GRIP: Engineering Research in Singapore The first aspect of daily life that surprised me was the subway system. I had heard about its efficiency before arriving, but experiencing it in person was different. The stations were spotless, the trains quiet, and the timing precise. At first, I thought I had lucked out, since each time…
GRIP: GAO Capital in Singapore When I got off the plane, I was immediately struck by the immense heat in Singapore. The air was thick and humid, wrapping around me like a thick blanket. Within minutes, I was drenched in sweat, even from just walking a few blocks. At first, it was a bit overwhelming.…
GRIP: GAO Capital in Singapore Dear Anjelica, You are not here to merely experience the summer of 2025. You are here to forge something from it. The city you live in will not bend to you. The people you work with will not always care about your comfort. The markets will not stop moving when…
GRIP: Eurolife FHH in Athens, Greece Yasu! It is hard to believe that my time at Eurolife FFH is coming to an end, and I am extremely grateful for the support everyone on the Strategy Team at Eurolife has provided me. Every morning, my coworkers and I greet each other with a lively “Kalimera!” and…
GRIP: Sustainable Development in Monteverde, Costa Rica As a student, you are always told that the proper response to gracias (thank you) is de nada (you’re welcome). It’s drilled into your head as a phrase of respect, a phrase of gratitude. However, in Monteverde –and in all of Costa Rica– the proper response to gracias…
GRIP: FinTech in Medellín, Colombia When I landed in Medellín for my GRIP internship, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. I knew I’d be working with a large construction and real estate company, but the day-to-day reality ended up being much more dynamic and hands-on than I imagined. Within my first week, I found…
GRIP: Business in Sydney, Australia If you told me back at Penn that my Google Calendar would be fuller on weekends in July than it ever was during the semester, I would’ve laughed out loud. Just like I would’ve never imagined myself celebrating Christmas with scarves, mulled wine, and the most Christmassy German treat, Stollen,…
GRIP: Business Development in Singapore One of my most profound realisations I had over my two months interning in Singapore was definitely one akin to culture shock, but perhaps not in the way you might be expecting. Everyone’s heard of the term ‘workplace culture’: how important it is, how prevalent it is. I’ll admit I…
GRIP: Ashoka in Mexico City, Mexico As my time in Mexico comes to an end, I’ve been thinking a lot about what I’ve experienced, what I’ve learned, and what I’ll carry with me. I’m proud of how much I’ve pushed myself to try new things, both big and small. I cut my hair, wandered through…
GRIP: Lien Centre for Social Innovation in Singapore Being in Singapore has felt like stepping into a new version of myself. The city moves fast, but somehow it’s also helped me slow down. For the first time in a while, I’ve had the space to notice how I move through the world when no one’s…
