Penn Abroad Leaders

  • Person

Lala Mustafa

Contact Ask Me About… As I’m already studying in a country that isn’t my own as an international student, people could ask why I’d choose to go abroad again. For me, each new environment pushes me to re-learn how I operate, from the way I approach assignments, to how I communicate in group settings, to…

  • Person

Hans Bode

Contact Ask Me About… Starting with GRIP: Power Up Gambia, my first-ever summer internship was also my first time working in Africa. What made this experience unique was learning how to navigate a completely new culture while carrying out my first professional role. I was adapting to new work expectations, living in a rural setting,…

  • Person

Kristina Pytko

Contact Ask Me About… If other students ask me just one thing about my experience abroad, I’d tell them about celebrating Christmas in July. Coming from the northern hemisphere, July has always meant sunscreen, iced tea, and maybe a beach trip, not scarves and Stollen. But in Australia, July is mid-winter, and the city embraces…

  • Person

David Zheng

Contact Ask Me About… Student accommodations. This opportunity was one of the various paths I could’ve chosen in terms of housing in the grand city of Dublin. I was stuck between a homestay, which allows me to be culturally immersed with a family that is already well settled in the neighborhoods of Dublin; or living…

  • Person

Mudit Marwaha

Contact Ask Me About… These are a couple of questions I’d be happy to expand upon if asked! How do you manage traveling without knowing the local language?I found creative ways to navigate transportation (sleeper bus!), order food (local apps), and explore new places despite the language barrier, and I’m happy to share practical tips…

  • Person

Ishika Narsingani

Ask Me About… What it was like to be abroad for the first time, taking only Penn classes while also working in Spanish. My GRIP placement in Medellín was my first extended time living outside the United States, and it pushed me to adapt quickly to a completely new environment both academically and professionally. I…

  • Person

Faruk Ecirli

Contact Ask me about… Other students should ask me, “How was it like not being home for almost 6 months?” As an international student studying in the US, I have navigated the complexities of being away from home for extended periods, but this year was particularly unique. I had not been back home since after…

  • Person

William Li

Contact Ask Me About… I had the exciting opportunity to live in a homestay in Uruguay. While daunting at first, it turned out to be a beautiful experience. This made for the ultimate cultural exchange where I was able to have deep, heartfelt conversations with my host family. We also shared slang in our languages,…

  • Person

Belinda Kumi

Contact Ask Me About… My Experience Abroad Taking a PGS and traveling to Mumbai, India was a great international experience. It allowed me to truly embrace the culture of another country. I was able to talk with local people, eat local foods, and also explore cool places within the country. This experience related to my…

  • Person

Aravind Krishnan

Contact Ask Me About… My Experience Abroad I applied for the PGS Australia course initially because its title piqued my interest. Being fascinated by traditional medicine and different healthcare modalities in rural settings, “Seeing/Hearing Globally Indigenous Music and the Arts of Healing” perfectly suited this fascination.  With most of my courses being very quantitative, and…