Semester Programs Spring Semester United States

Washington, D.C.: Grateful

Submitted by Jillian Cullen on the 2019 spring semester program in Washington, D.C. …

Living and working in Washington, D.C. has been extremely rewarding thus far. However, I did have to adjust to commuting and working 9-5.

It has been a much different experience than previous internships and jobs I have held. However, even though the hours are long, I thoroughly enjoy my internship. My fellow interns and staff have welcomed me into their work family and have trusted me with interesting and exciting assignments. I am excited and eager to get to work each day to see what awaits me. I also have come to enjoy commuting each day, as it provides me the opportunity to reflect on my experiences. It is only the second week, yet I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else, but here in D.C. I am so grateful for this opportunity.

I have my very own office in the Department of Justice!

Denmark: Getting Schooled – Danish Basketball

Submitted by Marina Ward on the 2019 spring semester DIS program in Copenhagen, Denmark…

I think the reason my hosts and I were matched is because we all enjoy basketball. Helle, my host mother, is a great player and has been in the game since she was 6 years old. Like, hello, I don’t even think I could walk well enough when I was six. She has traveled to the USA to play and I think was on one of the best club teams in the country. My host sisters, Amalie, 18, and Julie, 20, also play.

Every Wednesday, the family goes to the local club to get together with friends to run drills and scrimmage. In Denmark, schools are very different. They are strictly geared towards academics–that means no sports teams, no school mascots, nothing. But, people are still very active and want to be well rounded, so they coordinate teams at local facilities. My host family plays for an hour once a week and invited me to come with them. I like basketball and want to be involved, so of course I joined them.

Upon arrival, I met some other women that we would play with. Three women–2 Danish, 1 Spanish, and one of Julie’s friends were getting ready to hop on the court. The women varied in ages, but probably ranged from 30-40s. Okay, I thought, I can probably keep up. I really hadn’t played since high school, aside from a few pick-ups and shoot arounds at school. And I was very wrong, I got schooled.

It really wasn’t that bad, I held my own. I was a little nervous about being too aggressive on defense and not doing well on offense. I was certainly rusty, but slowly got back into the swing of things and even learned a bit of Danish from listening to chatter. We started out with easy lay-ups, right and left. This then progressed to reverse lay-ups, floaters, and around the back. I mean… We did not practice around the back in America. So it was rough. But, Helle and Amalie helped me through it and I eventually started to get into the swing of things.

Later, we ran drills. My least favorite was a 3-man weave that turned into 2-on-1 because I could NEVER figure out if I was on offense or defense (shout out to Amalie for being a real one and whispering where I should be when we were on the court together). I did love a shooting drill we did that resembled around-the-world because I got to slow down and focus on my form.

The last thing we did was 4-on-4. I had a good time here and got a bit competitive. I think I overdid my defense a bit and definitely took a long time to figure out what I was supposed to be doing on offense. I took a few shots that were a little over-spontaneous and missed some good assists. But in my defense, the Danes can PLAY. I wasn’t sure what to expect because basketball is such an American game. I honestly thought I would have just a little bit of an advantage, but no. They were quick, communicated well, and worked hard. Watching them, it was easy to tell they had played together for some time. I felt welcomed into the community and it was good to be on a team again.

Even though, I wasn’t great, they were kind, supportive, and encouraging. I hope to keep playing with them so that I can improve my basketball skills, Danish, and relationships in the future. Coming home, I felt a sense of ease and familiarity with the post-practice exhaustion that was also very comforting. Also, the diversity of the group made me proud of how I had pushed my boundaries and found a new experience. I think that’s why I’m really here and that’s what studying abroad should be about.

With full transparency, I’ve been having a really difficult time adjusting. It’s so hard not to compare living in a homestay on the outskirts of the city to living in a quaint apartment with other students downtown with excitement and nightlife and easy access to all of Copenhagen. My classes are also a lot more rigorous than I thought they would be. I have been having high highs and low lows in processing my experience so far and know it will be different, but playing basketball definitely bumped up my spirits and made me feel connected to my family and community… even if I did get schooled.

