1. Academics

This week we did not have an in-person class, but we did have to watch the movie “Erin Brockovich” and also work on our final projects with our group members. I really enjoyed the movie that we watched, and I think it showed a perspective of someone doing the right thing regardless of the financial burden or the repercussions that may be faced. In comparison to the other movie we watched, “A Civil Action” this a very different outcome. I feel like in the previous movie, we saw the perspective that ego can ruin everything, but also sometimes doing the right thing or fighting for the right thing does not guarantee you anything. In this movie, we saw the opposite perspective and it showed the viewpoint that doing the right thing regardless of the potential outcome is the right thing to do. I think it is important to see this story because in my opinion there is a right or wrong, and PG&E ignoring the health effects was 100% wrong and there needed to be action. Erin Brockovich could have lost everything, but she fought for these people who were underrepresented and taken advantage of. It is a reminder that I hope I always do what’s right even if its hard. I never want to get to the point where I am so focused on money and “winning” that I forget the bigger picture.

 

2. Internship

This week at work was similar to the past weeks. I have my daily routine, which includes “Front Office” assignments. I check all the messages, answer any questions, and provide all the necessary documentation before a stay. However, since Lucia got back from vacation this week, we also had to present our projects that we have been working on. We had not really gotten a lot of guidance on what we were supposed to do, so it was both nice and nerve-racking to share what we had done. We were on the right track for the assignment, but Lucia was able to give us more detailed guidelines and as soon as she did that, the project was exactly how she wanted. It was just a reminder that while American and Italian work environments and methods may be different, we were able to take aspects of both and get the assignment done. Also, this week we had the networking event. My favorite part of the night was my boss meeting some of the Lehigh people and vice versa. Everyone seemed to get along and have really nice conversations. Not to mention, the next day Lucia told me that she “really liked everyone and everyone was so thoughtful.” It was really nice to make these connections and see world’s collide.

 

3. Travel

Last weekend, I was in Rome with Caroline and Arianna, which was so much fun. I think Rome may be my favorite food location. I had the best carbonara since being here. We visited the Vatican and then on Sunday saw the Colosseum. It has been one of my favorite locations I have visited on the trip. I wish I was there for longer.

Then, this weekend, 22 of us rented a villa in Tuscany. It was a special weekend, spending time with everyone on our last weekend trip. We accidentally bought way too much cereal and ate all of it. There was a lot of cooking and a lot of laughs. It is funny to think I barely knew anyone before coming on this trip, and it is really nice to see how we now all have this special bond. As this is the end of our last full week in Italy, I really am grateful for this experience and opening my circle. We all come from our own bubbles at school, but I think having this experience opened new perspectives that would never have been possible if we did not come to Italy together for 6 weeks.

 

 

Caroline and I in Rome

 

The Colosseum

In Tuscany this past weekend.

1. Academics

This week in class we had thoughtful discussions about the movie “A Civil Action” and discussed the different factors and nuances from the movie. It is clear that there isn’t a straight forward solution to problems like this. While there is not a clear solution, it is still concerning that we are not guaranteed safety when it comes to water and things that I consider basic necessities. Also in class, we debated the Apple case and also watched a short documentary about the communities living in the Amazon who have been affected by car manufacturers trying to go green. It was incredibly eye opening to me because something that is usually seen as a good thing and necessary in order to combat climate change is not a perfect solution and a lot of people are still being hurt from it. It’s scary and sad because it makes me wonder if there will ever be a good solution. It is also clear that the most vulnerable communities are not being protected.

2. Internship

This week at work, I was fully remote all five days. Usually I am remote Monday and Friday, but work in person the other days. Lucia was on vacation this week and while she was available when we needed her, it was not as responsive and it was not the same as an in person work environment. It is nice to see that Lucia has a lot of trust in us to do the work. I worked well with Danny this week communicating with him and trying to catch him up on things that he missed from last week because he went home for the week. We were able to ask each other questions and able to solve a lot of things on our own. It is really crazy how we’re almost done with work but I have learned a lot about myself and what I am interested in. My dad works in a similar field as this business so it’s been a lot of fun to have conversations with him and tell him about the things that I’ve learned, so he can try and improve his work as well and also see if he wants to explore different avenues.

