We’ve come to the end of the Pittsburgh portion of the Haller Global Fellowship Program. Today, the group will be getting on a plane straight to Dublin! As I’ve said many times before, this’ll be my first time out of the country and I’m incredibly excited!
There’s been a lot to look back on already, even without being in Ireland. Even just living in a city is completely new to me. I’ve seen so many great sights in Pittsburgh, from the beautiful heritage rooms of the Cathedral of Learning to the stunning variety of the murals of Maxo Vanka in St. Nicholas Croatian Catholic Church. I don’t want to repeat myself too much when it comes to what we’ve been doing for fun on previous days, so read my previous blog posts if you’re curious!
However, I’m not just here for fun, despite how much I’ve been having- first and foremost, I’m here to learn, and there’s been no shortage of that either. All of the people I’ve met have been both great people to talk to and offered incredibly helpful insights into how I can shape my future. I’ve heard from executives, business owners, community leaders, other students and more, each giving a firsthand account of how they got where they are and what I can do to similarly achieve my dreams. This is to say nothing of the actual class we’ve been taking at a breakneck pace with Professor Ray Jones, whose unparalleled enthusiasm and direct feedback has made learning Managing in Complex Environments feel fulfilling and manageable(heh) despite our short timeframe.
I’ve also just learned more about Pittsburgh! I now know my way around some parts of the university campus, and just the general energy and feel of the city. I’ve been to so many different restaurants and have eaten more new foods in two weeks than I usually do in two years! Yesterday, we went to the South Side and climbed many of the city’s hundreds of stairways, getting a glimpse of the annual Goat Fest the South Side holds to raise money for removing an invasive plant species that’s spread all over the hills. We also had the opportunity to attend a Pittsburgh Riverhounds game, which you’d know to be Pittsburgh’s professional men’s soccer team if you read my last post. I hadn’t been at a pro sports game in ages, so it was another unfamiliar delight.
However, soon I’ll be leaving Pittsburgh… by flying to Ireland. We’ll be doing such a huge variety of activities over our twelve days in Ireland, it’s hard to choose what I’m most excited for. Even the plane ride will be a huge change of pace. I know I can’t just say “everything” or “being in Ireland,” so I must say that I’m most excited to see Giant’s Causeway. I’d add a photo of it here, but I’ve even avoided looking up pictures so that I don’t spoil my first time seeing it! And with that, next time you’ll be hearing from me, it’ll be from the Emerald Isle!
