One thing that has surprised me so far while living with my host family is the large variety of foods that they eat on a day-to-day basis. When learning about coming on this trip, we were told to expect a lot of the same foods, like gallos pinto for breakfast, and a lot of meals…
Category: School of Business
Busy Heredia!
Today, we did numerous fun activities in downtown Heredia. This was the first “work day” that we experience while being in Costa Rica. I was surprised to find that our host mom worked from home. I expected most jobs in Costa Rica to be in person. She had to get on a meeting on her…
Warmth of Everyday Life in Costa Rica
There have been many things about the homestays that I did not expect. One of the first things that surprised me was the layout of the house. The front door and garage are basically the same entrance, and the back door to the patio is constantly open all day. I also learned that homes here…
Postcards from Morocco: Darija and Dirhams
Classes, bargaining, and a new language! Today’s class sessions at the Center for Cross Cultural Learning began with learning Arabic and the art of negotiating. Both class sessions were incredibly unique, and I found myself enjoying trying out different phrases and greetings in Arabic. Trying to hold a conversation with another person was really fun,…
The Beautiful Game
Although I think learning a new language would be more useful in my life, I prefer learning how to bargain. Walking away after successfully getting your what you want is like a dopamine rush. Today, during our bargaining simulation, me and a few other guys wanted to apply our newly-learned skills in the Medina. We…
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…
Day 1: A Taste of What’s to Come
Today we met and were welcomed by UEF (University of Economics and Finance) in an incredible ceremony! It was a ton of fun meeting students and getting seeing part of the Vietnamese culture as well as getting to eat some incredible food! The biggest difference in culture I noticed today was the driving culture. I…
Touched Down In Quito, Ecuador!
Hola! I have officially arrived in Quito and have spent a full day here! So far, I have consumed a lot of coffee and tried many different chocolates. We arrived at the airport and boarded our flight at 6. We had a 7-hour layover in Miami and made sure to take advantage of it! We…
May 10th: I’m waterfall-ing in love with Costa Rica
Our first day of activities was a perfect beginning to our trip. We got the chance to visit, and tour, a strawberry farm, Poás Volcano, La Paz Waterfall Gardens. At La Paz, there was a clear sustainable relationship between the people, land, and commerce. Within the exhibits, they appear to be able to maintain a…
“Hold On Tight Spider Monkey!”
Today was our first full day in Costa Rica. We started out strong with our strawberry tour, volcano visit, and the waterfall gardens that were so incredible we didn’t have enough time to go to Doka. All three locations use their land to foster community, keep culture alive, and protect the environment. La Paz was…
My first day in Costa Rica!
Today we visited La Paz and a strawberry farm. The experience was like no other. The waterfalls at La Paz were beautiful and the strawberries were delicious. Both these two locations had something in common. They both were able to build a sustainable relationship between people, land, and commerce. La Paz did the best at…
Steaks, Streets, and First Impressions
After a long day, and night, of traveling, we finally arrived in Buenos Ares around 11:00 in the morning, and i was immediately excited to start exploring. One of the first things I noticed was our hotel room, which ended up exceeding my expectations. We had two full bathrooms and a small living room area,…
May 10th- Toucan Do It: Sustainability the La Paz Way
My day at the La Paz showed me there was a perfect demonstration of a sustainable relationship between people, land and commerce. I think it’s very neat how La Paz turned a natural environment into a tourist attraction and an economic resource. On the commerce side of things, the waterfalls, rainforest trails, and wildlife exhibits bring in…
Buenos Aires Day 1!
After a full day of traveling, our group finally arrived in Buenos Aires to begin our Plus3 experience. Even driving from the airport, I could already tell the city had a completely different atmosphere from anywhere I’ve been before. The architecture throughout the city immediately stood out to me, many of the buildings look historic…
Gus Coleman – Day 1: Arriving in Buenos Aires
We arrived at the Buenos Aires airport at around 11:00 in the morning after an overnight flight. First we checked into the hotel and then we went to have a welcome Lunch hosted by the IES Abroad company. They served us steak, vegetables, potatoes, and sausage. The steak came with a chimi-churi sauce and it…
Postcards from Morocco: A Day in Rabat
Written by AI: Living the “Rbati” Rhythm: A Dispatch from Morocco’s Capital Rabat is a city that defies the typical Moroccan stereotype of chaotic souks and dusty desert roads. As the administrative heart of the country, life here moves with a sophisticated, coastal elegance that feels remarkably balanced. Broad, palm-lined boulevards and manicured green spaces—like…
Postcards from Morocco: First Stop, Casablanca
And we’re off! After two flights, multiple delays, and around 12 hours of travel, we made it to Morocco! We landed in Casablanca pretty early in the morning, but that gave us the opportunity to explore. Morocco immediately felt different from what I expected in the best way possible. Before arriving, I imagined a very…
Grass is Greener in the Medina
Life in Rabat moves at a calm and balanced pace, blending modern living with deep historical roots. As the capital of Morocco, the city is known for its clean streets, peaceful atmosphere, and beautiful coastal views along the Atlantic Ocean. Residents enjoy relaxing walks through the medina, quiet afternoons in the Andalusian Gardens, and evenings…
From Pitt to Patagonia
Hey! My name is Dylan Cohn, and I am a student at the University of Pittsburgh Studying business majoring in finance and accounting with a minor in mathematics. I am originally from Pittsburgh, and outside of academics, I love to golf, hang out with my friends, and play video games. I have always been someone…
Day 1: It’s been a long day
We arrived in Casablanca at 7:15 am. Weirdly, I was not too tired getting off the long flight, but soon enough it caught up to me. When we got out of the airport, I was initially surprised because I really had no idea what to expect. As we made our way more into the city…