Professor Gupta’s CSR Class

This week, we went through our presentations, and a presentation that caught my attention was the Cancel culture presentation done by Victoria Hawk, Hannah Gordon, and Kiera Han. I really liked their approach because you always hear opinions on cancel culture, and not facts. The facts gave me room to reassess my perspective on this topic and feel stronger about this topic. I thought they were all great presenters that were genuinely educated and involved in their topic, as they were not really looking at their notes and just presenting to the class. I like hearing everyone’s presentations because I like to listen about facts and then rearrange my opinions and perspectives because I believe that is the best way to learn and be unique!

Internship Seminar

This week in our Internship Seminar, we all presented our presentations, and I was interested to see the other topics other than sustainability, which was our topic, because I was interested in the other perspectives of Italians, and the research that they found. I like these sorts of presentations and projects because it allows me to learn more niche topics from students that have researched and been dealt this assignment to talk us through their findings. I like the idea of q&a because it gives the students who wanted further clarification, if they were curious about the topic beforehand, to ask and maybe receive an answer from the students due to their research, or ask Professor Swain or Professor Gupta questions if they know anything about the subject. 

Internship in Milan

Throughout my time at Simplifhy, I have learned about communication, Italian culture, business, engineering, sustainability, entrepreneurship, etc. This startup has been such an interesting experience because I get to work with the CEO himself, and see him navigate issues within his company, but also solving those issues and problems with a team that is so dedicated to this company. There are two students that go to University that work as interns, and they want to come here to work everyday instead of going to school in the morning. That was a huge eye opener for me because it led me to want to enjoy and love my job as much as they do. It is so refreshing to see these employees interact with each other with such enthusiasm and collaboration. They welcomed me with such open arms and I couldn’t be more happy about my placement here at Simplifhy. I finished up my project of market research, and presented in front of their investor to get him to believe in the Compressorless, a mobile hydrogen refueling station for yachts, trucks, mining, agriculture, machinery etc. 

Travel and Culture in Italy

This weekend, which was one of my favorites, we traveled to Split, Croatia! It was 14 of us, and it was a great ending to my time here in Europe. We flew in at around 7 am and got to Croatia at 8 am, so it was a very quick flight. We immediately ate breakfast, and tried to find a good beach to go to while we waited to check into our airbnb. We went to this beach that was absolutely beautiful, but it was pretty far from the middle of Split. We rented out beach chairs, and the beach was surrounded by cliffs and mountains, where people were jumping off the cliffs and rocks. There was a little hidden area that people went to be more secluded by the cliff and it was a beautiful sight. After that, we went back to our airbnb which was perfect for the 14 of us. It was right in the middle of the town which made it so easy to get places. We went to dinner, and then made our way to Charlie’s bar, which was fun with all of our friends. The next day, we had a boat trip that lasted 5 hours. We stopped twice to swim, and one was in the blue lagoon! I jumped off the high part of the boat which I was really proud of myself, even though it took me 20 minutes and strangers were cheering me on because I am so afraid of heights. I eventually jumped in with Kate and I am happy to say I will never be doing that again because it was the worst feeling in my stomach. The boat was really relaxing at the end because we were all just singing to music and shutting our eyes as we went back to the port. Then, we got back and showered to go to dinner and drinks. Evelyn and I spotted this stray cat and of course we had to go and pet it, as it was so friendly to other people. We wanted to bring it home, but sadly it wasn’t possible. Then, the next morning we flew back to Milan, and it was a long day for all of us trying to catch up on work and such. 

Puffy Lil’ Pancakes: nutella and strawberries (got this twice in Split)

Bacon Egg and Cheese with Scallion cream cheese from Brooklyn Bagels in Split!

Little hidden cliff and beach spot in Split

Where we sat at the beach in Split

Evelyn with kitty who fell asleep on her lap 🙁

Blue lagoon view from the boat on Saturday!

 

Professor Gupta’s CSR course

On monday, in Professor Gupta’s course in CSR, he brought up the Chevron Deference being overturned in the Supreme Court, and he was discussing how this is a good thing because it is taking back the power from these federal agencies that have “too much power”. I thought about this in a different perspective, as if the government is getting too involved and having too strong of regulations for these federal agencies. This was an interesting issue in my personal opinion because if the higher court is allowed to take ambiguous language written by the federal agencies and determine the fine print, what’s stopping them from using their own personal opinions, religious standings, ideals, and not the agencies expertise, to determine this fine print? I am concerned politically and as a consumer because I am scared that the government is unbalancing the power between the executive and the judicial branch. Beside this, the government should defer the interpretation of the fine print to the experts and doctors that know about the certain topics at hand, and it will be corrupt and unethical for these supreme justices to take that away from them. I really appreciated Professor Gupta’s perspective and opinion on this because he thought about it in the corporate eye, rather than the political eye, and that’s what this class is centered around. If we are talking about corporate social responsibility, I think we do need to regulate these corporations in one way or another to get the balance between stakeholder and shareholder capitalism, but I think this overturn of the Chevron Deference is not the best way to do so. This is because it gives leeway for the higher court to provide their own personal interpretation of these laws made by these federal agencies that have helped the environment, markets, and food and drugs. 

