Alyssa Selvaggio

Arcadia – London Internship Program – London, England (summer 2012)

My name is Alyssa Selvaggio (Ally) and I am a senior at Ramapo College majoring in Marketing and minoring in International Business.  Since I was young, my parents instilled the “travel bug” in me and I have always been interested in going to all different places around the world. I spent the summer of 2012 studying abroad in London, England and had the time of my life.  Along with taking classes, I was placed in an internship as well.  This was such an awesome experience getting to see the dynamics of a workplace in a different country.  Although I went to an English-speaking country, it was amazing the difference between the England and the US.  I loved the mix of ancient and modern, as well as the melting pot of cultures that London had to offer.  Living the fast paced urban life was something completely out of my comfort zone, but after a few days I was a pro using public transportation and walking on the opposite side of the road (usually in the rain!)  Getting to experience the Queen’s Jubilee, Wimbledon, and the 2012 Olympics are memories that I will be talking about the rest of my life. I think that everyone has something to learn from studying abroad.  The world is much bigger than Ramapo, New Jersey, and the United States!   As long as you’re ready to go into it with an open mind, there is so much to learn about another country and about yourself while spending time abroad.