Italy: Setting Your Priorities

Submitted by Althea Suniga on the 2019 spring semester program in Rome, Italy…

When you’re abroad, it seems like all priorities get jumbled in the mix of jet-setting every weekend and schoolwork. The bookings and the essays all take over and you forget the most important thing – your well being. As students especially, we think we are indestructible with the world at our feet. As a result, we constantly push ourselves to our limits, overworking our bodies and tiring our minds.

I have come to realize that receiving proper nourishment is already as hard as it is when going to school in America. That difficulty doubles especially when you’re 4,000 miles away from home. Your routine is misplaced and the places you have come to know turn foreign. Budget overtakes nourishment, and especially as college students, all that matters is how much is on the price tag and not what is on the nutrition facts.

Grocery stores are such a trivial thing that we all get used to in America that we think all are the same wherever we go. It’s a funny thing to realize, that I have taken advantage of something always there in convenience. The little options that the grocery stores give here make it especially hard for overtired bodies to recharge themselves when the sources of produce and organic products are less to none. Even worse when the evil trifecta of stress, sickness, and tiredness all combine, it becomes hard to find the typical things (especially chicken noodle soup) to make you feel better.

After over a month being abroad, this will still take some getting used to. Finding the right balance between work, play, and care is hard especially when you’re in a new place as a young adult still treading in deep water. But that’s what I appreciate in the beauty of traveling, the luxury fades, and the reality that is sustenance and maintenance take over.

Washington, D.C.: Tracking Personal Growth

Submitted by Gillian Williams on the 2019 spring semester program in Washington, D.C. …

This week was the perfect definition of transitioning and re-acclimating to a new environment. Move in went surprisingly well and with less nerves than I thought I would encounter. I think that DC will be challenging to me. From the outside, everyone in the city looks like they are working all of the time and consistently in business professional, rushing from one meeting to the next. This makes me question my own abilities and confidence. My outsider’s view sees that everyone knows what they are doing and is climbing the ladder, while I don’t even know how to answer the phone or scan paperwork. I bet that they all started where I am now and had to learn just as I have to now. I just have to reassure myself that this is a learning process and that I will not be perfect in the first couple of days or weeks. It is all about the growth that you show throughout this experience. I find myself trying to impress those in my office and I don’t think I’m living up to their expectations. I hate to feel like I am in someone’s way or making their life more difficult, which is how I feel about working with my Staff Assistant. My daily reminder to myself is to be patient with my growing process. I am excited to keep building relationships with my housemates and explore the city. I am taking a peak into a potential future for myself which is sometimes overwhelming, but should be very refreshing. Overall, I feel comfortable in my surroundings and my abilities. I will become more resilient through this process and I am interested to track my growth.

A Snowy Day In Washington, D.C.

Submitted by Rachel Evans on the 2019 spring semester program in Washington, D.C. …

Living in Washington D.C. has been a dream come true. I feel beyond fortunate to live and work in this city. It’s surreal to step outside of my house and to have such an amazing view of the Capitol. To then commute only ten minutes to work in the Senate is a privilege and one that I am continuously amazed by every morning. While I have many stories to tell already from my time in D.C., a particularly special moment is my day exploring D.C. in the snow. My solo exploration led me to discover a new brunch spot, coffee shop, and book store. I felt comfortable in a way I didn’t think would be possible in a new city. Yet, my snowy trek showed me that I am capable of exploring D.C. on my own and enjoy my time doing so. Of even greater clarity, was the fact that I could see myself living, working, and exploring D.C. for years to come.

