Europe Semester Programs Spring Semester

The Rich History of Europe

Submitted by Elizabeth Mitchell on the 2024 Spring program in Paris, France…

Throughout my first three weeks in Paris, I have found the best way to get to know the city is to go to museums and learn about the history of Paris and of Europe as a whole. I have quickly learned that the history found in Europe is much more rich and old than history found in the US. The cities and cultures here have just been around so much longer so it is easy to find an interesting fun fact no matter where you go in Europe. My favorite museum I have visited here in Paris is one that is not talked about a lot. It is called Musee Carnavalet and it is a museum dedicated to the history of Paris. This museum takes you on a journey through the entire history of Paris, starting when it was still a part of the Roman Empire all the way to the present day. I especially enjoyed reading about the formation of Paris. Before Paris was Paris, the city was a part of the Roman Empire and was called Lutetia which means mud or swamp. It was called this because the river that runs through Paris, the Seine, gives the city a very moist environment. The museum also had remnants of the Roman Empire such as stones from the buildings and boats that they used. Another amazing museum experience I had was this weekend at the D’Orsay. I was able to go to an exhibit that showcased the final works of Van Gogh before he died. This is the first showcase of its kind. This is the type of experience that I would not be able to have back home. It is so inspiring to have all of this history at the tip of my fingers. The best part is that students are able to get into most museums including the Louvre and D’orsay for free. I feel so lucky to have this experience and be able to truly immerse myself into the history of this amazing city. (Submitted on February 4, 2024)

A Weekend in Amsterdam

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

This past weekend, my friends and I took a trip to Amsterdam, Netherlands. We took a 45 minute plane ride from London to Amsterdam and stayed in a youth hostel. We then went out to explore Amsterdam’s beautiful canals and architecture. On our first day there, we stopped at the Anne Frank museum where we learned all about her, her family, and their experience during the Holocaust. Even though it is a devastating story, this museum did such an amazing job of telling her story. The rest of the night consisted of eating and drinking various foods and beverages unique to Amsterdam such as stroopwaffles and heineken. We also attended the Heineken experience which is a self-directed walking tour of how the beer is made and the history behind it. We got to meet so many lovely people and our time there was amazing to say the least. It was also very cool to experience being in a country where mostly everyone does not speak English as their first language. Dutch is very commonly spoken in Amsterdam, so at times it was difficult to communicate with citizens and workers if they did not speak English. Biking is an extremely popular way of transportation in Amsterdam which was neat to see because I am so used to everyone driving cars or taking the train in London. This made Amsterdam feel smaller and more comforting when trying to get from place to place. My friends and I also went on a boat tour where we went around the river and through the canals while also listening to an audio guide directing our attention to different unique parts of the city. I would definitely recommend this city to anyone, it was absolutely amazing. (Submitted on February 4, 2024)

Week 4 Abroad

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

This week, I went to my classes and explored more of Rome. I walked by the Vatican with my roommate as well as going to the Pantheon again. The weeks are flying by. This weekend, we went to London and it was one of the coolest cities I have seen so far on this trip. There was so much to do and we were able to see all the tourist attractions. My favorite area was Kensington Palace and the Notting Hill area. It was so scenic and peaceful. I am really looking forward to our upcoming trip next weekend! (Submitted on February 4, 2024)

Food, Friends, and Fun!

Submitted by Samantha Jennings on the 2024 Spring program in Copenhagen, Denmark…

While I am participating in the DIS Copenhagen Program in Copenhagen, Denmark I am living in the Culinary Living and Learning Community. Each week in this LLC, me and my fellow flatmates join together with other apartments in our building as well as a local chef to cook and enjoy community dinners. This week we learned how warm spices, like coriander, cloves, and cinnamon, are used in traditional winter Danish cuisine. We prepared butternut squash soup with warm spices and coconut, pan-fried bread with herbs and black pepper, and a Vietnamese salad with carrot and mint to enjoy as a large group. I love learning more about Danish cuisine by actually getting the chance to prepare it, but by far my favorite part of the process is to eat the food that we prepared with the friends that I made along the way! (Submitted on February 4, 2024)

Museums and Chinatown

Submitted by Navleen Kaur on the 2024 Spring program in Sydney, Australia…

This week I visited two museums – The Art Gallery of New South Wales and Museum of Contemporary Art Australia. I was delighted to see that there was some Asian art on display. In the past when I have visited museums, I have seen American or European Art. Asian art is rarer in the US and Europe. For lunch, I stopped at the Japanese Ume Burger for their kakiage burger. This burger consisted of a vegetable fritter, nori mayo, shredded cabbage, and tonkatsu sauce. The food scene in Sydney is amazing. Different cuisines have integrated to create the most unique and delicious food! Last night, I visited Seoul Ria Restaurant where I ordered Japchae. My goal is to expose myself to as many cuisines and new food items as possible. In the next few weeks, I hope to visit the Newtown neighborhood as well as a few of the popular beaches on the outskirts of Sydney. If I had to summarize this city’s energy, I would say that everyone is very kind and relaxed. The pleasant weather in Sydney coupled with the beautifully maintained beaches make it a very relaxing place to study abroad! During the week, I do not make much time to explore because I am taking Finance and Operations Management in this first block. I am hopeful that I will have more free time in the next block. The classes in this program are condensed to cover all the material in one month. This is difficult, but the Professors understand and have been very helpful and understanding. (Submitted on February 3, 2024)

Exploring The University of Sydney

Submitted by Jake Kalinowski on the 2024 Spring program in Sydney, Australia…

The other afternoon, I explored The University of Sydney’s campus. It is located in the neighborhood called Ultimo, in Sydney. It was about a 15 minute walk from where I live in the city. It was a very hot day in Australia, but it was still lovely to walk around the campus and learn more about university in Sydney.