Internship Seminar

Today in our Internship Seminar, we gave some feedback on our networking event that took place last Thursday with all of the IES students and their employers. We talked about the most important ideas that we learned from this class in our workplace personally. Professor Gupta also starts explaining the importance of presenting yourself, your excitement, and creating a pitch for yourself to future employers on your resume and during an interview. This is so important because yes, interviewers want to know if you are right for the specific job, but they more want to know your goals, aspirations, and who you are as a person for their company. Usually, the companies that hire these students in college know that they don’t have much work experience, so they want to know that this person is good at communicating, hard working, motivated, adaptable and wants to keep on learning, not just being experienced in the workplace. With this information, I took notes on Professor Gupta’s thoughts and ideas, and used them in thinking about my answers during interviews and updated my current resume, especially as I continue to update it. 

Internship in Milan

This week at my internship, I have a meeting with my team on Wednesday at 9 am to discuss my progress in the detailed market research for Simplifhy. I want to go over the numbers with my boss, because I am confused about where he wants me to get numbers for the company based on details from other articles and journals that don’t pertain to Simplifhy. This week on monday, Simplify introduced a new French intern that is working with the start-up until mid-September. This was so exciting because I got to talk to Lucas (new intern) about French culture, and why he was here; he said that a part of his University was to do an internship in another country. This was crazy to me because Europe’s open borders and University requirements are so different from the United States border policies and our University’s requirements.

Travels and Italian Culture

This weekend, me and a few friends are traveling to Lake Como for the day on Friday. I would say, this trip by far was the best trip for me in Milan. Lake Como is a place that everyone visiting Italy should get to. The energy and beautiful landscaping and sights are one of a kind and a must see. We took the 40 minute train from Milano Centrale to Lake Como’s main train station, and we walked down to the main town of Como, and we sat down overlooking the lake for a quick lunch. It was very hot this Friday so it was difficult to walk around a lot but we just walked on the Lake and took in all of the sights. We booked a boat tour of the lake for two hours at 3PM and it was one of the best experiences here in Italy. Being on a boat going through the lake of Como and seeing all of the expensive villas and Versache’s villa was a one of a kind experience. We saw George Clooney’s villa that he is currently selling. Our boat captain kept on stopping the boat to tell us the history about all of these villas. He told us that Versache’s villa was 55 million euros, and another villa that hosts weddings is 1.2 million euros for the day, and another villa/hotel is 27,000 euros for a night, in which Beyonce and Jay-Z have stayed in. These villas were so beautiful, and the landscaping made it even more beautiful. We stopped the boat and swam in the lake for a little bit, and then after drinking a glass of prosecco which was included on the boat. After this, we were a little bit nauseous, so we stopped at McDonald’s for a little snack before dinner. We then went to a nice restaurant, closer to the train station, with meals that are more native to the Northern region of Italy! The rest of the weekend, I just relaxed in Milan, as traveling every weekend is a lot, and very exhausting, but we are getting ready for our last trip here, Croatia!!

Kate and Vic at Aperativo on Lake Como overlooking the Lake

George Clooney’s villa that is up for sale

Kate on the boat!

Picture of the Lake on Lake Como shwing the beautiful mountains

An area on Lake Como that is known for it’s beautiful Airbnb’s and tourists tanning outside on the bridge.

 

CSR Professor Gupta’s Class

This Monday in our CSR class, we discussed the topic of DEI within corporations and following corporate social responsibility, and distinguishing employee positions based on diversity of the candidate, or the factual qualifications of the candidate. This is a huge debate in the world right now, especially after COVID-19 and the Black Lives Matter Movement, where society has been emphasizing the equity between minorities in the world and workplace. The point of minorities not being exposed to the same opportunities as white people entering the workplace is the biggest issue, less because they are a minority. So these corporations need to start exposing themselves and making more of an effort to open up their opportunities to minorities at an early age, in case they weren’t exposed to it growing up, let’s say in a low income household. I don’t believe wealth should be inherited in the case of the parents raising their children on low income, so that means the children should also live on low income. I believe in equity, meaning everyone should be exposed to the same opportunities, and what they choose to do with those opportunities are the differences in people. 

 

Internship Seminar: 

This week, we didn’t have class for our Seminar on Tuesday, but Thursday after work, we had a networking event that took place of our class on Tuesday. 

 

Internship in Milan:

This week at my internship in Milan, there were a couple hiccups in the transportation, since my commute is about an hour and a half long from Aparto. The metro today was stop and go. While it takes the metro usually 22 minutes to get to my stop, it took about 40 minutes. This was a big disruption since after the metro I had to take a train, and since I ran late, I missed my train. This brought me to get on the next train that said it would stop in Arcore, where I needed to go. But, this train actually did not stop in Arcore, so my boss had to come 30 minutes to come pick me up and 30 minutes back. Luckily, my boss is very understanding, and is used to driving everywhere for meetings, etc., because he is the CEO and is always moving. I arrived at work at around 10:30 instead of 9 am which made me extremely anxious because I have high expectations on punctuality, and it seems that he didn’t mind too much. He realizes that I have to rely on public transportation, so it’s bound to have mishaps like these. 

