Wanderlust is so easy to catch. In our youth when we have nothing to tie us down, we should take every opportunity to explore the world and look at life through a different lens. Syracuse University offers study abroad opportunities from London, England to Florence, Italy and various cities both in Europe and in the United States. I interviewed four young women who were excited to share their experiences and give some advice about studying abroad. I asked them each the same questions, and they gave answers as unique as they are.
Kathryn: Madrid
"What did you expect?"
“I’d heard nothing but incredible things from everyone I knew that had gone before. I also stayed with a host mom that six other girls in my sorority had stayed with before so I knew I would be in good hands. I was definitely expecting a big adventure but had no idea I would fall in love with it.”
"What was it like taking classes in a different country?"
“I had to take Spanish of course, but it was super helpful having it be a class that I used every single day. Taking other classes could sometimes be hard. There are so many things to see and places to explore, it felt foolish to be trapped in a room studying.”
"What is/are your favorite memory(ies)?"
“One of my favorite memories was when I was on spring break in Italy. Three of my friends and I went to Capri for the day and took a boat cruise around the island for three hours. The sun was shining and the island is gorgeous! We went in the blue grotto, which is unreal. It was the most carefree day (exactly how abroad should be).”
"Did abroad change you when you came back to the states/ how you see life in the states compared to abroad?"
“Coming home was hard for me. I didn’t experience much culture shock when getting to Madrid but I had a rough time with it when coming back to the states. It was such a huge lifestyle change. Personally, I felt as though there was a better quality of life in Europe. Everyone is so easy going and enjoys life so much instead of letting little things get in the way. Also not to mention that everything is beautiful! After experiencing all that with my best friends every day for four months, the transition was not easy.”
"What do you miss the most?"
“I fell in love with Europe and there’s no other time in my life that I will be able to experience it as I did for four months. I met new people, made best friends, could travel to amazing countries on the weekend, go explore hidden parts of Madrid in between classes. Every single part of it was amazing. I don’t think there’s anything I don’t miss.”
"Any advice?"
“Go abroad! No matter what issues you think might be in the way, make it happen. It’s 100 percent worth it.”
Gabby: Madrid
"What did you expect?"
“I expected more people to speak English and they didn’t. I didn’t know what the food was going to be like so I was nervous about that and I was nervous about living with a host family.”
"What was it like taking classes in a different country?"
“The classes through SU were hard so I really had to do work, which I wasn’t expecting.”
"What is/ are your favorite memory(ies)?"
“During spring break I was in Florence with three other friends and one night we sat along the water at sunset and drank wine and ate cheese with meat and sat there for hours listening to music and talking. It was amazing.”
"Did abroad change you when you came back to the states/ how you see life in the states compared to abroad?"
“I definitely changed. I’m less scared to take risks and I feel like I finally found myself and got back in touch with who I used to be. I was in a dark place before I went abroad and it brought the real me back and helped me become a better person and take more initiative.”
"What do you miss the most?"
“I miss everything. The people, dancing, friends, atmosphere, culture, literally all of it. There is not one thing I do not miss (except all the fried food).”
"Any advice?"
“Don’t hold back from anything. Explore as much as you can, go out whenever you can, branch out from the norm of your group and don’t be afraid to do different things. A truly life changing experience.”
Julie: Florence
"What did you expect?"
“I didn’t really know what to expect that I would be in the country where my roots come from, which was really exciting for me. I knew dinners would be long and had a feeling I would struggle with the language.”
"What was it like taking classes in a different country?"
“I took 18 credits which was a ton, but I really enjoyed my professors. One of them told me, don’t expect to learn the way you do in the states. We teach our students differently here and that’s why you’re here; to learn new things and experience things differently than you would in the states.”
"What is/ are your favorite memory(ies)?"
“My favorite memory would be skiing in Switzerland and getting my own library card from Florence. I would do my homework there while the local people were in the library. A funny memory was a group of us went to Barcelona for spring break and I went to go plug my phone in and I ended up falling asleep on my bed and missed the whole night of being in the city night life.”
"Did abroad change you when you came back to the states/ how you see life in the states compared to abroad?"
“I learned that people in other countries go about their lives very differently than we do. It was eye opening and everyday I appreciated my time there more and more.”
"What do you miss the most?"
“I would do anything to go back! I think I miss the adventure and getting lost but always being able to somehow find my way home. I lived five minutes from the Duomo, so everyday when I would go out for a run I would take different streets, and as long as I could see the top of the Duomo, I knew I would eventually get back. I miss my host sister, we talk at least once a week via Facebook.”
"Any advice?"
“I would say go with an open mind. Try everything, live in the moment, take risks and know that adventure is just around the corner if you take the first step to go seek it out.”
Natalie: Florence
"What did you expect?"
“I expected that it was going to be mostly Syracuse students but it was closer to 50/50 which was nice to meet students from other schools. I thought I was going to gain a ton of weight, too. I didn’t think I would ever consider Florence to be a home. And lastly that it was going to be warmer.”
"What was it like taking classes in a different country?"
“Taking classes was super interesting. Just because you were immersed in the different culture made it interesting.”
"What is/ are your favorite memory(ies)?"
“My favorite memory was when we first arrived and we were taken by our guide to the top of Piazza Michaelangelo. It was absolutely breathtaking as it overlooked the entire city. I actually happened to run into my cousin who had just arrived. It was amazing to finally be in Florence and have my family there too. Another memory is when I went to Barcelona with my friends and we had the best time going around the city all night before going to the airport at 6 a.m.”
"Did abroad change you when you came back to the states/ how you see life in the states compared to abroad?"
“Abroad absolutely changed me. I learned to see the world in a much different way, and I learned to step outside of my comfort zone, and if I want to do something, then go out and do it. Also just to always branch out, meet new people because it’s easy to stay with people you know. You meet so many interesting people you never would have met. It was a more carefree lifestyle.”
"What do you miss the most?"
“I miss the people that I met abroad and my host family. They made my experience so amazing and it made me have a home away form home. I miss living a few minutes from the Duomo and being able to wander aimlessly and just taking it all in; a place that was so foreign and different, had become so comfortable. The food was incredible! I would do anything to have the gelato and pasta and pizza and steak! I also miss being able to travel to different countries so easily.”
"Any advice?"
“Go abroad if you can. It’s such a different experience from traveling with friends or family. Talk with people who have been abroad, even if you think you have dumb questions, they won’t be. And just have an open mind. It goes by so fast and I would do absolutely anything to go back.”