Capitol Hill Bookstore Political Science selection

Italy: Building New Friendships

Submitted by Mia Carbone on the 2019 spring semester program in Rome, Italy…

Having a good roommate is so crucial to an experience, whether it be at home or abroad. Leaving to be abroad for four months, I was very nervous about who my roommates would be, where they were from, how many there would be as it was all up in the air. Even more nerve wracking, I wouldn’t find out until I arrived at my apartment in Rome. I got to my new home, and found that I had six other roommates, one of whom was a girl from UD named Jenna who I didn’t know. I was still nervous about what we would think of each other, how we’d get along, everything everyone is nervous about when they get a new, randomly chosen roommate. Now, here we are a month into things, and Jenna is my best friend here. From the time we finally began talking and opening up, we clicked. Having her has made my experience here so enjoyable, and we have made other friends that I can’t picture this experience without. UD Abroad brought Jenna into my life, and I know that she, as well as my other new friends from Delaware I met through this program, will be there for a very long time.

Weekend trip to Budapest with the friends I’ve made abroad

Washington, D.C.: Becoming More Comfortable

Submitted by Gillian Williams on the 2019 spring semester program in Washington, D.C. …

This week was full of trying new things and becoming more comfortable. At the beginning of the week, I got the chance to explore the different buildings for the House of Representatives and Senate as well as the Capitol Building. I took to House and Senate subways, found my way around the tunnels, took my picture on the Speaker’s Balcony, and gave my first tour of the Capitol. Answering the phone calls coming into the office has become more comfortable and I’m enjoying speaking with constituents. It was interesting to be in the office during the votes for appropriation and the possibility of the government shutdown. I gained more context of the situation by interacting with the other staffers in the office and asking questions to learn more. I also had the chance to attend a briefing about climate change and environmental policy. Although it was very interesting and informative, I realized that environmental policy is not something that piques my interest. It gets more and more exciting everyday to be in the United State’s Capitol, experiencing in real time, policy action and history-making. And to top off the week, I had the opportunity to meet the Congresswoman and speak with her a bit. Her passion for positive change is inspiring and I cannot wait to help her team reach their goals.

Australia: So Much To Do!

Submitted by Mary Mohr on the 2019 spring semester program in Sydney, Australia…

Over the past two weeks, I’ve been able to explore Australia a little bit more. Whether it’s new restaurants, new nightlife activities, or just new areas to explore, everyday brings new adventures and experiences. There are cute little cafes on every corner and each one is better than the last. They’re my favorite place to do my school work because I can go off on my own, drink a delicious cup of coffee and get my work done.

I was fortunate enough to be able to tag along on one of my friend’s class field trips and go on the Coogee to Bondi Coastal Walk and check out some of the secluded beaches on the way. There is an awesome little surfing beach called Bronte along the way that let us escape from all the other tourists. One of my favorite experiences so far was going to a wildlife park and hiking the Blue Mountains. I was able to feed kangaroos and pet koala bears and I’m a big animal person, so I was in heaven. The Blue Mountain hike was absolutely beautiful (and terrifying because of poisonous spiders) and our tour guide Billy knew everything about the indigenous culture and the Australian outback. I’ve been doing so much the entire time I’ve been here, I can barely keep track.

Australia: Alone

Submitted by Marissa Serrao on the 2019 spring semester study abroad program in Australia sponsored by the Alfred Lerner College of Business & Economics…

The fourth week in Sydney is one that I will never forget, and not because I walked the tippy top of the Harbour Bridge. It was memorable for a reason bigger and more frightening than any of that adrenaline inducing activity. It was the week that my roommate who had been visiting left to go back to the United States, which happened to line up with the time when the two other CIS Abroad girls who I spend practically every waking moment with, had left to go to the Sunshine Coast.

In the beginning of the week, I had been excited and curious by the prospect of spending four days alone in Sydney. I had never truly been that alone. I had travelled away from family and friends many times, but I had always been with a group of people. I had spent several days alone in the States, but this was different. It would be a true test of my independence, and although I was hesitant, I was also eager to test my abilities. Always with a plan, I made a tentative schedule of my days. When I woke up on the first day, I was ready to go, and felt nothing really, positive or negative about the experience. I got up, went to work, and went about my day per usual, and when the workday was over, I hopped on the bus and took a trip to a beach I had not yet explored. Tamarama is a surfer’s beach, with daunting rip curls, and very few swimmers brave enough to hop in the waves without a board. I headed to the rocksthat looked like chunks of various planets had fallen to Earth and formed a collection of cliffs and caves. I stashed my shoes in my bag and began climbing to the small pools which were created by trapped water from ambitious waves. I sat upon a cliff overlooking a beautiful view, with no one, but myself to share it with.

