How did studying abroad affect your academic and/or professional career?

My time studying abroad affected my career goals by showing me that I can continue my academic career outside of the United States. Beyond my academic career it has shown me that there is so much that can only be learned by embracing living in another country.

How did you explore your hobbies, interests, and passions abroad?

I was able to explore my interests of exploring and languages by having the freedom and flexability to travel over the weekend.

Why would you recommend your respective abroad program or location?

I would recommend coming to Madrid because it is a city for every kind of person. The city has endless activities ranging from free museums to nearby hikes. It is the heart of Spain therefore you have a constant exposure to the culture and neighboring cities.

What should students consider when applying and preparing for their time abroad?

When applying and preparing for their time abroad students should consider practicing cultural appreciation. It helps to come in with a clear mind because it helps with the culture shock.

Did your identity impact your study abroad experience?

My identity as a Hispanic American impacted my study abroad by allowing me to form easier connections with the Spanish students. It was also a common topic of interest for Europeans because they are also just as eager to get to know Americans as we are them.

Share a story about a time you experienced cultural immersion.

A time were I experienced cultural immersion was after a tapas dinner at a small local stop near my apartment. My friend and I were walking home and we noticed there was a group of Spaniards our age singing and dancing inside another restaurant, so we went inside. Upon entering we were immidietely embraced and shown how to dance and play the native instruments with them. After the fun we talked to them and they offered us more local drinks and gave us their contact to further show us around.

How did studying abroad affect your academic and/or professional career?

Before studying abroad I never would have considered extending my professional career beyond the boarders of the United States. After being in the Netherlands and traveling throughout Europe I have reconsidered that and could see myself living and working either in Amsterdam, my city of study, and in London, somewhere I visited.

How did you explore your hobbies, interests, and passions abroad?

It was really important to me to explore my home city as much as possible. I also knew that it was going to be important to me to put down roots in this entirely new country. I became the student representative in my residence hall which was an amazing opportunity because it allowed me to get closer with my peers but also increased my support network of adults and local professionals who were connected to my program. I also made a bucket list of things I had seen on social media that I wanted to do, anything from restaurants to museums to jewelry-making classes. That way, whenever my friends and I wanted to do something, there was immediately something for us to do.

Why would you recommend your respective abroad program or location?

Yes I would highly recommend by program and location. My program provided housing, weekly excursions, immigration help and so many other resources that made the transition smooth. Amsterdam as a city is the most amazing place I have ever been, I acknowledge my own bias of course but even friends that visited me said they love it. It is a tremendously livable city with unbelievable charm.

What should students consider when applying and preparing for their time abroad?

When considering and preparing for abroad, I recommend doing self-reflection and thinking about what you want to get out of the experience. Abroad is challenging, and taking on other people's expectations only makes it more challenging. I would also suggest exploring all of your options before choosing one and again ensure that you are choosing the right place for you.

Did your identity impact your study abroad experience?

My identity had a few impacts on my experience of studying abroad. Almost everyone in the Netherlands speaks English, and because of this, it was easy for me to navigate the city. Additionally, Amsterdam is a place of many ex-pats and itself is a bit of a cultural melting pot, which makes being a foreigner less overwhelming.

Share a story about a time you experienced cultural immersion.

One of the most culturally immersive experience I had in Amsterdam was when I did a cross country drive with a local, Gert. My cousin had studied abroad in Amsterdam the semester before and had used him to travel around to the smaller cities in the Netherlands. Being with Gert, I was able to ask him as many questions as I wanted to and I was able to explore the less traveled and touristy locations in the Netherlands. I highly recommend spending time in places that are more quaint than your primary area of study.

How did studying abroad affect your academic and/or professional career?

Through studying abroad, I took a variety of courses that allowed me to learn about Italian history and contemporary culture. From Beginning Italian to Food and Wine in Italy, I learned about the language and traditions of Italians to better understand their practices. Immigration, Race, and Identity connected to my study of International Relations at Tulane and furthered my knowledge of this field.

How did you explore your hobbies, interests, and passions abroad?

Studying abroad allowed me to live out my dream of traveling Europe with my friends. I explored new interests and activities such as night sledding down the Swiss Alps and horseback riding in Spain.

Why would you recommend your respective abroad program or location?

I would recommend Florence because it has a rich culture with welcoming locals. The food is amazing and the small size of the city creates a sense of comfort and familiarity. The CEA program provides great housing just 5 minutes from the school. The dedicated professors and small class sizes allow an easy transition between Tulane and study abroad.

What should students consider when applying and preparing for their time abroad?

