Blog Archives

  • Blog

Living in the Future: Saying “Yes” to the Unexpected in New Zealand

SA: University of Otago Sophia, one of the Semester Abroad Correspondents, shares her experience abroad during the Fall 2025 semester. Follow along with the group of correspondents on our blog and look out for their images on the @pennabroad Instagram feed. Just in the past weekend alone, I’ve accomplished two things I never expected would be a part of my abroad journey:…

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The Architecture of Taste: Singapore’s History Preserved in Hawker Centres

GRIP: Business Development in Singapore, Singapore $4 kaya toast with two soft boiled eggs and an iced teh. I had just landed in Singapore the evening before, and this breakfast was my first glimpse into everyday local life. I found myself at K88 Kopitiam, a humble little coffeehouse tucked into a food court off the…

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One Word to Summarize Korea

GRIP: Media in Seoul, South Korea Welcoming. If I could choose one word to describe my summer experience in Korea, it would be welcoming. From getting recommendations on where to visit from my taxi driver to sharing a drink with the group of people next to me during Korean barbecue, many Koreans that I have…

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My Glory Days Are Behind Me

GRIP: Sustainable Development in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam The Pencil Group, based in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, is more than a traditional branding agency—it integrates strategic planning, creative design, and digital marketing to deliver solutions for our clients. As part of the internal planning team, I am contributing to projects focused on developing…

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More Than the Pictures & Trinkets

GRIP: Ashoka in Mexico City, Mexico Mexico City (CDMX) is considered the “New York City” of Mexico. After all, it is the largest city in North America—even bigger than New York City’s 8 million residents—with its population of 22 million. Being born and raised in Queens, New York, I immediately started scanning for similarities and…

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Ink & Instinct: Notes from Portugal

GRIP: Churchill’s in Porto, Portugal On the first day of my arrival to Portugal, I bought a mini black notebook. I wanted to collect notes, stories, and words of wisdom. A yearbook of sorts. “Just one step at a time and you’ll be fine!” – M. 2025 is the first year I have been out…

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Sobremesa: Food for the Soul

GRIP: Markenetics in Montevideo, Uruguay There’s a word in Spanish with no true English equivalent: sobremesa. It describes the time spent after a meal, not eating, but simply enjoying each other’s company. Reflecting on my time in Montevideo, I’m not just grateful to know what sobremesa means. I’m grateful to have lived it, and to…

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There’s an energy here

SA: SIT International Honors Program Alina, one of the Semester Abroad Correspondents, shares her experience abroad during the Spring 2025 semester. Follow along with the group of correspondents on our blog and look out for their images on the @pennabroad Instagram feed. I came abroad because my gut told me to. I first created my School for International Training login account on…

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Building Mountains and Bridges: Three Memories That Shaped My GRIP Experience

GRIP: KK Fund, Taipei, Taiwan As my internship with KK Fund comes to a conclusion, I would like to share several great memories. Semiconductor Movie: A Chip OdysseyOne of the most memorable moments of my internship wasn’t at a pitch meeting or investor event—it was sitting in a dark theater, surrounded by fellow Penn alumni…

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Interview with Lawyer and University of Minho Law School Administrative Director: Sandra Amorim

GRIP: Legal Research at University of Minho Law School in Braga, Portugal Hana Menkari, one of the Global Research and Internship Correspondents, shares her experience abroad during Summer 2025. Follow along with the group of correspondents on our blog and look out for their images on the @pennabroad Instagram feed. Sandra Amorim is an attorney pursuing her master’s degree in Braga, Portugal. As…