3. Travel

Last week, we went to the other towns in Cinque Terre. The first weekend we had gone to Monterosso but this time we explored the 4 other towns which was a lot of fun. The other towns were much different than Monterosso. It was much more rocky which is not something I’ve ever experienced. We went cliff jumping and were able to have a very relaxing weekend. The last 5 weeks have been so busy and I think it was important to experience a new place but also find that balance. This week I am in Rome which is much different than Cinque Terre but also amazing. Today we went to the Vatican and had the opportunity to see the Sistine Chapel. It is really special to be able to see these historical sites and I am looking forward to tomorrow when we go see some other major Rome tourist attractions.

Picture of the beach in Vernazza 

In La Spezia where we stayed for the night. Easy to commute to the Cinque Terre towns

St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome

1) Academics

This week during class we debated the Business Roundtable statement and also watched a movie, “A Civil Action”. The Business Roundtable class was really engaging because it made me think about the power of blanket statements that companies give to the public. At the end of the debate a point was made that at the end of the day it doesn’t matter if there is statement made or not if nothing actually gets done. I think this is something I can take with me whether that is for my expectations with companies or in life in general. Actions speak louder than words. To continue, the movie showed a perspective that it is not possible to have an all or nothing approach when it comes to business and social issues. There has to be a balance. In order to advocated for social issues there has to be a business. It is the reality today that sometimes what’s right doesn’t happen because of business. 

2) Internship

One of the biggest changes this week at BoutiqueNB was that the other intern I work with went home for the week because it was his sister’s wedding. This meant that in addition to my own responsibilities I was also in charge of his. I needed to organize and stay on top of my work even more than before. My responsibility before Danny had left was to learn more about 7 of the 13 properties. Now I had an additional 6 more to focus on. It actually was really cool to learn more about some of the other properties in the company’s portfolio and continue to ask more questions. Along with front office responsibilities and dealing with customers, I have also begun working more on two longer term projects. The beginning of the week is always the busiest so it was hard to prioritize both customer service activities and also my projects. However, as the week went on I was able to work on these projects, was better organized and also really enjoyed doing the research and being involved.

3) Travel

This week two of my best friends from home came to visit and also explore Italy themselves. We traveled to Florence to visit my other best friend from home who is studying abroad there. It was really special to be with everyone and also visit a new city. In Florence, we visited the Duomo, shopped and ate some really great food. I was experiencing some new things with some of my closest and longest friends. 

 

Along with that, on Friday I took over the Instagram for the Lehigh women’s soccer team. It was not something I was necessarily looking forward to but I was able to showcase a day in the life of my time in Milan. I did some normal things such as work, but then also went to the top of the Duomo for the first time.

Me and two of my best friends in Florence

View from the top of the Duomo on Friday

 

Childhood friends, high school friends and college friends 

 

 

 

This week during class, we talked more about corporations as a whole and questioned what a corporation’s real responsibility is and should be. The WSJ article about Merck and pharmaceutical companies was a very interesting discussion that we had. It really made me question if any company is really putting the people first. I feel like a pharmaceutical company should be putting the consumers first, but I see that that is not necessarily the case. It makes me wonder if there is anyone/anything that should be caring for individuals as the first priority. This class is constantly challenging my thinking and my rationale for concepts that seem straightforward. I have been able to see all the nuances, but at the same time it is constantly making me question where we should be placing our trust. 

This week at work I was given more opportunities to work on different projects and given more creative reign. There is a lot of freedom Lucia gives us, which I have adjusted to and have more confidence with. Also, with this being our first full week in the office, I have finally experienced the hybrid working environment. It has been good to see what aspects of both environments I like and how I can remain productive in both places. For example, when I am remote, I know I need to leave my room and work in a cafe with other people. It is what keeps me focused and also a way to still have a social aspect to the workday.

