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The Times Study Abroad | University Center for International Studies | University of Pittsburgh October 2016 Traveling

Casey Talay Writing Sample

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Page 1: Casey Talay Writing Sample

The

Times

Study Abroad | University Center for International Studies | University of Pittsburgh

October 2016

Traveling

Page 2: Casey Talay Writing Sample

A Word of Advice...

About the author: SAO Intern Casey Talay is a senior studying Communication and Public & Professional Writing. She spent two summers abroad: first in Prague, Czech Republic and then in Dublin, Ireland.

Hello Pitt study abroad-ers! I hope you’re having fun settling in to your new home away from home! I hate to have to mention anything negative about this awesome experience, but there’s something I wanted to warn you about before you were abroad for too long. Though I consider my own study abroad experiences to be some of the best times of my life, there is a sort of dark cloud over my memories that I would love for you to avoid. So bear with me for the next 2 paragraphs, and then you can get back to your worry-free international frolicking! I studied abroad in Prague, Czech Republic, the summer after my freshman year. For anyone who isn’t familiar with the Czech language, it looks to the untrained eye like an unintelligible combination of Russian and German—terrifying to any unilingual American. The absolute worst thing that could have happened was for me to be faced with an emergency situation that required me to know Czech. So naturally, that’s exactly what happened. On my third day in Prague, I was on a Segway tour of the city when my brakes failed going down a hill and I took a ridiculous and embarrassing fall, landing hard on my elbows. The intelligent thing would obviously have been to go straight to a doctor. But my nervous 19-year-old self was far too intimidated to do any such thing. Instead, I forced a smile for my friends and supervisors, told them I was

fine, and proceeded to wince every time anyone so much as brushed against my elbows for the remainder of my trip. Three months later, I was back in the US and my elbows felt much the same as they did the day I fell. By the time I finally made my way to an American doctor, they said there was nothing they could profitably do—the bones had already begun to heal, though they would have probably been done healing by then if I had gotten medical attention as soon as I had gotten the injuries. So, I was left cringing in pain well into November. And the cherry on top of this painful and humiliating ice cream sundae? One of my classmates got sick near the end of our stay, went with one of our supervisors to a doctor, and was taken care of with no trouble at all. Moral of the story: GO TO A DOCTOR WHEN YOU ARE SICK. I know that many of you are in countries where getting medical attention may not be as easy or painless as it was in Prague, but I can tell you from personal experience that any amount of inconvenience or frustration is worth it to prevent you from suffering for the rest of your trip. You may be looking at a day of frustration and embarrassment, but you’ll be saving the rest of your time abroad—a time that you very well may remember as the best of your life. Don’t let the dark cloud of injury or disease mar this otherwise amazing experience. Be smart, and enjoy this time to the fullest!

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How to:SavvySouvenirShopping

Before you know it, you’ll be back at home and all you’ll have will be your memories. And what better way to remember your trip than by having a bunch of cool stuff? But between all the overpriced tourist traps and the horrible exchange rates in places like London, souvenir shopping can be pretty dangerous. Here are some tips to help you avoid wasting your money on things you’ll only regret when you get home:

1. Avoid gift shops. At the end of every local attraction or museum, they’ll inevitably make you walk through a crowded store with tons of kitschy, overpriced junk like mugs, t-shirts, and calendars. The bright lights and colorful displays will make you think, “Ooh, that’s nice!”...until you see them in the light of day, where they’ll make you go, “What was I thinking?” Don’t waste your money. If, by the time you get home, you actually regret not buying that “I <3 Madrid” t-shirt, chances are you can get it cheaper on Amazon, anyway.

2. Search for markets. The whole point of buying souvenirs is to get something you could never find anywhere else, right? So be on the lookout for local markets and fairs. There, you can find amazing, one-of-a-kind gifts that really reflect the local culture—not to mention, you can probably haggle for a lower price. Plus, there’s usually tons of great food you can eat while you browse. Be warned, though: if you look really tourist-y, they’ll jack up their prices the minute they see you coming.

3. Get creative. Yes, that Guinness you had on your weekend trip to Dublin was amazing. But is shelling out 25 euros for a t-shirt with the Guinness logo really the best way to remember it? Instead, you could buy a picture frame and a bunch of postcards: one with a view of the city, one with a shot of a perfect Guinness pint, one of the bridge you strolled across to get to the pub—the list goes on and on. Now you’ve got a souvenir that’s cheaper, more memorable, and—if you wait until you get home to buy the frame—easier to transport than the original.

4. Be practical. At some point, you will have to get home. And when you do, you’ll somehow have to fit all of your stuff into your suitcases. As stunning as that 4-ft. long poster of the panoramic view from the top of the Eiffel Tower is, is it really going to make it home without getting wrinkled or torn in your suitcase? If you can’t get your chosen gifts and souvenirs home in one piece, you’d actually be better off with a stupid t-shirt.

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You’re not likely to forget your time overseas or the things you learned while you were there. But your abroad experience doesn’t end when you get off the plane! There are lots of ways for you to continue getting the most of your experience, even when you’re back in the US—and the Study Abroad Office can help. Here are just a few of the ways to continue benefitting from your trip even when it’s over:

1. Follow @PittSAO on social media.2. This may seem like a silly suggestion,

but it’s the easiest way to find out about events and promotions put on by the Study Abroad Office year-round. For example, you can win cash prizes during our International Week Photo Contest, or win gift cards for free food or coffee by submitting a video about your trip during promotional events. Following us on social media is the easiest way to make sure you don’t miss out!

3. Learn to market your experience.4. Did you know that your international

experience gives you a competitive edge in the job market? It’s true—and not just for people intending to enter internationally-focused fields. Study abroad demonstrates characteristics like maturity, responsibility, adaptability—all manner of valuable assets to any position. Stop by the office of Career Development and Placement Assistance to find out how to sell your experience to employers.

Look into UCIS Area Studies certificates. Depending on which program you went on, you may be well on your way to getting an area studies certificate without even knowing it! Besides giving you a comprehensive look at a particular region of the world, these certificates are also a great way to show employers that you are an internationally-focused individual, which is extremely valuable in this increasingly global market. Visit ucis.pitt.edu to learn more.Apply for the Study Abroad Office internship. Last but not least, consider joining our team! Study abroad alumni from all areas of study are invited to apply for the SAO internship each semester. You’ll learn about the inner workings of the international education industry while gaining hands-on experience working in an office and advising fellow students who are thinking of studying abroad. For more details, check out: abroad.pitt.edu/internship.

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