Q: Initially, what made you decide to study abroad? Why did you choose your program?
A: I choose to study abroad because I fell in love with the idea of traveling and learning about an unfamiliar culture. I had some experience in this country before but it has never been an independent travel. I choose my particular program because it offered an internship position at one of the companies abroad. Although it was unpaid, I would say that, overall, it was worth all the experiences and friendships I had during this trip.
Q: What was the highlight of your study abroad experience?
A: The highlight of my experience would have to be going out to eat amazing food often. It is difficult at times because of the work and class schedule but I made sure to try new foods for dinner each day. In addition, the friends that I have made throughout the program were amazing. Some highlights included going to karaoke, clubs, weekend trips to another city, etc. It was one of those experiences that you wished would never end.
Q: What was your greatest challenge abroad and how did you overcome it?
A: The greatest challenge would have to be adjusting to the culture and learning the language. It was overwhelming to purchase food and even ask for directions. There are also many societal norms that differ from California that is learned throughout the journey abroad. To overcome this, I practiced speaking with my friends and sometimes coworkers. I also watched TV shows and movies to expose myself to the language more. The main thing is confidence and not to be afraid to look silly when mistakes happens!
Q: How did your coursework abroad compare to your courses at UC Merced?
A: Since my program was an internship, the coursework load was significantly less than that of a normal semester. However, I had an online 6 credit global workplace class and it consisted of discussions, reflections, and work plan analysis. I would say that the workload is less compared to UC Merced in terms of time spent on the assignments. It is hard to say though because my course was designed to match the internship work hours.
Q: What did you gain from your study abroad experience?
A: Through study abroad, I gained some close friends and work experience. I got to work in my field of interest in another country. The workplace has some similarities to the ones back home but the skill to adapt was important to use and practice.
Q: What advice do you have for students considering study abroad?
A: My advice is to go for it, although you may have many doubts. It is hard to be 100% certain that it is the right decision. You will find that it may be a complete new beginning or experience. However, there are many students in the same position as they travel off to another country as well. Be open and find things that help comfort you for the long days.
Q: Describe a typical day for you abroad.
A: A typical day for me is waking up at 6:30am and grab breakfast around 7. I have to grab breakfast and eat quickly to make sure that I catch the metro around 7:10. The metro ride is around 30-40 minutes to get to the location. The day at work starts at 8am, with 30 minute lunch break and end at 4:30pm. Since I was working with students in the summer, the activities we did vary each day. After the work ends, I head back to the metro towards the hotel and grab small snacks on the way back. I go out for dinner and come back to the hotel to prepare for the next day. Often, there is time to go out exploring or shopping after dinner time.
