Jack McGivern, Business Plus3 Germany, Summer 2026
When I came here to Pitt in August of 2023, I felt like Oakland was impossible to traverse. With all the construction, traffic, and noise, I thought I would never be able to get the hang of getting to my classes on time and knowing where everything is. While I thought this was a monumental task, it was absolutely nothing compared to trying to navigate a new city in a country where English isn’t the first language many people speak. Living abroad has many challenges that I think could be easily conquered if someone comes in with not only an understanding of culture, but also an understanding of the layout of their host city. While it’s fun to wander and figure things out as they come, there can be a lot of stress involved when you’re lost in a place where you’re not comfortable. Personally, towards the end of my trip, I ran out of clean clothes and had to find my way to a laundromat. While I got there eventually, I had a few hiccups that made doing laundry a whole lot more stressful than it normally is. Had I been a little more prepared and game-planned better, I would’ve avoided all of that stress. Additionally, I would recommend bringing clothes for all types of weather. Personally, I checked this one off my list, and I was prepared for rain or shine, but I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to have proper clothing for these scenarios. It’s quite hard to immerse yourself in another culture when you’re freezing in the rain, so dodging that bullet is of the utmost importance. While weather attire is really important, having good shoes that you can walk a lot in is also extremely important. In my personal experience, my study abroad included some of the most walking in a day I’ve ever done in my life (27,000 steps or so, to be exact), and I am extremely grateful that I had the right footwear to take on that task. Overall, you can never be too prepared to step into a study abroad experience. While it’s important to embrace the unknown and keep an open mind, being prepared can eliminate stress and enhance an abroad experience tenfold.
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