Pitt- Recognized Programs (PRPs) are facilitated by third-party organizations that Pitt has worked with for years; they are vetted to ensure that they meet Pitt’s standards for academics, health, safety, and security.
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How is German Academic Culture Different from Pitt?
Kim Heinzelmann, AJY Heidelberg Fall 2025 With the weather growing slowly but steadily colder and the trees losing more and more leaves each day, the approach of winter is apparent. Along with this awareness came the realization that, now towards the end of November, my friends and classmates in the US only have a couple…
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Tongue-Tied: Challenges with Navigating Daily Life in a Different Language
Kim Heinzelmann, AJY Heidelberg Fall 2025 I grew up speaking English and only English. In fact, I was already in my teenage years when my school started offering foreign language courses. That aside, once I began, it did not take very long for me to realize that I absolutely loved learning languages. Throughout high school,…
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Exploring Tokyo: My Study Abroad Life with CIEE
Ethan Tran, CIEE: Tokyo Summer 2025 Hello, my name is Ethan Tran, and I am currently participating in the CIEE Summer Japanese Studies program in Tokyo, Japan, which is run by CIEE, a non-profit organization that promotes international education and exchange programs for students and educators. I take classes at J. F. Oberlin University’s Shinjuku…
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Insights and Advice for Living Abroad
Hunter Fanella, SRAS: Georgia Summer 2025 Before my 8-week trip in Tbilisi, Georgia, I had never been outside of the United States. The furthest I had lived from my hometown was simply an hour away in Pittsburgh. Although I had acclimated to living with roommates, without my parents, and in a new city, living in…
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Daily Life in Japan
An Le, CIEE: Kyoto, Japan Summer 2025 The one truly surprising thing about daily life in Kyoto was how early the sun rises compared to Pennsylvania. The light would already be hitting the corners of my eyes by about 4:40 a.m, and the city would be awake with students walking to school by 6:00 a.m.…
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Advice for Future CIEE Participants
An Le, CIEE: Kyoto, Japan Summer 2025 The scariest part of participating in my study abroad program was not knowing what to expect. Unfortunately, Pitt in Japan was cancelled this year due to low enrollment and I had to find a new program instead. CIEE is a Pitt Recognized Program, but there was still relatively…
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Exploring Kyoto and Tokyo
An Le, CIEE: Kyoto, Japan Summer 2025 Kyoto feels incredibly easy to simply exist in. Everything interesting to see is within a walkable distance, and the public transportation system makes up for the parts that aren’t. Upon completion of my study abroad program, I went to Tokyo for a week to compare the two cities.…
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Dear Future Study Abroad Students
Adeline Meinert, ISA Madrid Spring 2025 I read alot about study abroad advice before studying abroad and enjoyed hearing people’s tips and experiences. If I was to give advice to someone who was planning to study abroad, here is what I would say: Go outside of touristy areas. As funny as it sounds, when studying…
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Adapting to a New Academic System
Adeline Meinert, ISA Madrid Spring 2025 I studied abroad in Madrid, Spain through a partner provider called International Studies Abroad (ISA) and my classes were at a local private university in Madrid called Universidad Nebrija. The academic culture within my new classroom environment was quite different from what I am accustomed to at Pitt and…
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Living with a Spanish Host Family
Adeline Meinert, ISA Madrid Spring 2025 This spring semester I studied abroad in Madrid, Spain. One of my goals for studying abroad was to really integrate myself into and learn about Spanish culture. My advisors and people I know who have studied abroad told me that one of the best ways to achieve this was…