 

Travels and Italian Culture

This weekend, a few of us traveled to Nice, France, and it was very beautiful, but we ran into a lot of obstacles throughout the short 2 nights we were there. We rented an airbnb in France, about a 15 minute walk from Old Nice, and 30 minutes from the beach. This airbnb was one floor, and the front door looked right into the rooms and beds within the airbnb, so it seemed a little uncomfortable. We were out until a little late on Friday because there was a Summer Solstice in France on that day, so there were mini concerts, pride bars booming, and the streets were packed with people and good energy. So, we walked home in a group, but once we got to our airbnb we locked the door from the inside for the night. We were all about to go to bed and then we heard these French men approaching our door, and they started knocking and wiggling out the door handle trying to get in. This was pretty scary for us because there was a huge window in the front, and it just wasn’t a safe area. So the men wouldn’t leave so we called the French police, and it was definitely very difficult to get a hold of the police and get them to understand us, but eventually we did and 10 minutes later they showed up at the door. This was very scary for us so the next day we decided to leave and get a hotel for the night, just for our safety. Otherwise, this trip was absolutely beautiful, and on that Saturday we went to the beach for the whole day and it was extremely relaxing. I loved Nice because it had a little town/city but also a beautiful beach. We traveled back to Milan on Sunday, and the trip was about 6 hours from Aparto to Nice, but was very well worth it. 

Me Kate and Mads trying to aperativo in Nice, France! (They don’t do that there)

Cathedral in Nice, France

Beautiful building in the center of Old Nice

Our waitor took this picture of us at dinner on Saturday night!

Amazing Sea Bass with declision broccolini and a side of green onion mashed potatoes!

CSR Course

This week in Professor Gupta’s class, we watched the second half of the Corporation movie/documentary, and it continued to provide me with information and knowledge about corporations, whistle blowing, labor laws, and the idea of corporations becoming a nationalized figure with the control of the government. This all was shown in the second part of the corporation by showing two employees’ own experience at a big news company, and the company wanted them to rewrite a story so that they lie/exclude the truth from the story. The two employees then refused to rewrite the story in the way the corporation wanted, and the corporation demanded, and threatened them, so that they would base their work off lies. The employees used the whistleblower policy to protect them in their workplace, and the woman who blew this whistle, didn’t win the lawsuit. The power of the corporations lawyers, even with the policy protecting the employee for what they believe is illegal or unethical in the workplace, overrode her protection. The employees made it known that the news is exactly what the corporations say it is. This was shocking to me because my mother was a whistleblower for Pfizer in her local workplace, not a whistleblower against the corporation, and it was handled responsibly with care for my mother. This movie showed that 57 corporations were found trading with enemies of the US, and because of this, more smaller towns are restricting the number of chains in a town because they have so much tyrannic power over the small town, that they were to minimize this power. We then went into a discussion based on questions that we answered after the documentary, and it was interesting to ask difficult questions that were based subjectively, so we all had to deeply think about them. I have noticed though, with these types of questions, there is rarely a yes or no answer. For example, one of the questions that my group was asked was: “Can we hold people accountable to higher ethical standards if their behavior is not illegal?”. We answered this question as “Yes, depending on the priorities of these people doing said unethical actions, we can figure out a way to work in their best interest so that they end up working towards the common goal, which is ethical behavior”. This was a difficult question to answer because you CAN try to hold people accountable, but in the way corporations are run and the legalities behind them, it’s difficult to do this especially if their profit is booming, and that is their priority. 

Internship Seminar

Today in the beginning of class, we talked about our different communication styles, and how communication is different from our individual communication styles, and just in general the US communication. We talked about how going into our internships, we realized that there were many greetings, no matter if they spoke english, you always introduce yourself to the new person. Also, whatsapp is a literal difference in communication, that substitutes iMessage, or emails if you wanted to be more informal. We did a self assessment of how ethnocentric we are and how interculturally competent we are. This assessment opened my mind on how I am coping with the cultural differences here, and shows where I stand on the scale and how I am dealing with different communication, and how self aware I am being in Italy, or just in general as a person. I concluded that I range around the adaptation area of the spectrum, which kind of shows that I finally have adapted and accepted the culture here in Italy, and the differences in which it can sway me to certain biases and stereotypes. 

Internship in Milan

This week at my internship, I finally submitted my first review of the market research and planning that my boss wanted, but he reviewed it and he wanted something completely different than what he asked of me in the beginning. This is the negative of the lack  of directness and communication in Italian culture because it is difficult for him to put into words what he wants, and it is difficult for me to put into words my questions. But, he finally wrote everything out for me how he wants it, and I am going to keep revising this research probably until the end of the program, since there is a lot of detail behind this project, and data that needs to be included and analyzed. Beside the work, I am definitely getting more comfortable here, as I am understanding everyone individually, and the exact work they are doing. 

Italian Culture and Travels

This weekend, we all split up in our adventures, since some of us wanted to go to one place, and another group of us wanted to go to another place. This past Friday, a group of us traveled to Venice, and we took a train for Milan to the center of Venice to walk around and experience the culture and sights of Venice. It was pretty crowded on Friday, and we only had the day, so we didn’t get to go into any historic sights, but we did make it a chance to ride on the water taxis through the grand canal. We passed by their cathedral, and walked around the streets of Venice and stopped in a lot of different museums and churches that were open to the public. On Saturday, we took a train to Cinque Terre, which is in the complete opposite direction of Venice, but it was worth it. We went to Monterosso to meet up with a few friends and have a nice beach day, but also to explore the beautiful town. Monterosso rested on the bright blue waters of the Ligurian Sea. We just walked around Monterosso and relaxed on the beach. It was a nice and relaxing day and an opportunity to see one of the villages in Cinque Terre. 