The University of Sydney is a very large campus and was founded in 1850. It is Australia’s oldest university. Australians called it Sydney Uni for short. In 1881, the university became one of the first to admit women in the world. The university has a total enrollment of over 70,000 students, which is astounding.

One of the biggest takeaways I got from exploring The University of Sydney’s campus was its architecture. It resembles Hogwarts in Harry Potter with its English style. It feels like you’re somewhere in England, such as Oxford University. The exact title for the style of the architecture of the university is called the Victorian Academic Gothic Revival.

I loved walking around and pretending like I was a student attending this university. I went inside buildings and browsed the library. Students and tourists were all around me enjoying the beauty of this marvelous campus. I loved exploring it on my own because it gave me a new sense of independence, exploring somewhere I’ve never been before. I will definitely be adventuring to this campus again soon, either for a quick jog or doing some homework under a tree enjoying the Australian sunshine. (Submitted on February 3, 2024)

Australia vs US Healthcare

Submitted by Riley Hazel on the 2024 Spring program in Sydney, Australia…

Sadly, while I was in Australia, I’ve been unfortunate to be in a Sydney hospital for 10 days. The reason for my visit was heart complications, but I’m all good now and in recovery. However, while in St. Vincent’s Public Hospital, I’ve noticed some key differences between the Australian and United States healthcare systems. For one, the Australian Hospital staff were all friendly and putting my self first before anything. While it could be said the same for the United States, I’ve experienced plenty of experiences within the US hospital such as rude staff, more time-constrained visits, and a less comfortable experience. Being in a hospital, in general, can put anyone’s mood down, however the whole time at St. Vincent’s in Sydney, I felt cared for and cared for all the time. Everyone was so personable; even the doctors were kind and down to Earth with me. There was a good amount of professionalism, but each nurse and doctor would give off a friend feeling. Then there is the United States, where everyone I’ve encountered would act as when if it was only a job. It’s a lot more serious and less personable in the United States, which just makes the situation more uncomfortable. I’ve honestly enjoyed my time in the hospital in Sydney despite being sad quite a bit to be there. The whole Australian staff made the experience simply better and comfortable for me. Even my doctor, went out of her way, to call my mom to update her on my doctor’s day off. If that doesn’t say anything about the level of care Australian healthcare has over the United States, I don’t know what else. (Submitted on February 3, 2024)

Finding Hygge

Submitted by Katarina Rodriguez Thomas on the 2024 Spring program in Copenhagen, Denmark…

In Denmark, the concept of “hygge” (pronounced hyu-guh) is about bringing coziness and contentment into your everyday life, especially when it’s cold, dark, and rainy for most of the winter. Moving into Denmark right in the middle of their most depressing season weather wise is certainly an adjustment for people used to the regular sunshine and mild winters we have in Delaware. When I first moved here, I had heard of hygge and thought that it was something that was built into the culture and the city around me. But, after settling in and finding that hygge wasn’t handed to me with my keys, I realized that it was really something that lived among the people and I was going to have to go out and find it for myself. Since deciding to join the hygge culture and pulling some of the members of my LLC along with me, we’ve built a nice little community filled with recommendations on where to find the best fuzzy blankets, game nights, group bakery trips, and community dinner nights. Together, we were all able to come together and create a little cozy community that has really allowed us to join in on one of the best parts of Danish culture and create our own family abroad. (Submitted on February 2, 2024)

An Exciting Transition

Submitted by Giulia Richardson on the 2024 Spring program in Rome, Italy…

The best way to describe the first week of being in Rome is pure excitement. Even in JFK when I was preparing to leave my home for the next four months, all I could think about was that I couldn’t wait to get there. Landing in Fiumicino airport was overwhelming to say the least; it finally settled in that I was alone in a foreign country. This anxiousness settled when I found the other study abroad students waiting for the JCU shuttle. Being around other students in the same situation eased our nerves, and we all bonded instantly because of this. Orientation week was very busy, but it was an amazing opportunity to get to know our classmates. We all grouped in the same spots at first and it felt like a close-knit community even after just a couple of days. Everyone was riding a rush of excitement, so when we were all together the energy was high and we had lots of fun! Being in a foreign city with a group of mostly American students at first eased the transition of moving here. Everything new and strange was a little less scary when I was experiencing it with people feeling the exact same way in those moments. Daily life in Rome is dramatically different than ours at home, and it was exciting to learn the ropes with friends. (Submitted on February 1, 2024)

Week 3 In Sydney

Submitted by Hannah Scheck on the 2024 Spring program in Sydney, Australia…

Week three in Sydney! Found a local place that hosts trivia on MondaysI have started to understand the public transportation systems here! I tried some new food items including a California Roll, Edamame, New York Cheesecake Gelato, Hungarian Kurtos, Pad Thai, and a Greek Chicken Pita. I also ate at some of my usuals, such as Taco Bell and Mcdonalds. I still enjoy exploring the Harbor and watching the fun street performers.I was able to experience National Australia Day in Australia! I went to the Royal Botanical Gardens to enjoy the lovely weather, watched some of the boat races, and saw a dazzling display of fireworks. I checked out the local Glebe Markets, which has an enormous display of shops. I was able to visit the White Rabbit Museum to see some local art. Finally, I made it to the top of the Sydney Tower Eye where I saw the most beautiful view of Sydney. (Submitted on January 31, 2024)