Q: Initially, what made you decide to study abroad? Why did you choose your program?
A: Studying abroad is something I've been interested in since high school. Ultimately, I decided to follow through because I just wanted a change. Studying abroad is such a unique opportunity, because you get to live in an entirely new place and go to a different university. But I still had a sense of security and purpose, since I was in school and knew I would be going back home at the end. Plus, before going to Scotland, I had never been outside of the United States before! It was a big jump for me.
Q: What was the highlight of your study abroad experience?
A: Meeting new people and making friends from all over the world was definitely my highlight of being abroad. All of my friends from UC Merced are also from California, but now I have close friends from Singapore, Taiwan, France, the UK, and Japan. Meeting people was also very convenient: I connected with other students in my cohort, through orientation, through classes, and even at unexpected places like the airport or the pub. It really expanded my world view and made me realize that there are many different life experiences
Q: What was your greatest challenge abroad and how did you overcome it?
A: Being away from my family was the biggest challenge I faced while being abroad. Though I attend college regularly away from home, I missed my family way more when I was in a foreign country. Because of modern day technology it was pretty easy to stay in contact, and I even wrote letters with my sister. But, I still had to miss out on family events and that was hard. I remember my Mom facetimed me during my cousins wedding, and I just felt sad that I wouldn’t be a part of that memory. But, the tradeoff was worth it, since I made amazing memories abroad too.
Q: How did your coursework abroad compare to your courses at UC Merced?
A: The assessments were completely different. My entire grade would be based off of two to three assignments, usually essays or presentations. No participation score either, and no extra credit. I’m used to exams being worth a significant chunk of my grade, but having only two assignments determine how that class would go was an adjustment. It also meant I had to make more of an effort to stay engaged. Knowing about the previous literature and research in your field, as well as prominent figures, was super important.
Q: What did you gain from your study abroad experience?
A: Being abroad taught me how to be independent. I truly feel that I can rely on myself now, especially since I figured out how to travel in foreign areas, navigate language barriers, and live in a new place. I feel more confident in my ability to communicate, and think logically. In addition, I overall just became more comfortable with myself. There would be times where my friends were busy or had class, so I would go to events by myself. I grew to be comfortable spending time alone.
Q: What advice do you have for students considering study abroad?
A: Don’t be discouraged by the logistics of studying abroad. There’s a lot to figure out with your application, plane ticket, phone plan, housing, packing, visas, etc. But as long as you get started early and stay on top of deadlines, it's not overwhelming. Plus, there are study abroad advisors to help you as well as your host university advisors!
Q: What do you wish you learned about studying abroad before you left for your program?
A: Before leaving for Scotland, I wish I had known more about what previous students had accomplished through the same program. I tried to connect with other people that had gone to my university, but there weren’t very many. Talking to more students would have helped me better understand the types of organizations I could have joined or recommend places to go, given the limited time and my own goals.
Q: Describe a typical day abroad.
A: My classes started later in the day, so I got to sleep in regularly. I would eat breakfast with a book and cup of tea, attend my classes, study at a café with a friend, and go for a walk on the beach after dinner. I did a lot of walking typically and drank a bunch of warm beverages, because it was cold!
Q: If you could go anywhere in the world tomorrow, where would you go and why?
A: I would go back to a pork restaurant I went to in Prague with my friend because it was so delicious. It may seem simple but it was one of the best meals I’ve ever had.
