I have been absolutely loving my time abroad in Italy and my favorite part so far has been taking weekend adventures to other cities in the area. Siena is very centrally located with a great train and bus system that makes it easy to get around Tuscany. In my time here I have visited Genoa, Portofino, Castiglioncello, and Florence. Traveling around and seeing different cultures and traditions in Italy has been spectacular and has fulfilled my desire to stay active.

Hey everyone! I'm a little over halfway through my internship in Japan, and it’s been amazing. Is it what I expected? Yes and no – and that's what makes it so exciting and challenging at the same time. 

Let me tell you, being an African American student in Japan has been quite the experience. The hardest part? Definitely the language barrier. Despite my efforts to learn Japanese before and during my stay here, I still find myself fumbling through conversations like a toddler learning to walk. It's humbling, to say the least! 

Ciao!

My Time Abroad: An Overview

My time abroad in Vietnam has been a fascinating journey filled with both expected and unexpected experiences. As a recent finance graduate, I was eager to immerse myself in the professional and cultural landscape of Vietnam, and so far, it has been an enriching experience.

Expectations vs. Reality

Introduction and Identities

My name is Pierre Tran, and I am a recent finance graduate currently interning in Vietnam. As someone deeply interested in finance and eager to immerse myself in Vietnamese culture, this opportunity represents a significant step in my professional and personal development. My identities as a finance professional and a Vietnamese expatriate shape my perspectives and experiences as I navigate this journey.

Pre-Arrival Considerations

As the study abroad trip in London slowly came to an end, I found it really important to reflect on all the experiences, especially with the amount of things we did throughout the trip. Overall, the London in a Global Context trip is one of the most special school trips I have ever been a part of, and the people are really what made the experience so great, apart from being in such a cool city like London. During the return to the U.S., it was hard to just pack up and leave especially after being so adjusted to the people and lifestyle in another country only after a month.

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I envisioned being a student doing a study abroad in a developing country as a non-traditional student who doesn’t speak

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Ciao!

Ciao! My name is Mallory Kent and I am a soon-to-be graduate here at UO! As a former student-athlete at UO, I had the privilege of competing on the Acrobatics and Tumbling program. Upon completing the Siena program, I will earn my Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and will begin my MBA at UO this Fall. In addition to my athletic pursuits, I've been heavily involved in campus activities, and staying actively engaged has been a remarkable privilege. Balancing work, academics, social life, and sports was challenging but immensely rewarding.

Oh be still my heart, my life is being blessed and full of culture, authentic food (including beans, the musical fruit), new friends, life lessons and my heart continues to grow and expand in so many ways.