Category: Semester Programs

Submitted by Lauren Choptij the 2024 Spring program in Rome, Italy…

This week I went to all of my classes and tried a new restaurant for dinner. I went to Malta this weekend and was able to meet up with two of my friends from home who are studying abroad in London and Berlin. It was so nice seeing them and being able to experience a new country. Malta is a beautiful country and the weather was so warm. We got to explore the islands of Gozo and Camino and we got to see the Blue Lagoon. We took a boat tour and went down the slide and swam in the beautiful water. (Submitted on March 18, 2024)

Submitted by Emma Smith the 2024 Spring program in London, England…

This past weekend I had the opportunity to visit Interlaken, Switzerland. This place was like nothing I had ever seen before. As we drove from the airport to Interlaken, we were riding past beautiful snow capped mountains and turquoise lakes. We had to drive up the mountain and through tunnels in order to arrive in Interlaken. Interlaken gets its name from its location as it stands between Lake Brienz and Lake Thun. The lakes get their turquoise color from the melting of the glaciers on the mountains. This water is very clean and even drinkable. It is healthy for your skin, but unfortunately extremely cold. We went on a ten mile bike tour around the town of Interlaken and got to see the small villages and huge mountains surrounded by the lakes. We also were able to ride in a jet boat where we sped down the lake while our driver made sharp turns and told us many facts about the lake itself and the surrounding villages. Switzerland is very famous for making delicious chocolate so we signed up for a chocolate making workshop that was so worth it. We learned about the history of chocolate making and tried different chocolate depending on how much cocoa, sugar, and cream were in each. We made our own chocolate and got to take it home. Interlaken, Switzerland is an excellent place to travel to if you want to feel like you’re in a small town with many things to do and experience. I loved Interlaken because it was easy to get around and see many different parts of it, but also felt huge because I was surrounded by enormous snow capped mountains and deep lakes. This was definitely my favorite place I have visited so far. (Submitted on March 17, 2024)

Submitted by Julia Scott the 2024 Spring program in Paris, France…

Hearing birds for the first time in months, seeing daffodils and trees beginning to bloom has rejuvenated me as I begin to become fatigued from the ever-familiar seasonal depression. As the weather warms and we approach the first day of spring, energy is really turning around in Paris. . It is a relief to see so much more life being circulated into the city as days get longer and the city gets spotted with bits of greenery. The weather for the past few months is usually temperate, with some spitting of rain and a general cloudiness not unlike Seattle, Washington – as soon as the weather hits 60 degrees fahrenheit, you will not catch me dead in a winter coat. Everyone here wears big jackets and scarves and, although chic, it feels a bit silly at times. I’ve tried, but I sweat my butt off under all those layers and I’m tired of mopping sweat off of my face before class. I also must keep in mind that athleisure is a cardinal sin and no one here will wear an outer layer like a big hoodie as it appears like you had just rolled out of bed. I won’t lie, at home I am a lover of leggings and big hoodies and at times I HAVE just rolled out of bed and gone out. Parisians have a good point about that. I wonder – when will Parisians shed their chic layers? Will men stop wearing skinny jeans, and will they wear baggy shorts or just the shorts version of their favorite tight denim? So many questions I cannot wait to find the answers to. (Submitted on March 17, 2024)

Submitted by Maxwell Poruban the 2024 Spring program in Granada, Spain…

It is my tenth week in Granada, Spain and before midterms my cohort of students organized a trip to the Mediterranean coastal town of Almuñecar. Here we spent the day exploring the coast, visiting the Castillo de San Miguel, and the Peñones de San Cristóbal. While all of these provided a wonderful escape from the city and a chance to recharge before a difficult exam period, the most fascinating part for me was the surprising accessibility. Almuñecar is located just under two hours to the southwest of Granada, a journey that in the United States would be difficult without a car; for example, the trip from Newark to the Delaware beaches is a similar distance. This trip on public transport in the U.S.  would take multiple bus changes and cost around $20, roundtrip, and would take up much of your day traveling or you would need to conform to the American car culture. On the other hand, the trip from Granada to Almuñecar was direct with no changes, cost $20, and took under two hours. This discrepancy was impressive to experience but entirely unexpected. In my conversations and interviews with the Spanish, I have found both a love, reliance, and impressive trust in the public transportation system here on the peninsula. In the U.S. we have a wide variety of public transportation that has a wide variety of reputations depending on the city or the part of the country that you are from. To me the biggest shock was the lack of quality/class associations with taking the bus or the metro. In the U.S. the automobile is one of the most iconic parts of the “American dream” and both owning and expense of a vehicle is an economic marker and, at times, a necessity. In Spain there is no class association with bus transportation, rather everyone utilizes the service because it is comfortable, affordable, and reliable. For me this experience will provide an interesting reference of cultural differences when I return to the U.S. (Submitted on March 17, 2024)

Submitted by Alexandra Evangelist the 2024 Spring program in Rome, Italy…

I visited Prague this weekend. I am not one to try new foods, but this trip I tried a European food called Goulash that came with potato dumplings. Goulash is a stew with meat and vegetables seasoned with paprika. It was really good and I had it twice! Another fun desert I tried was called Trdelnik. When visiting Prague, I saw Petrin hill, Prague castle, Lennon wall, Charles bridge, old town square, St Vitus Cathedral, and the astronomical clock. It was also the weekend of St Patrick’s day so there was a lot of American/ Irish spirit around the squares. I definitely recommended trying new foods where you travel and also visiting Prague! (Submitted on March 17, 2024)

Submitted by Alexandra Evangelist the 2024 Spring program in Rome, Italy…

This is the week where I traveled completely alone for the first time. I was meeting a friend who was studying in another country. For the first time, there was no one guiding me halfway or joining me on the journey. Finding my way through the airport and finding my friend in another country was easier than I thought. It was not bad at all. Signs are helpful and always in english. Only hiccup was that my flight home was delayed and I had projects and tests the next few days. But, Copenhagen is a great place to visit. It is the capital of denmark. It is serene, beautiful, and safe. It is nice going to a place that speaks mostly English as well. I visited Nyhavn, Rosenborg castle, the round tower, a museum, and sadly the most popular place, Tivoli, was closed. Their culture and the food was so unique and I would definitely recommend going there if you can! My friend and I also took a canal tour where we got to see the little mermaid, which is a statue that is a huge tourist attraction. It was definitely smaller than I thought it would be. (Submitted on March 17, 2024)

Submitted by Olivia Tadlock the 2024 Spring program in Limerick, Ireland…

For one of my classes here in Ireland, I had to plan an activity that was focused on raising awareness for mental health. With the help of other classmates we planned a “Darkness Into Light” walk. These walks are menat to bring people in the community closer and to support those who have struggled with suicide and mental health. For this walk, a bunch of students got together and walked around campus along with staff from the local Suicide Watch charity. Through this walk we raised 200 Euros for Suicide Watch. Additionally, I met many other students from my university as well as members of the surrounding community who were all passionate about supporting mental health. When I participated in this activity for my class, I got to make a real difference in the community using what I learned in the class. Many of the classes that students take at this university are similar as they are very hands-on. Students get to take what they have learned to make a difference. Furthermore, the university has many more volunteering opportunities that students can partake in outside of their classes such as helping with Limerick city’s St. Patrick’s Day parade. These volunteering opportunities are a great way to help the community and to get to know members of the community. (Submitted on March 16, 2024)