This was a view from one of the bridges in the town of Venice

This was the cathedral we saw in Venice

When we had a beach day in Monterosso, Cinque Terre, with a view of the sea and beautiful mountains

Monterosso; view coming out of a tunnel

The group of us that went to Venice on a water taxi!

 

Professor Gupta’s CSR Class

This week in Professor Gupta’s class, we talked a lot about ethics, and ethically sourced products. We watched a documentary called “The Corporation” on Wednesday during class; I thought I was going to be drifting off during the movie, but it really caught my attention because of the realness and authenticity of the documentary. The main speaker in the first half of the documentary went to a factory in Asia and saw and caught the factory owners paying their employees extremely low wages, with terrible and unethical working environments. Before this documentary, Professor Gupta asked us what does it mean for a product to be ethically sourced, and it was a hard question to answer, especially without using the word ‘ethical’. But this documentary really showed the unethical working environments of the employees that make high end or even low end products. In the documentary, it says that the employees will make less than 10 cents per shirt they are making, which will usually cost around 75 USD. This was unbelievable and looking around at my peers, I could tell everyone was shocked and disgusted by the actions of these corporations. This documentary also talked a lot about externalities, whether they are positive or negative. The documentary touched upon how these big corporations will go to these low income countries and let the citizens in desperate need to work for cheap, and then when their average income is higher, they move to another low income country to then boost their income. The film also went into great detail about slavery and the 14th amendment, as well as corporations and the 14th amendment. I remember from the documentary, they said that the 14th amendment was made for slaves to attest to their full natural human right, while corporations took control over that amendment to attest to their ‘conscious’ human rights. Out of around 700 cases back in the day, ~686 were from corporations using the 14th amendment, and ~14 were from black people, trying to gain their full human rights. This was genuinely so disgusting and unbelievable that corporations even have that much power to make the court believe that this amendment applies to them as well, even though the 14th amendment was made for the natural person. I think this topic is so important in today’s society as marketing and advertising online through people and brands is increasing, since the marketing is a wall between you and finding out how the products are made and if they’re made ethically. 

Internship Seminar

During this week’s class, we learned a lot about Italy’s history and its application to the economy, culture, and the working environment. We deeply compared Italy’s main cultural standings, like soccer, food, etc., and compared it to our cultural standings like college rivalries, or our great divide in politics currently, and more recently. I learned that Italy has many political parties and coalitions that just work completely different from our politics. I learned that Italy does not have a lot of trust or faith in their government, and there are so many different political parties for different standings, so if you want environmental differences, you would vote for the Green Party, which advocates for a Greenier Italy. But for the US, the differences are wide because our political parties are now separated into basically two radically opposing parties. The difficulty with this is that if you have a more neutral stance, or you have economically conservative views, but a socially liberal stance, who do you vote for? And at this time, 2024 election, the country knows that it is not about political parties, and it is more about the candidates. I find this comparison to Italy to be concerning, but also understandable with pros and cons of each type of government. 

Internship in Milan

The weeks during my internships are going by super fast, and I think that it’s easy to say that I am learning much more, and I am understanding my tasks, as well as getting used to the frequent and heavy Italian. I went to a different office yesterday, and I thoroughly enjoyed it because it’s closer, but also because it was louder, busier, and livelier. This was an interesting spark to me because I think I have realized that I like a busier office or space because I don’t feel like I am alone or socially deprived. Yesterday was a big breath of fresh air because I completed my market research to be done by today (Thursday), and we ate food from Puglia for lunch. I think I am integrating well into my internship, so it is a fun adventure and learning experience to go into work everyday. 

Travels and Italian Culture 

This weekend we traveled to Florence, as I mentioned in the previous blog. But before we went to Florence, the group of us Lehigh students went to a wine tasting at a nearby restaurant. This was a very cool experience because I just thought they were going to give us a couple different types of wine and to taste it. But it wasn’t that at all, when the waiter spent a good 2 hours with us to explain the history of wine and how it should be handled and tasted. It was an interesting cultural perspective because wine in America is so expensive, but good wine here in Italy is only 30 euros. To add on to this, the cultural aspect that interested me the most was the multiple steps to do before and during the tasting of your wine. The first step was to smell the cork, and this was good to know because if you smell the cork, and it smells moldy or like mildew, then you know it is not good and to send it back. The Second step would be to swirl the wine and see how fast/slow the ring drips down,and you can tell if the wine is older or younger. The third step is to bring the glass slowly from your chest and up to your chin to smell the wine, but to make sure to not put it too close to your nose. The last step is to taste the wine. To taste the particular hints of flavors and scents, that will help you enjoy and understand the wine better. This was a very interesting activity to understand the importance of wine in Italy, since it is a agricultural boost fro their economy as well as a multifaceted topic to learn. 

This was the set up at the wine tasting

This was an infamous restuarant in Florence with the BEST steak.

Florence!!!

An adorable dog that came up to us after the wine tasting walking to dinner.

Delicious vodka sauce pasta from Acqua al’Due

Us with our free t shirts from Acqua al’Due!!

