Study Abroad

I studied abroad in Guanajuato, Mexico during the fall semester of 2009, through the CLU program. Words cannot describe how life-changing this experience was for me. I transformed from being a reserved, introverted person to being so much more confident and outgoing. It is kind of a misnomer to call study abroad a "one-semester experience," because it is an experience that has lived with me every day since I returned, and I am sure will continue to be with me for the rest of my life. I am able to relate with many different kinds of people. I am not afraid to take risks. I am more confident, fun, and spontaneous. In typical Mexican fashion I have learned not to worry about little things and to handle problems as they come, knowing always that things will work out. My Spanish improved so much, and it was positively exhilarating to not only converse but communicate in a foreign language. Plus, I now have another home that I plan on coming back to one day, and I know that my friends in Mexico, and the friends I made in other countries, will welcome me back with open arms.

I studied abroad in St. Petersburg, Russia for the Spring semester of 2010 with the partner affiliate program, AIFS. What I most appreciated about studying abroad was the experience of being independent in another country so different from the US. The independence that I felt while abroad gave me a better understanding and appreciation of the world and also of myself. While abroad I had to adapt and improvise in situations in which I surprised even myself with my ability to handle. My experiences in a nontraditional setting such as Russia were different in some ways from other students who have studied in other areas, but I believe that by going out of my comfort zone and put me into situations that might have not been possible in more traditional locales. I will actually be studying abroad again this next fall semester in Serbia.

I studied abroad the spring semester of my sophomore year (2009) through the Semester at Sea Program. We started in Nassau, the Bahamas and stopped in 12 different ports around the globe and I visited 11 countries. We passed through the Panama Canal and disembarked in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. While circumnavigating the globe I had theopportunity to meet and interact with truly unique people and place myself in their shoes, even if for an afternoon. I participated in everything from attending Rugby or football games and camping on the Great Wall in China to service projects which varied from helping a soup kitchen deliver food to a township in South Africa to playing with disabled children in India. If traveling the world wasn't enough for me I also was part of a program which, unique to CLU and through the generous and brilliant work of Dr. Brint, takes students through a month at Oxford University and then a month and a half of traveling through Europe. While in each city we worked in small groups and focused on historically important events or people from that area and read works which had originated from that very city. While in Oxford we got studied with Oxford Professors (Dons), which was by far my favorite part. Different in teaching styles and techniques, Oxford encouraged me to push myself in academic and personal growth. My experiences there continue to shape and influence who I am now and what I am pursuing after graduation. I would go back at the drop of a hat!