GRIP: Sustainable Development in Monteverde, Costa Rica As a student, you are always told that the proper response to gracias (thank you) is de nada (you’re welcome). It’s drilled into your head as a phrase of respect, a phrase of gratitude. However, in Monteverde –and in all of Costa Rica– the proper response to gracias…
GRIP: FinTech in Medellín, Colombia When I landed in Medellín for my GRIP internship, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. I knew I’d be working with a large construction and real estate company, but the day-to-day reality ended up being much more dynamic and hands-on than I imagined. Within my first week, I found…
GRIP: Business in Sydney, Australia If you told me back at Penn that my Google Calendar would be fuller on weekends in July than it ever was during the semester, I would’ve laughed out loud. Just like I would’ve never imagined myself celebrating Christmas with scarves, mulled wine, and the most Christmassy German treat, Stollen,…
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…
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,…
GRIP: Business Development in Singapore One of my most profound realisations I had over my two months interning in Singapore was definitely one akin to culture shock, but perhaps not in the way you might be expecting. Everyone’s heard of the term ‘workplace culture’: how important it is, how prevalent it is. I’ll admit I…
GRIP: Ashoka in Mexico City, Mexico As my time in Mexico comes to an end, I’ve been thinking a lot about what I’ve experienced, what I’ve learned, and what I’ll carry with me. I’m proud of how much I’ve pushed myself to try new things, both big and small. I cut my hair, wandered through…
GRIP: Lien Centre for Social Innovation in Singapore Being in Singapore has felt like stepping into a new version of myself. The city moves fast, but somehow it’s also helped me slow down. For the first time in a while, I’ve had the space to notice how I move through the world when no one’s…
GRIP: Lien Centre for Social Innovation in Singapore Singapore is one of the most unique places I’ve ever experienced. It’s not just a country — it’s also a city, and somehow it manages to feel both global and local at the same time. Located near the equator, it’s warm and humid all year round. The…
GRIP: Business in Sydney, Australia Dear Pre-GRIP Isabella, You looked at your signed GRIP commitment contract, thinking, “What did I just get myself into?” As you made your travel and internship placement arrangements, you processed that you were actually spending this summer away from home. Not just an Amtrak ride away, but a 22-hour plane…