I am incredibly thankful for this experience. I’ve learned so much, even through the small, everyday moments like living with six roommates. That alone has made me more patient, flexible, and better at navigating situations that don’t always go as planned. Being in a completely new environment has pushed me to adapt to different cultures…

One of the most meaningful moments from my time abroad happened in Paris, when I watched the Eiffel Tower twinkle at night while lying on the ground with my friends. It was the off-season for tourists, so the area was unexpectedly quiet and almost empty. Instead of standing in a crowd, we were able to…

One of the biggest cultural adjustments for me in Italy has been adapting to a slower, more relationship-centered pace of daily life. In the U.S., especially as a student balancing classes, internships, extracurriculars, and constant deadlines, I am used to moving quickly and planning everything very precisely. In Florence, I have noticed that daily routines…

This semester, I am taking four classes: Sculpting, Italian, Exploring and Analyzing The Global City, and International Finance.  My diverse class schedule this semester has made everyday so exciting. I have Italian three days a week and my proficiency has been improving fast. The class is very interactive and dynamic, which makes it easier to…

Hi, I’m Meena Rajesh, and I’m a junior double majoring in Marketing and Finance at the University of Pittsburgh. This semester, I’m studying abroad through Pitt and CEA CAPA at the Global Business Institute in Florence. This experience has already been incredibly rewarding both academically and personally. I was especially excited to choose this program…