Q: Initially, what made you decide to study abroad? Why did you choose your program?
A: From going and studying abroad at the University of Glasgow I hope to connect more to my culture through learning about Scottish culture while also being able to explore more of the medical side of my major. The University is prestigious and has many connections that will enhance my advancement in my field of study. Also, the country has so much culture to it that I hope from living there I can learn more about it.
Q: What was the highlight of your study abroad experience?
A: The highlight of my study abroad experience was meeting new people and learning about different cultures. As well as introducing my own cultural foods to other people. My neighbors hosted weekly events to bond. My second week in Scotland I was introduced to one of their events, and to say thank you, I introduced them to tacos. My neighbors were international students and did not know what a taco was. When I heard they did not know what a taco was, I decided to host Taco Tuesday night. From then on, I was often in their kitchen helping them prepare for their weekly events.
Q: What was your greatest challenge abroad and how did you overcome it?
A: The greatest challenge abroad was dealing with the loneliness of being in a different country during the holiday season. One of the ways I overcame this challenge was to hand make holiday decorations such as hand turkeys and paper snowflakes and hang them all over my flat's kitchen. As well as talking to other students from UCEAP to talk about how sad it is being away from family on holidays.
Q: How did your coursework abroad compare to your courses at UC Merced?
A: The coursework was harder than I thought it would be and how long it would take to complete the coursework. As well as there are not many opportunities to improve your grade because there is not much course work. It was stressful knowing that there was not much room for improvement. It is one assignment and a final that makes up the grade. Though I did like the lectures and guest lectures and how they went about teaching the class and how they had so much passion when they spoke on what they were teaching.
Q: What did you gain from your study abroad experience?
A: I gained the confidence to be unapologetically myself. The freedom in knowing that no one in my abroad city will remember gave me the confidence to be more myself. As well as to take time to be an active listener which came from the fact that half the time, I had no clue what my flat mates were saying due to their thick Scottish accent.
Q: What advice do you have for students considering study abroad?
A: The advice I would give students considering studying abroad is to just do it. Studying abroad is scary, but it is also freeing just having the opportunity to learn a new culture and make new friends from a different country from you.!
Q: Describe a typical day abroad.
A: A typical day abroad consisted of waking up having Scottish breakfast, tea with biscuits while watching the sunrise and talking to my flat mates and seeing their plan for the day. Then heading off to the university to go to class or to study, taking the path that goes through the park and seeing all the statues that had traffic cones on their head. At the end of the day, I would make dinner with my flat mates and talk about how our day was.
Q: If you could go anywhere in the world tomorrow, where would you go and why?
A: If I could go anywhere in the world, I would go back to Glasgow. I miss all my friends that I made there as well as the city itself. I miss the pub culture, the cones on random statues heads, and how nature coincided with the city.
