat, I made the best decision to travel out there alone and make some memories.
