Go Global Grad Bash

by Lindsay Weinberg

This year the Education Abroad office threw an end of the year graduation bash featuring tasty BBQ, fun games and prizes, and valuable connections. This event was meant to bring together study abroad alumni and prospective global buffs alike, to share experiences, form new bonds, and spread the word about the great study abroad opportunities here at CU. At the event, some of our global alumni were interviewed regarding their abroad experience and what it meant to them, and prospective study abroad students were interviewed regarding their motives and hopes for studying abroad. Highlighted below are some of our students and each of their unique experiences and points of view.
 
Ryan Keliher is a senior from Los Angeles, majoring in Environmental Engineering. Ryan went abroad in Santiago, Chile, on a faculty-led global seminar, focusing on sustainable water delivery. When Ryan first heard about the new environmental engineering class being taught by a professor he had worked closely with, he jumped on the opportunity. Additionally, he had always dreamed of traveling to Patagonia and figured this would be the perfect opportunity. In Chile, he enjoyed the culture and the sense of being immersed in a non English-speaking country. The sense of adventure was thrilling to him, as he often had no idea where he was and would decide on a whim where to go next. One of Ryan’s favorite aspects about his experiences abroad was the group of people he went on the program with. The group was passionate about the subject material and Santiago. They became extremely close-knit throughout their time abroad, turning ten strangers into a family by the end of the trip. 
 
In the end, he deemed the program to be his favorite class of his whole four years at CU. Feeling as though he got a unique first-hand experience, he is now confident applying his degree to real life contexts in the future.
 
Andrew Kennedy is a senior from Seattle, Washington, majoring in International Affairs.  Andrew went abroad to Buenos Aires, Argentina, on the CIEE Language and Culture Program. Although Andrew traveled to Buenos Aires only knowing how to say hello, goodbye, and order a drink, he is now conversational in Spanish. His ability to converse with locals, whether giving directions or chatting with his host family, is something he is very proud of. “Looking back to the first week when I had no clue about the language, its really exciting to see all the progress I’ve made.”

After being asked if he has grown as a person since going abroad, Andrew replied, “Absolutely, I am more empathetic because of it. BA has such a diverse population of people from all different types of backgrounds. It is a very international city. It was definitely eye-opening to see so many different perspectives and have conversations with people who grew up and live so differently from me.”

His advice for students going abroad is to go into it with no expectations and to do your best to live like a local. He also advised to not just follow the crowds when deciding where to study abroad. “It can be tempting to pick a location that your friends are all going to, but each abroad experience is unique and you should choose one that will be best suited for you."
 
Our final interviewee is Lindsey Vogel, a senior from Atlanta, Georgia, majoring in Marketing and Management. Lindsey went abroad to Lisbon, Portugal, on a CIEE Language and Culture Program. She decided to go abroad because of her desire to experience a new culture and language. Her outgoing personality made her excited to meet all kinds of new people along the way. When asked what she misses most about Lisbon she gushed, “Everything! I miss the people and the laid back lifestyle. I miss the ease of which you could get around the city. I miss my host family and all of the delicious, fresh tasting food of Lisbon.” She continued, “Everywhere you go in Europe you can experience a whole new culture. Even driving an hour you can enter a whole new country which was thrilling!”

By going abroad Lindsey was able to get rid of her fear of missing out. She realized how important it is to live in the moment rather than worrying about what her friends were up to all the time. “Going abroad really gives you the chance to be your own person. You have to rely on yourself rather than falling back on other people.” Realizing her ability to thrive in a foreign country by herself was empowering to Lindsey. When reminiscing about what she would have done differently, Lindsey stressed the value in staying in the country where you are studying abroad, rather than traveling to a different country every weekend. “Odds are there may not be another time in your life when you can live in a foreign country. Assimilating into the culture of your host country can help you have a more fulfilling experience when looking back.” She also mentioned the importance of trying new things like surfing and rock climbing. “You are only abroad once so take advantage of every opportunity and spend all of your money!”

Lindsey is “100%” planning on traveling in the future. She would go back to Lisbon in a heartbeat as well as Europe as a whole. “The entire world has so much to offer. It is so important to travel outside of America and get some perspective.”

Although each student has had a unique study abroad experience, they have all extracted immense value from their experiences. We thank all of our alumni for making the most of their study abroad adventures and hope they will bring their personal growth back to the states and carry it with them throughout their lives.