By: Bruno Basner Sometimes random thoughts can seem foolish, but occasionally, a seemingly silly idea can lead to lifelong memories. One such instance occurred on a random July day in Tokyo. “Hey, we should climb Mt. Fuji.” “WE SHOULD TOTALLY CLIMB MOUNT FUJI!” Never mind the complete lack of hiking experience or the embarrassing lack…
By: Simon Lee When I first packed my bags and left the familiar comforts of the USA for an internship in Singapore, I knew I was in for an adventure. My time here has been full of pleasant surprises and unexpected challenges. One of the most delightful discoveries has been my newfound love for nighttime…
By: Juan Lopez Group of Interns in Santa Marta Coming into the Global Research and Internship Program (GRIP), my only expectation of Medellín was the high temperature it’s known for. The first week hit me hard: I knew fewer than 5 people, I was told I had 7 AM to 5 PM workdays and on…
By: Cindy Su This past summer was a whirlwind of experiences—humid, vibrant, unexpected, liberating, adventurous, spontaneous, tiring, exhilarating, and incredibly fulfilling. It was filled with incredible food, even more incredible people, and countless iced kopis (just $1 compared to the $5 Starbucks vanilla sweet cream cold brew, and so much more flavorful). As someone who…
By: Chloe Ng Participating in the GRIP program in Singapore through the SERIUS program at NUS was an incredible experience that allowed me to conduct research in a new country, opening doors to new learning opportunities and providing me with a unique global perspective. Engaging in research in a different environment pushed me to adapt…
By: Jenna Boccher During my internship in Costa Rica, I encountered a culture that challenged my preconceived notions of time and productivity. The beauty of Costa Rica extended beyond its lush treescapes and vibrant flora and fauna—it was deeply rooted in the local tradition of “Tico Time.” This concept of deliberate slowness and the relaxed…
By: Paris Ye Dear Pre-GRIP Paris, It’s funny now to think about how you were so sure you didn’t want to apply for GRIP this summer. I remember how you declared to Rachel in December that you definitely weren’t going to apply (and she also said she wouldn’t) – and look where you both are…
By: Rachel Wang Angels Place Sydney, a stunning art installation right outside of my office This summer, I worked at a fintech startup in Sydney, Australia. It was my first full in-person intern experience and my first experience working abroad. I’d always heard of Australia’s flat working structure and was excited to get my hands…
By: Luca Thorson GRIP: Engineering Research in Grenoble My first weekend in Grenoble, I decided to do a hike, since that is one of the city’s biggest draws. I’m not the most avid hiker but I enjoy it and figured I could handle most anything fairly easily, so I found a hike in a nearby…
By: Guadalupe Espinoza, CAS ’26 SA: SIT International Honors Program, Buenos Aires, Argentina and Barcelona, Spain Guadalupe, one of the Semester Abroad Global Correspondents, shares her experience abroad during the Fall 2024 semester. Follow along with the group of correspondents on our blog and look out for their images on the @pennabroad Instagram feed. I remember watching my dad sitting in the living room,…