Today was our last ‘normal’ day of Plus3 🙁 . After more Vietnamese lessons, we were able to try on our Ao Dais. This is the first time I’ve ever worn an outfit that was entirely fitted just for me and it was a surreal experience. As a taller girl, I almost never have sleeves…
Author: OliviaSchaub
First year at Pitt Business
Day 9: Shifting Perspectives
After a delicious croissant breakfast from Merci Bakery (would recommend), we headed to UEF to learn about Buddhism. I learned the basic concepts, like Nirvana, in my previous schooling, but it was helpful to have a refresher and learn a bit more about its role in Vietnam. Many Vietnamese people do not claim any religion,…
Day 8: Cargo and Cashews
I started the day by suiting up in a hard hat and reflective vest so that we could start our tour around Kat Lai terminal (seen above). We started by looking at the cargo being removed from the ships (cover image). It was super cool to see how efficiently the shipping containers were removed. I…
Day 6-7: Divas at the Delta
This excursion was one of the things on this Plus 3 trip that I’ve been looking toward the most. On our way to the Mekong Delta, we stop at a very nice rest stop to sing a song and grab some drinks. I couldn’t help but compare this one to one of the many Pennsylvania…
Day 5: The Arts (Digital, Martial, and Rhetorical)
Glass Egg is one of the visits I was looking forward to the most. I am not a huge video game fan, except for Just Dance 2017 on my X-Box 360, but it was so interesting to learn about the work process at GlassEgg. One of the first things that they mentioned was the focus…
Day 4: The Layers of War
After some bus karaoke and hair braiding, we arrived at Handicapped Handicrafts. The step by step process for the art pieces was fascinating to watch. The use of everyday items, like eggshells, to make magnificent works just goes to show you don’t need state of the art, expensive materials to make something special. Each piece,…
Day 3: Keeping Vietnam Bright
After a fun night of street food and karaoke with the UEF students, I was excited to see them again for class this morning. We learned more about how to strategize and problem solve if an international organization experiences a disruption. We also celebrated Becky’s birthday with the delicious passion fruit cake. Happy birthday! For the…
Day 2: The Smell of Mooncakes and Money
After my first full night of sleep since Thursday, I was ready to take on Day 2. At UEF I was able to meet 2 new students and work on our business pitch for an idea that we would take from the US and implement in Vietnam. It was quite difficult to come up with…
Day 1: Finger Hearts and Friendly Faces
We’ve been in Vietnam for less than 24 hours, and I have already experienced so many new and interesting things. Everyone I’ve met has been so welcoming and excited to help, even if we couldn’t fully understand one another. From the wonderful tailors who took my measurements this morning to our amazing coordinator, everyone has…
Olivia Schaub, Who’s That?
Predeparture Plus3 Vietnam Hello, I am Olivia Schaub, and I am from Baltimore, Maryland. I am a first-year student at Pitt Business and the Fredrick Honors College and am currently undeclared in my major and pursuing a Leadership and Ethics Certificate. Outside of class, I enjoy swimming, reading, and going to K-pop concerts with my…