Students should consider the city size and area of study when applying for their time abroad. This impacts the daily commute to school and credits transferred. When preparing for abroad students should pack light to save room for souvenirs and shopping!

Did your identity impact your study abroad experience?

My identity did not impact my study abroad experience as locals were inviting and mostly English-speaking. Italians were excited to learn from American students and I was treated with respect throughout my experience.

How did studying abroad affect your academic and/or professional career?

Studying abroad has allowed me to improve my language and communication skills, gain new friends and family in another country, and understand my field of study in a different cultural context. It reinforced my desire to study medicine in the US while showing me the diversity of ways that medicine and health are interpreted, experienced, promoted, and treated outside of it. Despite how much I learned in the classroom, living in an entirely new place was definitely the biggest learning experience, and the soft skills of cultural competence, empathy, flexibility, and openness will serve me greatly in my academic, professional, and personal future.

How did you explore your hobbies, interests, and passions abroad?

While abroad, I took Zumba classes at the university gym, baked with my host family, and enrolled in a month-long aerial silks class. I was also able to spend lots of time at the beach, swimming, reading, and having picnics with friends!

Why would you recommend your respective abroad program or location?

I would recommend SIT Arica Chile because of the immersive nature of the program, including 3-4 host family stays, lots of class field trips, and program-organized travels across the country to learn about different indigenous communities.

What should students consider when applying and preparing for their time abroad?

If possible, talk to people who have done your program before so you can have realistic expectations and make sure that your program is the best one to fulfill your specific goals for studying abroad.

Did your identity impact your study abroad experience?

Besides some staring due to the fact that our program location is not super touristy and I stood out physically, my identity did not greatly affect my study abroad experience.

Share a story about a time you experienced cultural immersion.

I did an internship in a Chilean medical school, where I was completely immersed in the classes, simulations, and supervised patient care.

How did studying abroad affect your academic and/or professional career?

Studying abroad changed my perspective on the point of academia. It is less about the knowledge you gain in the classroom and more about the experiences you have and the relationships you gain.

How did you explore your hobbies, interests, and passions abroad?

I was able to explore my hobbies through additional travel and on campus/community involvements.

Why would you recommend your respective abroad program or location?

Studying abroad in a culturally diverse areas allows you to learn more about yourself and the world as a whole. Studying abroad in Southern Africa allowed me to see a new perspective on the world and build essential interpersonal and problem solving skills for my future. Additionally it is an area of the world that I would never normally have the opportunity to visit.

What should students consider when applying and preparing for their time abroad?

A student should understand the type of experience they want studying abroad, and how the program they pick will achieve that. This idea is really important when picking being a cohort or a host institution and the activities within the host country.

Did your identity impact your study abroad experience?

My identity as a woman really impacted my time abroad, as Botswana and neighboring countries are all very patriarchal. It allowed me to understand how privileged we are at home to be seen as equals in educational or professional settings.

Share a story about a time you experienced cultural immersion.

I was able to experience the daily life of a rural Botswana family which allowed me to not only understand the daily activities of farming, cooking, and other activities. But also I got to understand and experience in depth the gender roles within Botswana Culture. This meant I helped assist in the roles of preparing agriculture, watching and educating the children, and tending to the family needs placed upon them by society. It was the first time, where I wasn’t just hearing about a different culture but experiencing and participating in it.

How did studying abroad affect your academic and/or professional career?

Studying abroad with SIT has introduced me to a truly global perspective of health and life itself. I have met and worked with public health professionals, academics, policymakers, and local people to understand these systems abroad. I gained insights that I would never find in a classroom, and I feel more certain that public health is the right path for me.

How did you explore your hobbies, interests, and passions abroad?

I made sure to spend time outdoors and engage with my cohort. It is such a busy and involved program that you need to prioritize these relationships with yourself and your peers. I found local yoga classes (despite the language barriers), brought crafts (lots of my friends took up crochet), and spent my free time exploring my surroundings. When you go abroad and are away from your home, friends, and family, it is easy to lose your sense of self, but having hobbies and moments of self care helps so much.

Why would you recommend your respective abroad program or location?

I recommend an IHP program because it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be fully immersed in so many different cultures. My homestay family experiences were so incredible and eye-opening, and they will change how I think about my life forever. I felt like while the academic program was not too demanding, I still learned so deeply. It was well-planned, which made it easier to focus on experiencing each country.

What should students consider when applying and preparing for their time abroad?

Have a realistic expectation of how you want to spend your time; if you want to sightsee, travel, and have an independent experience, do not pick a very structured program. If you want cultural immersion, homestay experiences, and group activities, a structured program might be better for you. Understand your comfort levels, how you decompress, your social battery, etc… I recommend doing pro/con lists or journaling to get in touch with yourself.

