Sierra Williams
CAS ’27
Cultural & Linguistic Anthropology, Linguistics, and East Asian Studies
PGS: Sacred Stuff: Religious Bodies, Places, and Objects in England
GRIP: Wine, Heritage, and Hospitality in Porto, Portugal
PGRI: PEACE in Mexico
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- Learning languages through everyday interactions
- Balancing a full-time internship while exploring a new city
- Choosing a Penn Abroad program based on your interests
- Differences between studying, interning, and doing service-learning abroad
Through PGS in England, I had my first experience studying abroad through a structured academic program, exploring my interests in history, culture, and language. Through GRIP in Porto, Portugal, I lived independently for two months while working full-time at a gelateria, using English, Spanish, and Portuguese in a multilingual workplace and experiencing Portuguese culture through everyday life. Through PGRI PEACE in Guadalajara, Mexico, I participated in service-based learning and community engagement, giving me another perspective on learning alongside students and organizations in a different cultural environment.
My Experience Abroad
My three Penn Global experiences abroad each grew from a different part of my academic and professional interests as a Linguistics, Cultural & Linguistic Anthropology, and East Asian Languages & Civilizations triple major with a minor in Japanese. I intentionally chose programs that would let me explore culture through different forms of learning: academic study, professional experience, and community engagement.
Through PGS: Sacred Stuff in England, I wanted to explore my interests in religion, material culture, cultural heritage, and museums beyond the classroom. My anthropology coursework and museum experience have made me interested in how objects, architecture, and sacred spaces carry memory and meaning, and visiting these sites firsthand allowed me to connect academic theory with the interpretation and preservation of cultural heritage.
I chose GRIP in Porto, Portugal because I wanted to apply my interests in language, cultural exchange, and heritage to a professional environment. Working full-time at a gelateria while living independently gave me the opportunity to use English, Spanish, and Portuguese in everyday interactions and explore how food, tourism, language, and local history shape cultural experiences. Porto was also personally meaningful because of my Portuguese family history.
Finally, I chose PGRI PEACE in Guadalajara, Mexico to explore community-engaged research, education, and Latin American cultural contexts. Its emphasis on storying and collaborative work with educators and youth connected directly to my interests in anthropology, language, and equity.
Together, these experiences have helped me understand how my academic interests can translate into future work in museums, cultural heritage, and community-centered research.
Other Highlights
- Discovering Oxford and London — PGS England
One of my biggest highlights from PGS was visiting Oxford and experiencing its museums, libraries, historic sites, and campus firsthand. I had never seriously considered England before this program, but seeing Oxford as an academic and cultural environment made me want to one day pursue graduate study there. I also fell in love with London and left with a much broader worldview than I had arrived with. - Learning three languages at work — GRIP Porto, Portugal
At my GRIP internship at Gelataria Sincelo, I worked in a multilingual environment where English, Spanish, and Portuguese were constantly spoken. I learned Portuguese through everyday interactions with coworkers and customers rather than only through a classroom, while developing professional skills in customer service, teamwork, and adapting to a fast-paced workplace. - Experiencing Porto through São João — GRIP Porto, Portugal
Celebrating São João, Porto’s largest festival, on my birthday was one of my most memorable moments abroad. Participating in local traditions, sharing the celebration with thousands of people, and watching fireworks over the Douro helped me understand how cultural identity is created through everyday community experiences. - Learning to slow down and listen — PGRI PEACE Guadalajara, Mexico
Through PEACE, I learned to approach research as listening, connection, and reflection rather than simply producing findings. Working across cultures and hearing different perspectives strengthened my commitment to ethical, community-centered research and changed how I think about my future work in anthropology and museums.