CSR Course

This week during the CSR class with professor Gupta, we watched a video called “Morality and Markets” which talked about Adam Smith and his background with the evolution of his ideas. We also got into a discussion from this video about the differences between a free market economy and a command market economy, which are very opposing from each other. As the class discussed these differences, Professor Gupta asked a question that a lot of students were unable to answer, which was what was the ultimate goal of free markets that were envisioned by Adam Smith? We came to realize that it was about the betterment of the citizens and to promote trade and not government intervention. But, the betterment of society and citizens is all subjective for each economy, like North Korea. I asked Professor Gupta a question on whether or not North Korea is a command economy, and the answer was that no matter what North Korea is doing, they’re doing it for the betterment of the people, but their terms and conditions are much different than other economies, which makes it seem that North Korea is a command economy. So, this class was interesting on Monday because it clarified the true definition of a free market economy and a command economy from the clarification of Adam Smith and the video we watched. 

Internship Seminar

During Tuesday’s class with Professor Swain and Professor Gupta in the second half of class, two groups (pro and con) debated a case study which had to do with ethics within corporations, but used a story to metaphorically argue this point. From this story of the hikers, the prompt was, the hikers were ethical on the mountain. In this discussion, there were opening and closing statements, as well as arguments that were hard to come up with in a short period of time, but I believe the two sides did a very good job at persuading the audience of their debate. I agreed with the ‘con’ side, that the hikers were not ethical on the mountain. This is because my environment and social standing that I was raised in, and the classes I’ve taken, and the opinions I have developed over my life prompts me to believe that the definition of being ethical matches with the metaphor of bringing the sick man down the hill to become healthier. Although, as we discussed in class, ethics are subjective, and at what point is it ethical to treat the man? Do you bring him to his home, do you wait there to make sure he gets the care he needs, or do you merely just help the man with what you can do to still make it up the mountain and achieve your hike? This served a great point in terms of corporations and with our internships in Italy, to what point are you making ethical decisions, and how does that compare with the other cultures or other corporations that also think they are making ethical decisions? 

Internship in Milan with Italian Company

This week at my internship was definitely more clarifying and natural, as last week I was still adapting and trying to understand what my role and task is here. My boss explained to me the background of a market he wants to get into, but wants me to investigate the market and create a business plan for the company. He also mentioned for me to meet with an investor to see what they want from the company, if they are looking for finances and trends up until 2029 (which seems fake), or if they are looking for trends until 2026 (which seems too short term). This is the issue he is running into with investors, but it is hard to decide what to do because each investor asks for different things. Of course, I get a little lost in the economics and business side of things because my major is engineering, but I am starting a minor in business. Later on, my boss was clarifying that my major was economics, and I was shocked. I corrected him and said that is not my major and that it was Industrial Systems Engineering. He was very taken back and was very apologetic because he has been assigning me these business tasks, but he thought that economics was my major all along. This was a surreal experience for me because it was a miscommunication through the language barrier, technology, and even cultural differences, to aid the idea that economics was my major. I reassured him that although I am doing this business work for him, I would prefer to be a part of this sector of the company, rather than the mechanics of the company, and he was okay with that. I also said that I want to help with whatever tasks he needs, since this company is a startup with around 10 employees, so he has a lot more important tasks to do than a business plan. 

Social and Cultural Immersion 

This weekend, some of us traveled to Florence!! Although there was an IES trip to Lake Como, we made a conscious decision to make our way to Florence instead, and possibly hit Lake Como later in the summer. Florence this weekend was amazing. First on Friday, we took a train 2 hours to Florence and we walked to our airbnb that was a 15 minute walk. It was on the other side of the river than Florence, so right outside of the busyness. On the first day, we walked around through Santo Spirito to look at the leather markets, and other stores over there. As we waited for everyone else to arrive, we just walked around to familiarize ourselves. On saturday we explored the architecture and the famous buildings and statues and took in the history and meaning behind all of them. Before dinner, we decided to walk up to the Michaelangelo with abottle of wine and drink with the sunset, and a view of Florence (apparently this is a must do for Florence!!!). Friday night, we went to the famous restaurant Acqua Al’Due, which had famous blueberry steak, and it was delicious!!! We spent a lot of money on dinner, so they gave us free t-shirts to remember them! Then Saturday for lunch, we stumbled upon a smaller restaurant, and it turned out to be one of the best restaurants we’ve been to because their pasta was incredible. Then on Saturday, there were so many markets to get lost in, so I got a nice leather wallet, as well as new sunglasses, a journal and a new ring. For Saturday Night (last night), we got a reservation at Osteria Pastella. This wouldn’t have been possible if our AirBnB property manager didn’t call up the owner, because she knew him personally, to get 8 of us in at 9:15. It was perfect, and we are so grateful for her kindness to do that for us. The food turned out to be such an experience because they are known for their cheese wheels, and we ordered the truffle pasta, with sauce made in the cheese wheel. We also got steak, and they gave us complimentary champagne, and a complimentary shot of dessert wine. All in all, that restaurant was very personable and friendly, with great food all around. Today, we are heading back to Milan, but first stopping at the Santo Spirito markets that they have every Sunday. 

This is a picture of the group with the free Acqua Al’Due shirts, and we were so happy.

