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…
GRIP: Lien Centre for Social Innovation in Singapore Singapore is one of the most unique places I’ve ever experienced. It’s not just a country — it’s also a city, and somehow it manages to feel both global and local at the same time. Located near the equator, it’s warm and humid all year round. The…
GRIP: Business in Sydney, Australia Dear Pre-GRIP Isabella, You looked at your signed GRIP commitment contract, thinking, “What did I just get myself into?” As you made your travel and internship placement arrangements, you processed that you were actually spending this summer away from home. Not just an Amtrak ride away, but a 22-hour plane…
GRIP: Wine, Heritage, and Hospitality in Porto, Portugal On my last day in Porto, Portugal I looked out towards the Dom Luís I Bridge stretching over the Douro River and tears poured down my face. I wasn’t prepared to leave the incredible people I had met during my GRIP experience and had been dreading my…
GRIP: Engineering Research in Aachen, Germany Global experiences are extremely important because they force people outside of their comfort zone. Aside from the expected differences such as language, food, and culture, having an experience in a global setting transforms one’s views in a multitude of ways. For me, my global experience meant trying as many…
GRIP: Engineering Research in Aachen, Germany I arrived in sunny and lush Aachen 12 days ago, and have since developed some semblance of routine. On most weekdays, I utilize the city’s excellent public transit system to bus from my dorm, close to the border of the Netherlands, over to campus research and learning facilities. I…