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: Power Up Gambia Madison Shelton, one of the Global Research and Internship Correspondents, shares her experience abroad during Summer 2025. Follow along with the group of correspondents on our blog and look out for their images on the @pennabroad Instagram feed. Hi everyone! It’s Maddie here checking in from The Gambia! I have spent a considerable amount of time in what is…
GRIP: Sustainable Development in Monteverde, Costa Rica Arriving in the country of ticos and ticas in the middle of the night trying to understand everything from the language to the unique ways of living felt surreal. Although I was completely lost at first, I soon encountered a kind taxi driver who patiently engaged with my…
GRIP: Social Impact in Buenos Aires, Argentina Coming from a Spanish-speaking household, I assumed that adjusting to life in Buenos Aires would be seamless. I spoke Spanish—so why wouldn’t I blend in like a local? That illusion was quickly shattered, even before I landed. On my flight, I sat next to a native Argentinian whose…
GRIP: Taipei City Government Upon arriving in Taipei, I was immediately struck by the vibrant energy of the city—the fast pace, the sounds, and the buzz of daily life. On my first day at the Department for Youth, I joined the other interns for orientation on the 9th floor of the Taipei City Government Office.…
GRIP: Nursing Research at Trinity College Dublin Being abroad has surprised me in many ways, but one of my main takeaways so far is the amount of growth that can happen in an international setting. Penn’s Global Research and Internship program has taught me so many things, even in the first few weeks of being…
GRIP: Power Up Gambia The first two weeks of my internship have been an incredible journey, and I have learned so much in just the past few days. Between hands-on learning and navigating a completely new place, it’s been a very exciting time. On my first few days working at Bwiam General Hospital, I felt…
John Burgess is a senior in CAS studying International Relations and Middle Eastern Studies, with a minor in Economics. This summer, John will be working at Swicorp Infra Capital (SIC) in Tunis, Tunisia. SIC is an asset management firm that finances sustainable infrastructure projects. John is from Cape Cod, Massachusetts and is excited to be living…