Sunset at Michaelangelo overlooking the majority of Florence

Florence’s famous Cathedral/Duomo

Osteria Pastella’s Cheese wheel

The outcome of the cheese wheel with shaved truffle mushrooms

My green pepper steak from Acqua Al’Due on Friday Night

Picture of Florence and the River and one of many bridges

This is a Benenuto Cellini Statue on the Ponte Vecchio in Florence.

Professor Gupta’s Academic Course on CSR

This week, we haven’t had any class just yet from Professor Gupta, but considering that we all submitted our second WSJ entry, it is clear to me how beneficial it is to read the WSJ at least once a week, let alone 30 minutes a day. I have made it a habit this week that on the train to work, my train is an hour commute, I read the WSJ for at least 15 minutes to catch up on any news or big events happening in the world. This is especially important now in election year, to get important updates with candidates and other news because it is important to be up to date on the news because it can affect our daily lives. I am excited to start Professor Gupta’s course tomorrow because it’ll give me a purpose and something to look out for when I am reading the news or just walking through Milan or back at home. 

Professor Swain and Gupta’s Internship Seminar

Last week’s class with Professor Swain and Professor Gupta discusses the differences in the workplace in Italy vs. the US. We also talked about self reflection at the end of this course and how to compare and contrast everyone’s internships and helping each other with any struggles we have. After this class, I really thought about the things we learned and my personality at the workplace. I took this into account when I arrived at work on Wednesday. For example, we talked about how the company won’t be very direct with you and certain projects they want you to do, so on Wednesday I asked my boss and tried to make that clear, but he still didn’t really answer my question to clarify. Another example was the usage of coffee to bond the team, and this is so true for the company I am working at. They gather for coffee every morning and tell me to come with them. The difference with this is that I don’t have to drink the coffee, but I always will go up with them to talk and be a part of their conversation, although they almost always speak Italian. This one class last week really helped me feel more secure and confident at work with the cultural differences. 

Internship in Milan

My internship this week toward the end was very confusing and tiring only because I was very confused as to what my boss wanted me to do, and no matter if I asked he kept on saying that he just wanted me to learn. This is respectable because he wanted me to learn the company and their files so that I will be able to do other things for them in the future. Also, my commute is about an hour and a half away so it is very difficult to get up every morning around 6:30 to get to work on time. But, my boss completely understands this difficult situation so we have decided on one day of work from home, which I decided to be on Friday’s. This Friday though, there was a public transportation strike almost all day, so I would barely be able to get into work in the morning, but I would definitely not be able to get home after work, so I didn’t go into work on Friday. I think this internship is a learning experience and I am excited to see what else this internship brings me through the rest of my trip in Milan. 

Travels in Europe

This weekend, we traveled around 3 hours to the Swiss Alps. I almost didn’t make it, but by the love of my friends they knocked on my door to wake me up quickly and go. Once we arrived, we went straight to zip lining and climbing through the course that they provide. I was definitely a little scared at certain points, especially the tight line ropes that were very high up and very wobbly, but I really enjoyed the ziplining parts of the course because I knew I wasn’t going to fall. After this course, we all relaxed together by the cabin, and it was such a beautiful day that we were also tanning and enjoying the sun! We realized that we still had an hour to relax, but Marta informed us that there was this bridge a couple minutes away with a beautiful view of the Alps. So we walked over to the bridge and it was a beautiful sight to see with our own eyes. We walked back to the bus and drove to the place where we would have to hike around an hour to get to the lakes by the Alps. The hike was going very well, until we hit an issue in the hiking path. There was a lot of snow in this area, so the path was very narrow and slippery and right behind us was a cliff. So we were crossing and it was so scary even though if we fell, we would’ve just landed on snow, but Marta made the conscious decision to turn around. So half of the group didn’t even make it to the lake, but the pictures and videos I saw were good enough considering the circumstances. This trip was amazing and so worth it because the sights seen were once in a lifetime!

This was a picture from the bridge just a five minute walk from the cabin.

This was when me Jonah and VIc almost fell down the cliff of the mountain 🙂

This was a picture on the way to the hike of free cows basking in the sun.

This is a picture of Kate and Kiera when we were on the bridge overlooking great mountains.

1.Professor Gupta’s course on CSR:

Although we haven’t attended the first class for this course yet, I feel as though completing the first WSJ entry, and scrolling through the WSJ gave me a sense of awareness and knowledge that I may have not been aware of prior to this course. We completed our first WSJ entry and as I was finding an article that interested me, but also was a simpler topic for me to understand, I found myself scrolling on WSJ to read other articles. For example, I found myself interested in the opinion section because I believe that opinions are very crucial for independence and individuality in this current world. It is important to have opinions that can be discussed so that maybe certain views may be opened for other people to recognize and learn from. Different perspectives, especially in today’s world with such severe segregation in political parties, can help this country produce better outcomes in the economy, politically, or even socially. I think the WSJ is so crucial for learning and building knowledge, especially for this class because it provides us as students to be able to discuss different opinions developed from articles with various resources. I am ecstatic to become more knowledgeable from hearing 30 other students’ opinions and perspectives so that I can learn, grow, or simply just listen. I am also excited to be able to write these blogs (more specifically this CSR section) with more detail, and I take notes on other people’s specific opinions on specific topics that we speak about during class. It is very interesting how this class is decidedly paired with the internship based in Milano because of the such different cultures between the US and Italy. Recognizing these differences socially, politically, and culturally, can aid in the growing knowledge for this class in specific, but also for future internships and job opportunities in the US. Discussing the diversity of our country can develop a better understanding of Italy’s culture and politics, as well as just other countries in general so that as Americans, we are more aware and respectful of other country’s cultures and lives, and not just America’s. 

