GRIP: Social Sciences and Humanities Research in Auckland, New Zealand My internship in New Zealand took place at the University of Auckland, where I dove into historical research on German intervention in Samoa between 1900-1914. What began as a project on colonial dynamics quickly expanded backwards into the 1870s, as I traced how racial hierarchies…
GRIP: FinTech in Medellin One of the most interesting parts of Colombian culture shock this summer was my experience being in the Amazon’s rainforest and meeting its people. For four nights, I toured the river-region of the Colombian Amazonas department. There, I stayed in its capital city of ~35,000 and then briefly lived on an…
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:…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…