Did your identity impact your study abroad experience?

A friend of mine reminded the group early on that some people are lucky enough to study abroad, and some people are privileged enough to study abroad. It was important for me to recognize my privilege in having access to a good education and money to travel. Going abroad in the global south and other countries that are so different from the US makes you constantly aware of your American identity and privilege; it is an uncomfortable feeling, but it is necessary to grow and build cultural competence.

Share a story about a time you experienced cultural immersion.

My homestay family, my roommate, and I went to the Mid Autumn Festival celebration in their apartment block. There was a freeze dance party and other games for kids, performances from girls’ dance teams, and Vietnamese candies. The kids were really excited to meet us and practice their English; they gave us cute carved fruits off of the altar, and we ended up sharing mooncakes in their apartment later that night. Living with homestay families in any country is the best cultural immersion!!

How did studying abroad affect your academic and/or professional career?

I took classes on humanitarian aid and global health, involving my previous studies in public health and international development. In addition, I designed a large research paper and learned how to contact and conduct interviews with experts. I’ll always have a network of people from my program working in fields I’m interested in! Over thanksgiving, I met one of my host family’s former students who now works in health research in Boston!

How did you explore your hobbies, interests, and passions abroad?

I love to explore, travel, and learn about history. In Switzerland, I had a pass that gave me free travel for the entire country. I’m from Texas, so having access to such extensive public transportation amazed me. Any time I was free, I tried to take advantage of my pass and travel to nature, museums, and cathedrals.

Why would you recommend your respective abroad program or location?

I chose my location because I wanted to practice French while studying public health. This program offered the perfect mix of all of my priorities - academic subjects, language, and ease of travel with the free Swiss Pass. Switzerland is also really well situated for travel within Europe, you can get to so many countries by train.

What should students consider when applying and preparing for their time abroad?

I feel like establishing your priorities for studying abroad is important. Do you want to improve your language skills? Do a homestay or direct enroll at a local university. Do you want to travel a lot? Choose a location where you’ll be able to easily get to other cities. I did a cohort program, which was a little different than a typical study abroad experience as we took all of our classes together, so that would also be another factor to consider. Finally, thinking about finances is integral. While I loved Switzerland, it’s one of the most expensive countries. I ate meals with my homestay and stayed in hostels when traveling to save money.

Did your identity impact your study abroad experience?

It definitely did in some ways as Switzerland is a surprisingly conservative country. Women only got the right to vote in 1971. In addition, my cohort (which was all women) traveled to Morocco. We tried to blend in to the culture as well as possible, covering our legs, arms, and sometimes our hair, but it was still obvious we were American. It’s definitely something to consider about the locations you study abroad in or travel to.

Share a story about a time you experienced cultural immersion.

Every September in Switzerland, farmers celebrate the end of the summer by bringing their cows down from the mountain pastures they graze on during the summer. Some of these festivals can be super touristy, but the first festival my friends and I went to was absolutely only locals. It was in the middle of nowhere, in a tiny town where everybody spoke German. We got to see a parade of cows with beautiful flower crowns, hear traditional alp horns and yodeling, and eat spätzli and sausage. Even with a language barrier, we got to immerse ourselves in Swiss German culture.

How did studying abroad affect your academic and/or professional career?

It helped me get re-inspired about my academic and professional goals in the field of sustainable development. Being in a country that prioritizes the well-being of its citizens was a refreshing change from the United States, and being around people who cared for one another so deeply was awe-inspiring.

How did you explore your hobbies, interests, and passions abroad?

I did volunteer work in local schools, joined clubs in the university, and discussed the politics of the country with local friends. It was an easy environment to explore the materials discussed in class outside of the classroom.

Why would you recommend your respective abroad program or location?

Often times people shy away from programs in continents other than Europe, but this was the most incredible, life changing experience of my life. Botswana was an incredible place to live filled with wonderful people who have changed my life forever and who will always have a place in my heart. I want other people to experience the incredible 4 months that I did there.

What should students consider when applying and preparing for their time abroad?

They should consider what they want to get out of the experience, their goals for their time abroad, how they want it to enhance their academic goals, and how deeply they want to be immersed in a new culture.

Did your identity impact your study abroad experience?

It was interesting being a white person in a context where that really made you stand out and made you an object of interest to many people. Furthermore, as a woman I received a lot of attention from males in the area.

Share a story about a time you experienced cultural immersion.

We went to a village an hour outside of the city and learned all about the traditional ways people prepared food there. We rode in the donkey carts they use, cooked phapatha on the fire outside their hut, and helped milk their cows.