2. Professor Swain and Professor Gupta’s Internship Seminar:

From this class today, we talked about the meaning and why this class is required when also participating and working at an internship. These reasons was that of self reflection, so when coming to class after your internship, you can sit down and finally self reflect, so that you gather a whole 7 weeks of self reflection at the end of this program, and realize how much you have grown independently and culturally. There were also conceptual “tool boxes” that we talked about, whether it’s cultural or company size, leadership, etc, and how that can differ for everyone. This class is also provided as a support group, since we are studying and working in a different country, it might be hard for some to adapt into the working environment, so talking about your experience at the workplace with other people can maybe open up other people’s experiences to help bond and compare them. We also talked about cultural differences and things we came across on our first two days at the internship. Some examples that the class shared about what they experienced were the language barrier, the usage of coffee, lunch, the hospitality, chatting to get to know you, the pace, the flexibility of time and schedules, the space maximization, and especially the vague communication. The intercultural communication is very important, so that if that is an obstacle for working, I can learn to adapt to the culture so that it is easier to figure out my activities and what I have to complete. Some tips that we discussed from previous interns were to ask questions and more questions, to firstly prove yourself, and to be proactive. These tips are very important especially because they also compare and relate to work in the US as well. These tips are great to use when I go back to the US and start my native work experience because it shows that I can gather these tips and keep them with me so that I can put use to them in America. Also, being in a new country and city, questions are so important, and these companies that have an American intern understand that we will have many questions whether it’s cultural or work related. This class today has been very informing but also comforting because I don’t feel alone in the cultural difference I see at work. 

3. Practicum in Milan with Italian Company

 The company that I work at, Simplifhy (a startup), offers strategies and systems for the decarbonisation of industry through deployment of Hydrogen-based technologies as an alternative fuel. They are a company that simplifies the technologies and the solutions based on the usage of hydrogen. They offer consultancy services for the design and the development of customized hydrogen plants. During the second day of my internship, I sat in on a meeting where they talked with a sustainable energy company, Fluor, where Simplifhy are ordering products for their product to produce vessels and a container where they put in hydrogen and natural air and create a more sustainable energy for this company. They have many open projects right now, and they need my help for their business plan, financial spreadsheet, and trying to understand their sector since it is very complex.  Initially arriving in Milan, I was extremely nervous to start an internship here. This nerve is for a couple of reasons: one being I have never officially worked in an office for a company of interest to me and my major. This was scary for me because I had many doubts in my capabilities working at a real company, no less a company based in Italy. Now being only on day two of my internship, I realize that the work is definitely a learning curve; I continue to ask questions when needed, so I can maximize my understanding of what activity I am assigned. Another worry of mine when I arrived was the language barrier, specifically at the Italian company. Luckily, Italians learn english, from a very early age of around 5 years old, so at their working age, they understand english so that it is possible to communicate. I have realized that in my company personally, they are a startup always looking for funding and consulting for other firms around Europe and even the Western continents. This means that not everyone speaks Italian around Europe/world, so that forces the main employees to be able to speak a good amount of English. So, now being at this internship for two days, I realize that it is not as scary as I anticipated, but rather interesting as I hear my coworkers speak Italian to each other, and I can start to pick up on slang and phrases. This company is made of about 10-20 employees, so it is a very close knit community; when I walked in on the first day, they welcomed me with open arms and were very considerate of my learning curve as an intern. Every one of the employees encourages me to sit in meetings, and listen to every project they’re trying to complete because although it is complex and detailed, they want me to continue to learn so I can be prepared for future job opportunities. Beside these nerves coming to Milan to work, currently working for Simplifhy is preparing me to be able to efficiently work in the United States, especially since there are many more obstacles to conquer by working in Italy. The language barrier is an obstacle because when I am given an activity or assignment to do, sometimes they can’t explain exactly what I am supposed to do, so it is difficult for me to understand. Also, the company is a startup, so they have many more projects and processes so that other investors can trust them, since they haven’t worked with many other companies. I am excited for the learning curve of a work experience, so it can provide me with the knowledge and experience I need for back in the US. 

