Saniya Malhotra
CAS’27
International Relations & Economics
PGS: International Security in Northeast Asia
PGS: CHIN0600 High Intermediate Chinese II
GRIP: Wine, Hospitality, and Tourism in Porto, Portugal
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- Exploring Japan and government systems through PGS
- Learning a new language and practicing it with locals
- Traveling to China and visiting cultural sites
- Experiencing a new work system while interning in Portugal
- Planning affordable weekend trips around Europe
- Enjoying cultural festivals in Portugal such as São João
My Experience Abroad
As an International Relations and Economics double major, I have always wanted to go abroad, and through Penn Abroad, I am fortunate to have done that in different capacities. East Asia has been my region of interest since I started Penn and is also the area that I hope to focus on for my senior thesis next year. First, traveling to Japan and exploring the trilateral historical dynamic between three East Asian countries helped me understand what lies beneath contemporary interactions. This complemented my China seminar, which focused on modern topics well. Being able to speak in another language with locals allowed
me to reach a much deeper level of understanding regarding topics like the economy, politics, and global relations. Lastly, while interning in Portugal, I was able to meet clients from all around the world, foreshadowing the work I hope to pursue in the future. It was amazing to connect all my global experiences and apply my skill sets to assist a small tourism company in catering to different international communities.
Other Highlights
- Visiting a US military base while abroad in Japan: This was an incredible opportunity to hear from active service members deployed overseas. It was informative to learn about their adapted lifestyles and envision what a similar one could look like for us students.
- My final presentation for the course on “Changes in Study Abroad Practices in China: Throughout the course, we researched our respective project topics, leaving room for local interviews to be conducted once we arrived. I thoroughly enjoyed presenting to a foreign audience and receiving substantive feedback on my presentation.
- Delivering tours and tastings while working in Portugal: I appreciated how much hands- on learning was involved in my internship program, as none of us had any previous knowledge of the wine and tourism business. Successfully completing my first tasting and tour was a full-circle experience that I will remember forever.
- Taking weekend trips to a variety of European countries: Many countries were as close as 1-2 hours from Portugal, making day and weekend trips extremely affordable and feasible.
