My name is Elise O’Brien and I am a multidisciplinary scholar, a masters student in two programs: Folklore stud
I am a quarter Puerto Rican, quarter Chilean and half Filipina.
I accomplished a lot during these months at Transvision. I can honestly say now that this experience has ended that I feel like I am a different person than when it began. I learned so much about myself, my career goals and aspirations, other people and cultures, and life in general. This internship didn’t just teach me professional skills, it also exposed me to different cultural customs and values and gave me a glimpse into how people live around the world.
The organization that I interned with is a tech start-up called Homer. Homer is a home organization phone application aimed at making the lives of homeowners easier by creating a digital home binder in which users can input all their home appliances, manuals, maintenance schedules etc. I worked in marketing for the company; however, they do not currently have a marketing department due to the nature of being a start-up.
My time in Japan was a dream, with each day offering something new. In Tokyo, I explored ancient Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines that have stood for over a thousand years, enjoyed the lively atmosphere of annual Sakura (Cherry Blossom) festivals during their peak season, and spent evenings wandering the vibrant, lit-up streets of Shibuya, Ginza and Shinjuku.
Coming back to the US from Madrid was a mix of emotions. I felt grateful to return to my friends and family, but it was very hard to say goodbye to friends in Spain. During the last few days in Spain, I felt really nostalgic about everything. I was sad to ride the metro for the last time, sad to get my favorite coffee for the last time — everything felt meaningful and sad to leave behind. It took a lot of work to get everything in order to leave. After being in Spain for several months, I had accumulated a lot of stuff, and it took many hours to pack.
Hi, my name is Miriam Escoto! I am going into my junior year at UO, as a Global Studies major with minors in Global Health and Non-Profit Administration. I am a Mexican American student, a big part of my identity that has influenced my future career goals. As I have grown up learning how to straddle the two different cultures I identify with, I have become extremely interested in cross-cultural understanding, particularly in communities abroad. This summer, I am studying abroad through GEO on the Global Health and Service Learning in Ghana program.
Spending a term living, working, and experiencing Barcelona was incredible. I was placed with a fashion brand called AMEOS Eyewear. They offer unique, luxury sunglasses in flashy colors and fun designs. The work experience was the highlight of my adventure. Running around the city alongside my boss helped me feel like a local. A typical day consisted of designing AD's, meeting with partner businesses, and planning and executing photoshoots. I was lucky enough to be placed in a company that had a startup mindset with big brand success.
I was fortunate enough to receive the Gilman Scholarship, which is available for Pell Grant recipients. Receiving the Gilman Scholarship made it possible for me to study abroad. Prior to my time in London, I had never been to Europe or flown on an airplane alone. It was an exciting experience that helped me step outside of my comfort zone and become more independent. I loved all of the architecture in London, and the abundance of art and museums. I highly encourage anyone contemplating studying abroad in London to go for it.
