Hi everyone, my name is Julia Fitzgerald! I am super excited for Cyprus as I am trying to travel as much as possible after not being able to for a few years because of Covid. I am a student at the Swanson School of Engineering and am planning on majoring in Industrial Engineering. I am very indecisive so I don’t know exactly what I want to do with my degree quite yet, but a path I am interested in is possibly consulting, because I love travel, or healthcare because I could see my work directly helping people. On campus, play on the Women’s Volleyball Club, and am currently writing this post from Kansas City Missouri, as we are here for 4 days for nationals! This first year, I have focused more on academics and been hesitant to add to much extracurriculars to my plate as first-year engineering can be a lot, so that is pretty much it for organizations I am a part of. However, some of my hobbies include running, especially outdoors in nice weather. I also enjoy reading, which I unfortunately have not gotten to do a lot of this school year but am looking forward to doing over the summer. I read a wide range of genres, and some of my favorite books I’ve read the past couple years are Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand, The Beauty in Breaking by Michele Harper, and Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. I really need to get on some classics though, but I’m sure my roommate Meredith (who is also on this trip) will give me some great recs. My favorite things to do on campus in my free time are get Rita’s and ice cream from Dave and Andy’s. I am also a huge fan of the new place, Melt’d on Forbes as I love pretty much anything with cheese.

I am from a really small town in Upstate New York, about an hour northwest of Albany. I live right next to a lake, so boating is a big thing in the summer, and I am also in the Adirondacks, so I really enjoy hiking as well. I was born in Newport, Rhode Island, so I have a lot of family there that we visit at least once a year. Rhode Island is like my second home, and I have so many great memories there. Speaking of traveling, some places I’ve been are, in the US, New York City (probably about 15 times), Cape Cod, Boston, Florida, Delaware down to South Carolina for college visits, and most recently, Los Angeles and San Diego. Outside of the US, I’ve been to Canada (Ottawa, Quebec, Toronto), the Bahamas, and Ireland when I was a toddler which I unfortunately cannot remember. I am extremely Irish and would love to go back sometime soon.

In fact, the fact that my parents pushed traveling at such a young age cultivated my love and appreciation for it. This is why I am so inclined to study abroad. Study abroad programs offer such a unique experience, and I don’t want to limit my travels to summers and school breaks. I chose the Plus3 Program because of the timing; how soon we get to go, as well as the length of the trip. Going away for two weeks right after the spring semester end is ideal for me, as I am looking forward to working and seeing my friends and family this summer. It is also a great way to “test out” studying abroad, before I commit to something longer that I would have to work around my academic plan.

I chose Cyprus specifically because of the warm climate and fascinating culture. The blend of Greek and Turkish customs and traditions is so unique, and I cannot wait to experience and learn about this culture. Additionally, the location of Cyprus is really interesting, as it is a member of the EU but is geographically in the middle east. In terms of climate, I will choose a warm trip all day, coming from the Northeast. Do not underestimate what a nice day can do for your mood, as Pittsburgh’s unpredictable weather patterns has taught me.

Lastly, I would like to say that I am so excited for this trip, to get to know everyone else going, so far everyone seems very nice and interesting. I am looking forward to learning about Cyprus, its culture and language. Most of all, I am excited to share this experience with you and make some memories that will last a lifetime.