Pitt Global Experiences Students' Blog

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  • Advice from a Program Alum

    If you are thinking about studying on the Pitt Plus3 United Kingdom program, DO IT! You will make lifelong memories with your new friends while expanding your knowledge. I am going to share with you some advice about packing for the trip, getting the most out of your studies, and how to enjoy yourself while staying safe.

    To begin with, pack as light as you can. Believe me, I know how hard it is to resist bringing five pairs of shoes and twenty different outfits. This trip is only two weeks long so be sure to pack good walking sneakers (you will do a lot of sightseeing), a pair... Read More

  • Goals Influenced

    This eye-opening global experience influenced my professional and personal goals. While I was in the United Kingdom, I had to opportunity to investigate a research topic and hear from many nursing professionals about their different duties. This inspired me to think about how I can enact change in healthcare in the US. In addition, I experienced a new culture by going to local pubs, visiting museums, and exploring cities.

    During our very first meeting of the Plus3 UK class, we split up into groups that we would be working with throughout the trip. Initially, my group wanted to... Read More

  • Daily Life in Cyprus

    To start most of my days I would wake up on time (except for one day) yet still rush to get ready. Although I always wanted to go out for breakfast, our days started too early and I never had enough time, so I ate the hotel breakfast. Next, we would board the bus and head off to our adventures. We never really got enough sleep so we would take epic bus naps that really hit the spot. We usually had business meetings earlier in the day and cultural events later in the afternoon. We visited ports, pharmaceutical companies, concrete companies, and more ports. For cultural events, we visited... Read More

  • Food, Food and More Food

    One of my all-time favorite ways to experience a new culture is through food, so you can bet that I ate a lot of Cyprian meals. I always made an effort to go to local restaurants for meals rather than chains. A lot of Cyprian cuisine is determined by the resources available on the island. Despite being an island, Cyprian cuisine does not include a lot of seafood. The water surrounding Cyprus has a lot of invasive species that diminish the fish population. We still went to a fish tavern and despite hating seafood I made it a goal to try everything they served. I even ate a fisheye! Mostly,... Read More

  • There truly is not a bad place to live

    Living in London is such a unique experience based on the individual neighborhood you live in. What is so special about London, however, is that there truly is not a bad place to live. No matter where you are in the city, you are never far from a tube, bus, or train station, which makes the city seem so much smaller and more accessible. My living situation in London is definitely interesting, but I love everything about it. I live in a seven-person flat in the East End region of London, just a ten-minute walk away from the Tower of London and the Tower Bridge. Of the seven people in my... Read More

  • The best way to really experience a different culture is through food

    As a self-proclaimed “foodie,” I truly believe that food is the window to the soul. I would venture to say that the best way to really experience a different culture is through food, and London is perhaps the best city in the world for discovering a culture (or cultures) through food. One of the things that I have done in my time in London is I have tried to mix up where I eat every week, whether it be trying a new restaurant nearby or cooking for myself at the flat. I would say that I typically cook anywhere from three to five nights each week and go out to eat the other days. As for the... Read More

  • Interacting with locals - Germany

    Interacting with the people of Germany was one of the biggest positives of my experience studying abroad. Every person I had the chance to talk to welcomed me to the country with open arms. The people of Germany were more than happy to share their customs, traditions, and experiences with me. The students and faculty of the University of Augsburg, where I had the chance to study while I was in Germany, were the best hosts that any student could ask for. The German students that I worked with were very relatable, and we became friends by exchanging stories about... Read More

  • Get to know your fellow Pittsburgh students

    There are many pieces of advice that I would give to other students planning to study on this program, especially now that I’ve had time to reflect. The first piece of advice that I would give to others planning to study on this program is to get to know your fellow Pittsburgh students who are participating in this program with you. The people around the Plus3 Germany program are really what make it stand out from the other programs. By getting to know your fellow students, you can really begin to build a family abroad. Also, building relationships with your... Read More

  • Housing in London

    I am living in an apartment in the east of London.  The neighborhood is in between The City of London and Whitechapel, part of the Tower Hamlets postal code and technically called Aldgate.  The apartment building itself is inconspicuous, sitting in a street that contains a pub, a grocery store, other businesses, and other apartment buildings as well.  My apartment itself is a great size.  We have a kitchen, living room, and dining area that is all open.  There are three bedrooms and three bathrooms, as the apartment fits seven students.  A common feature in European bathrooms is heated... Read More

  • Student advice - London

    I have two pieces of advice for anyone thinking about this program in the future.  Firstly, this is a study abroad, it is meant to be fun.  That does not mean, however, that there is not work to be done and stressful situations.  You will have to balance classes and an internship, or a full semester’s worth of classes if you elect to not complete an internship.  I had an internship, so I can speak to this balance.  Twenty hours (which is the required hours of the internship in this project) takes up a lot more of your time than you would think.  You will likely have to work three or four... Read More