4. Social and Cultural Immersion (travels in Italy and Europe

The first weekend arriving in Italy was culturally shocking but exciting. As I roam around the city of Milan, as well as attending the IES orientation the first few days, I have noticed many cultural differences. For example, no cappuccino after lunch or during any meals, or a relaxed and slow dinner time which is a much later time than in the US. Another example is that Italians, especially those from Milan always dress in a nicer outfit, never sweatpants and a sweatshirt, no matter if they are running errands or going out for a little bit of time. These types of cultural differences were very interesting and I enjoy the differences, rather than try to stick to my American ways. Italy has such an interesting and respectable culture, and I never want to disrespect their culture, so i try my best to adjust, even only a week into my stay here. For trips, when we arrived in Milan, as students of IES, we traveled to Lake Maggiore, which was a beautiful lake with three different islands that we visited. We visited Isola Bella which homed the famous Borromeo family in the mid 1600s. We then hopped around the other islands for the rest of the day and then headed back to Aparto Giovenale for the rest of the night. Then, Sunday was going to have nicer weather, so some of us decided to take a train to Genoa, just southwest of Milan. We unfortunately didn’t realize we arrived at Genoa, so the train kept on moving and stopped at the other beaches going up the coast. Although we were worried, it was a blessing in disguise because we stopped at this beautiful small beach town, Varazze. We got off the train and were immediately greeted with a beautiful sunny day and clear waters at the beach. As we walked down a small boardwalk to find a good place to set our stuff, we were passing an outdoor market of many tents that consisted of jewelry, decor, food, etc. We all were so excited that our day worked out, even if we missed our initial stop. This trip was really great for me because instead of going to a larger, touristy city, we found a smaller Italian city/town that provided the authentic culture without many tourists. It was beautiful to be surrounded by this untouched beach town, which was a small and less popular place to be, although 100% worth it.

This was one of my first cappucino’s in Milan, a very important social gesture!

This is a picture of the mechanical work that Simplifhy has in their basement for selling to other companies.

This is the first peacock I have ever seen in person, at Lake Maggiore!

A picture from Varazze, a small beach town that we “accidentally” arrived at.

My expectations for the Academic Enrichment vis Professor Gupta’s CSR course are that we as students will gain a comprehensive understanding of CSR principles and practices in the context of the global business environment, with a foxus on the Italian and European perspectives. I will expect to have increased awereness of ethical issues in business, the ability to critically evaluate CSR strategies of companies, and understanding of the role of businesses in addressing societal and environmental changes. The anticipated outcomes of this course are multifaceted. Firstly, I will develop a heightened awareness of the ethical dilemmas and responsibilities that businesses face in today’s interconnected world. By examining real-world examples and engaging in critical analysis, I will sharpen my ability to evaluate the CSR strategies adopted by companies, considering their effectiveness and ethical implications. Moreover, I will gain a deeper understanding of how businesses can contribute to addressing societal and environmental challenges, beyond simply pursuing profit. This holistic perspective on CSR not only equips my peers and I with valuable knowledge but also instills a sense of responsibility and purpose in our future professional endeavors.

My expectations for Academic Enrichment via Gupta/Swain Internship Seminar is to be provided theoretical framework for my internship experiences, practical isnights, and reflective opportunities. I expect to develop a deeper understanding of the industry I am interning in, refine my professional skills, and learn how to apply my education from this class to real-world situations. Also, I expect to enhance my communication and teamwork abilities through interactions with peers and other speakers. I will develop a deeper understanding of the industry in which they are interning, gaining insights into its dynamics, challenges, and opportunities. By reflecting on my experience and engaging in discussions with peers and industry professionals, I will refine my professional skills and learn how to navigate complex organizational environments effectively. The seminar fosters the development of crucial soft skills such as communication, teamwork, and adaptability, which are essential for success in any professional setting. Overall, the internship seminar plays a pivotal role in bridging the gap between academic learning and real-world application, empowering me to become a versatile and competent professional in their chosen fields.

The internship component of the Lehigh-in-Milan Program offers us students a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a professional setting aligned with our academic and career interests. Throughout the duration of our internships, we will have the chance to apply the theoretical concepts and practical skills they have acquired in the classroom to real-life situations within their chosen industry. This experiential learning approach enables us to deepen our understanding of our chosen field, refine our problem-solving abilities, and adapt to the dynamic demands of the workplace. We will have the opportunity to develop practical skills and competencies that are directly relevant to our future careers. By actively engaging with professionals and projects in their respective organizations, students will gain valuable insights into industry practices, trends, and challenges. Furthermore, the internship experience facilitates the building of professional networks and relationships, which can open doors to future career opportunities and mentorship. The internship serves as a catalyst for personal and professional growth, helping us to clarify our career goals, refine our interests, and gain confidence in our abilities as we transition from academia to the workforce.

The cultural immersion aspect of the Lehigh-in-Milan Program is designed to foster a deep appreciation and understanding of Italian culture while simultaneously broadening our global perspectives. Through a combination of group activities and personal exploration, we are encouraged to engage with the rich cultural tapestry of Milan and its surroundings. Group excursions may include visits to iconic landmarks, museums, and historical sites, as well as participation in local festivals and events. Additionally, we will have the freedom to explore the city and its diverse neighborhoods at our own pace, immersing ourselves in the daily life and rhythms of Italian society. The anticipated outcomes of cultural immersion are diverse and transformative. By actively participating in cultural activities and interactions, we will develop increased cultural sensitivity, empathy, and adaptability, essential skills for navigating diverse and interconnected global environments. Moreover, immersion in Italian language and customs provides us with the opportunity to enhance our linguistic proficiency and intercultural communication skills, breaking down barriers and fostering meaningful connections with locals and fellow peers. Furthermore, exposure to Italy’s rich artistic heritage, culinary traditions, and historical legacy stimulates intellectual curiosity and broadens our horizons beyond our academic and professional pursuits. Ultimately, cultural immersion through group and personal travels is not only an enriching experience in itself but also a catalyst for personal growth, self-discovery, and lifelong learning.