Penn Abroad

Jessica Jiang (Wharton ‘28) offers a glimpse into the Penn Global Seminar “Global Business Communication for Impact,” which traveled to Shangahi and Beijing, China: “This trip has been a constant balance between reflection and motion. Walking through places filled with history like the Summer Palace and Tiananmen Square, then immediately stepping into conversations about innovation and China’s future during business visits. Some moments moved quickly–trains, schedules, city lights–while others invited us to slow down and take everything in, like watching 3D visuals light up during a night cruise. I’m leaving each day with new perspectives and an appreciation for the moments that can’t really be captured in photos alone.”

Owen Phillips (CAS ‘28) reflects on a class visit to the “Constellation de la Douleur,” in France:

“During the First World War, France recruited over 134,000 “Tirailleurs Senegalais” (Senegalese Rifleman) to fight for the Triple Entente, alongside French soldiers. Not exclusively from Senegal, these soldiers hailed from a number of countries throughout sub-saharan Africa, and 30,000 of them lost their lives while fighting for a country that did not belong to them. Because of how they were recruited, often coerced, and the fact that many of them did not speak French nor were entirely literate, their individual stories were rarely recorded.

That lack of knowledge around these soldiers is exactly what motivated Christian Lapie (slide four) to construct his “Constellation de la Douleur,” (Constellation of Suffering). These large, somber, wooden figures don’t have faces, arms, or a clear expression. They stare off at a common point in the distance without acknowledging one another, each one alone in their suffering. PGS: “Caves, Cathedrals, and Curiosities” had the opportunity to visit Lapie’s studio where these sculptures were constructed and see a series of them in his backyard. During the visit, a nearby tree shed bits of its pollen on the tens of towering figures, resembling the snow that fell in the trenches of this very ground during the Great War.”

Haris Chatzistamatiou (ENG ‘28) reflects on his experience on the Penn Global Seminar Sacred Stuff: Religious Bodies, Places, and Objects, which travelled to the United Kingdom last month:

“The past 10 days of my PGS have been truly unforgettable. From wandering through Oxford’s historic colleges to standing in awe at Stonehenge, we experienced firsthand many of the places we studied in class. During our free time, we went punting, enjoyed afternoon tea, explored local pubs, and searched for the best food spots around town (although most of us agreed that fish and chips was a bit overrated).

While Oxford charmed us with its centuries-old traditions, the second half of our trip brought us to the energy and diversity of London. Visiting churches across the city and examining their unique architectural features helped bring our class discussions of sacred spaces to life. Outside of class, we biked through London’s parks, explored world-famous museums, attended musicals and discovered what makes the city such an exciting place to live and visit. Beyond the history, architecture, and academics, what made this trip truly special were the memories, friendships and experiences we shared along the way.”

Jessica Jiang (Wharton ‘28) shares photos from the course Global Business Communication for Impact, which traveled to China in May: “Shanghai kept us moving from one unforgettable experience to the next. But one moment I always look forward to coming back to is gathering around a giant lazy Susan for family-style dinner, sharing dish after dish while swapping stories, laughing, and learning more about Chinese culture through food and conversation. Paired with stunning skyline views and the warm welcome we received from Wharton alumni in Shanghai, the city made us feel both inspired and at home. Grateful for the connections, community, and memories from the first half of our China journey!“

Volcanoes, waterfalls, goats, oh my!

Turning in shorts and sandals for hiking boots and raincoats, PGS: Case Studies in Environmental Sustainability students have been keeping themselves busy this past week while traveling throughout the vast Icelandic landscape.

So far, PGS: Iceland students have toured a fish factory in Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland’s southern archipelago, visited Reykjanes, a volcanically active peninsula, and trudged through ice on a glacier walk!