With my friends off in different places, and everyone I know and love tucked in their beds in a different time zone, was the moment that felt as if I truly had been alone on the planet. I started to fear for when the girls left for the States at the end of the month and I would have a full four weeks by myself in Australia. I didn’t know how I was going to do it.

Fast-forward to three days later and I am sitting on a big red rock, overlooking an incredible view after hiking over ten miles on sand and stone. I felt invigorated, liberated, and truly grateful to have had the opportunity to hop from beach to beach down the east coast of Sydney all by my lonesome. It was impossible to feel anything but empowered after such a long and physically exhausting day, but although my body’s energy had been waning, my mind had never felt so clear and vibrant. I was grateful that I allowed myself to have the independence to do the things I had wanted to do, even if I had to do it alone. I knew then that I had nothing to fear for at the end of the month, and once the girls were gone and I was alone again, the adventures would not end. I truly had one of the most fantastic and eye opening days of my life, and I know that if I never got out of my comfort zone and allowed myself to grow, I would have never gotten in the mindset I am now. I can and will accomplish the things I want to, whether that be on my own, or with fifty other people by my side.

Australia: Dream Come True

Submitted by Marissa Serrao on the 2019 spring semester study abroad program in Australia sponsored by the Alfred Lerner College of Business & Economics…

I did not think it was possible for my time in Australia to get any more spectacular, but I was wrong. I had a three day work week at St. Vincent’s Hospital, with Monday being a public holiday for Australia Day, and Friday off for a weekend getaway. Friday morning I woke up at 3:45 AM for an early morning flight to Cairns, Australia- home of the Great Barrier Reef. As a certified scuba diver, the Great Barrier Reef had been on my mental list of places to dive since I made it when I was thirteen. This weekend, my dream eight years in the making finally came to life.

Hopping off the plane, we drove through the city streets of Cairns. It had been a three hour flight from Sydney, and we had crossed one time zone, but it felt as if we were on the other side of the world. The air was thick with humidity, and the surrounding foliage was straight out of a tropical rainforest. Lush trees and bushes covered towering mountains that had been hiding behind a vaporous fog, making the scenery that much moodier and mysterious.
The marina that our dive boat would take off from was a quick walk from our hostel, and during our walk there, the sky opened up, and that warm tropical rain soon had us soaked from head to toe. Amazingly I barely noticed, and cared very little, because I had my mind set on one thing only, and that was being 60 feet underwater.

The boat ride was two hours long to get us to the outer reef. Our boat, full of eager divers, was surrounded by green mountains embedded with thin waterfalls and lined with still water beaches. The sky had cleared up the further we got from shore and by the time we reached our destination, it was a beautiful sunny day, perfect for diving. Two dives, and one snorkel adventure later, I was overwhelmed with contentment. Standing on the bow, watching mountains pass by and the teal waves crashing gently into the sides of the boat, I couldn’t help but smile. I couldn’t process what I had just accomplished, and I repeated it to myself over and over in my head to make it stick. I had just dove the Great Barrier Reef. The coral had been vibrant as ever, and the sea life, shy but curious. I had seen anemones with clownfish wiggling their way in and out of, held the biggest sea cucumber I had ever seen, and got to dive alongside instructors who trusted and respected me as a diver, allowing me freedom to see and do what I pleased.

Returning to Sydney after an incredible trip to Cairns, I realized that it is not just about what the program provides, but about what I make out of my time abroad when there are no plans and it is up to me to choose what my day will entail. The semester will only be as amazing as I make it, and I plan on getting involved, increasing my knowledge and understanding of Australia, and continuing to have an experience of a lifetime.