My time in Florence has been one of the most meaningful periods of growth in both my academic and personal life. Studying abroad has pushed me out of my comfort zone in ways I did not expect, and it challenged me to adapt to new environments, perspectives, and ways of thinking. Living in a different…

During my travels over the past few months, one of the most meaningful moments I have had was in Lagos, Portugal. While exploring the cliffs and beaches along the Algarve coast, I discovered a quiet cove away from the main tourist areas, surrounded by golden cliffs and clear, bright blue water. The sunlight reflected off…

Living in Florence has been an amazing experience, but there are definitely parts of the culture that have taken some getting used to. One of the biggest challenges has been adjusting to the different sense of time and structure. In the U.S., things tend to be very scheduled, especially in school or work environments. Here,…

I cannot believe how quickly this semester is moving! We are already in the middle of midterms and things are picking up. This semester I am taking Cross-Cultural Psychology, International Economics, Italian, and Business Consulting. My favorite class so far has been Cross-Cultural Psychology because it does not just stay in the classroom. We have…

Ciao! My name is Isabelle Hirschberger, and I am a junior in the College of Business Administration at Pitt, majoring in Finance with a certificate in International Business. This semester I am studying abroad in Florence, Italy through the Global Business Institute. I chose Florence for this experience because it felt like the perfect place…