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,…
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: 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…
GRIP: Wine, Heritage, and Hospitality in Porto, Portugal On my last day in Porto, Portugal I looked out towards the Dom Luís I Bridge stretching over the Douro River and tears poured down my face. I wasn’t prepared to leave the incredible people I had met during my GRIP experience and had been dreading my…
GRIP: Engineering Research in Aachen, Germany I arrived in sunny and lush Aachen 12 days ago, and have since developed some semblance of routine. On most weekdays, I utilize the city’s excellent public transit system to bus from my dorm, close to the border of the Netherlands, over to campus research and learning facilities. I…
GRIP: Media in Seoul in Seoul, South Korea Embarking upon my summer journey in Seoul as a marketing intern has brought forth already many unforgettable experiences, blending creative workdays with the vibrant energy of this dynamic city. From navigating new neighborhoods, collecting photobooth memories with friends, to sharing delicious meals, every moment brings something new…
GRIP: Eurolife FHH in Athens, Greece A key skill that I developed was the process of making a decision on an investment opportunity. Coming in, I thought it was mainly about the technical aspect and numbers that drive a decision to invest in a company, bond, or option, but that there is so much more…