Berlin, Germany

Clara Feldman ’24

Majors: German, Global Studies, Political Science

“I spent the year abroad in Berlin, Germany’s capital city, studying at the Freie Universität Berlin where I’ve been able to take classes towards all my majors. One of my favorite experiences has been improving my German; as the fourth language I’ve learned, German was definitely a challenge of confidence and commitment, but being able to use it in my everyday life and see my progress through my ability to connect with my surroundings is incredibly rewarding. Additionally, I’ve been fortunate enough to travel often throughout my year abroad, including solo trips to Turkey and Austria. Beyond the tangible experiences of traveling, making friends around the world, exploring new spaces, and acquiring language skills, study abroad teaches you more about yourself than you could ever expect. New experiences and spaces challenge you to step out of your comfort zone, requiring improvisation and reflection, and expose you to paradigms of culture and thinking you’d never encounter otherwise. Ultimately, you get out of it what you put in, and because of my time abroad, my outlooks on learning and how I interact with the communities around me have undoubtedly changed for the better.”

Sevilla, Spain

Maddie Gourley ‘24

Majors: Spanish, Psychology

“During spring 2023, I had the opportunity to study abroad in Sevilla, Spain. My favorite part of the experience was living with my wonderful host family. From drinking cervezas in the street and eating pipas on the beach to sharing stories at the dinner table, they welcomed me with open arms and helped immerse me in the Andalusian culture. I was able to improve my Spanish while learning the true importance and power of knowing a foreign language. The ability to communicate with my host family and locals gave me a special chance to experience the culture in a more authentic way. These experiences forced me to wander outside my comfort zone constantly, making me more confident in myself and more open-minded to the cultures that exist outside of mine. Sevilla will forever hold a place in my heart.”

Rome, Italy

Jenna Shiffman ‘24

Major: Classics

“I studied in Rome at John Cabot University during the spring 2023 semester. I learned so much about how to appreciate and adapt to another culture throughout my time abroad. I also learned how this takes you out of your comfort zone and feels challenging at times, but how rewarding it is when you come out of the experience with a newfound cultural perspective of both the world and your own community. I met friends from other countries and other parts of the United States that I would have never met otherwise. I loved getting to travel throughout Europe on my weekends and breaks, but I especially loved the time that I spent in Rome. I was incredibly lucky to be in such an amazing host city with so many sights to see and delicious food to try! Going abroad showed me that the world has much more for me to see and has inspired me to be excited about future travel and more experiences outside of my comfort zone.”

Tbilisi, Georgia

Joe Landry-McWilliams ‘24

Majors: Russian, Political Science

“In the spring of 2023, I decided to study abroad in Tbilisi, Georgia, a bustling capital nestled in the Caucasus region. Being a Post-Soviet country, Georgia was a clear option for continuing my education in Russian. I was able to live with a local family who did not speak English, meaning I was given the opportunity to fully immerse myself in language study. Being abroad gave me the opportunity to take my skills out of the classroom, applying them to everyday settings. My favorite part of living abroad was being able to experience Georgian family culture, attending birthday parties, family gatherings, and even outings to the family’s “Dacha”, or village house. I believe that studying abroad has given me the opportunity to expand my worldview and improve my language abilities ten-fold.”

Cannes, France

Mandy Gourley ‘24

Major: French and Environmental Studies

“This past spring semester, I studied abroad in Cannes, France, which is well-known for the annual Cannes Film Festival. The coastal city is right on the Mediterranean Sea, so I spent the winter months with sand and sun rather than snow. Each day was spent taking French classes, going to the beach, finding new places in the downtown area, and learning more about French culture, specifically the Provence region. Not only did my speaking abilities improve, but I became more confident in my sense of independence throughout the semester. Living in Cannes allowed me to see France in a way that was separate from Paris and past experiences, and I loved the slower pace of life in Southern France. During the program, I had the opportunity to travel to new countries throughout Europe, such as Italy, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Belgium. Although traveling to new places was amazing, my favorite part of the program was meeting new people and creating lifelong friendships. Going abroad gave me the chance to become more independent, confident, and appreciative of all the people in my life, and it’s something I would love to do again someday.”

Granada, Spain

Grace Visco ‘24

Majors: Spanish and Secondary Education

“I spent the spring semester studying abroad in Granada, Spain. The classes I took put a large emphasis on immersing all of us in Andalucía and Granada. For example, I took a flamenco dance and history class, which quickly became my favorite course. As a dance minor, I enjoyed being able to dance, as it provided a sense of normalcy and comfort to my semester. At the same time, it exposed me to a style and history I knew nothing about. My classes and professors were fun and terrific, but a lot of my learning happened outside the classroom. Throughout my semester abroad, I watched in awe as my confidence grew. Week one, I was scared to order at a restaurant in Spanish. By the end of the semester, I was happy to hold a conversation with a waiter, or literally any person who started to speak Spanish with me on the street. Studying abroad gave me a sense of independence and encouraged me to dive headfirst into new experiences and challenges, no matter how daunting. Whether it was aimlessly strolling through the city without a map, speaking to someone in Spanish, or playing in weekly soccer games, I pleasantly surprised myself with what I was able — and willing — to try while in Spain. I improved my Spanish, tried new things, and made lifelong friends. I can’t wait to return to Granada one day!”

Trier, Germany

Miranda Cully ‘24

Major: Political Science (minor in German)

“I chose to study abroad in Trier, Germany. I didn’t know much about the city when I made my decision, other than that it was the oldest city in the country. I am minoring in German, so I figured that a German-speaking program would help me improve my language skills. Other than that, I wasn’t looking for anything specific! In retrospect, I am glad that I chose a place to study abroad that I knew very little about. Going into the experience with few expectations allowed me to live in the moment and take chances that I may not have taken otherwise. Over the past few months, I have made friendships that have expanded my perspective on the world, had the privilege to travel throughout Europe to experience different places, and learned more about myself through living alone in a new country. It’s incredible to be somewhere with so much history, and I hope to come back to visit in the future!”