Also, the concept of “breaks” in the workplace in Italy is very different from the US and it has been fun to see the differences each day. Lucia is constantly telling Danny and I to stop staring at our computer for as long as we do and to go for walks and take a break. She says to call a family member, walk around the block or go grab food. It is very different from what we are used to and sometimes I just want to keep working, so it has forced me to try something new and see a different perspective for why breaks are important in Italian culture. 

 

Last week, we visited Lugano, Switzerland which was a very entertaining experience. We misjudged how long it would take to get to the train station, so we ended up running through the train station to make it. We made it one minute early and then ended up sitting on the train for an hour until we had to switch trains because the train had broken down. However, after that it ended up being a great day. The food was amazing and the lake and views of the mountain were so special. We did a lot of window shopping because of how expensive all the stores were, but it was really fun. 

In Milan, it has also been really special to see how all of us want to spend time together. On Thursday, we all went out to dinner (all 25 of us) for Sam Rosen’s birthday and it was just really nice to spend time with each other. All of us did not know each other before this trip and it is really nice to know that when we do go back to Lehigh, we will have gained new friends.

 

Group photo from the Alps today!

 

Picture of the lake today after hiking for 45 minutes

an academic course on Corporate Social Responsibility

This week in class we talked more about corporate governance and the structure of businesses. This included the checks and balances that are in place to try and protect the entire system. It was really important to understand the basics to continue to learn more effectively in this class. However, I really enjoyed the WSJ post on the battle between California and the FDA. It was really concerning to me but also an important reminder that the institutions that are supposed to protect us aren’t necessarily doing that. It is sad and frustrating that we need to constantly question the FDA and the government systems but through our questioning hopefully that is how they continue to improve and adapt. There are many different systems in the government that I do not trust but the FDA is probably one of the departments I have the most belief in. However, now I am not so sure. I think it was a good example and reminder to always question and be curious and to not become too comfortable with the systems. It makes me want to look more into what I am consuming but it is also unrealistic so balance is key. 

 

Practicum in Milan with an Italian Company

This week at BoutiqueNB I was given more responsibility and also more ambiguity with my role. I worked remote two of the four days this week which was a new challenge because I am still learning and want to ask questions. Lucia was at a wedding this week which is why she was not in the office. Before leaving she gave Danny (the other intern) and I the goals for the next few days. Our responsibility was to be on the “front office” and answer any customer concerns or questions and handle all the documentation necessary before a stay. It was stressful because there was more ambiguity than I was expecting since Lucia was not easily accessible. This meant that I had to rely on Danny to ask questions and we bounced ideas off of each other. Learning how to collaborate with another intern has been a really good experience and we also trust each other and feel comfortable asking questions. It is also a good lesson on how when we have questions we can first look towards our closest peers and then if we are unable to solve the problem we can look to our superiors. When we did have questions we did reach out to Lucia but it was a last resort.

Social and Cultural immersion through travels in Italy and Europe

This week I met up with a family friend for dinner in Milan. I took the subway from class up to a restaurant by Milano Centrale. I was early for dinner so I was waiting outside the restaurant when a woman was looking around with uncertainty and eventually came up to me and asked if I spoke English. She was looking for a restaurant and could not figure out where to go. She had asked for help before me, but they had only pointed in the direction and she got confused. She was struggling with the language barrier in her own way as well. I helped her figure out the directions and then we spoke for a few minutes before she went to dinner. She told me she is from Sweden and she is a designer here for work. She was really excited to hear that I was studying abroad and was so nice. It was a really cool spontaneous experience that I had. It was a short conversation but a nice reminder that we are all from different backgrounds but can find commonalities.

 

 

In Verona for the day on Friday. It was a beautiful city.

When we visited “The Last Supper” 

During the walking tour in Verona