Student
Reflections
on Studying
Abroad

Harry Heinz

Italy

During the summer of 2022, I had the opportunity to participate in an International Management study abroad program in Italy through the University of Memphis.

While being headquartered in the city of Volterra, the trip involved both classroom-based learning and field work over a span of three weeks.

Meeting local leaders along the way, we journeyed all through Tuscany, visiting the cities of Pisa, San Gimignano, Siena, Luca, Cinque Terre, Florence and Montalcino.

Some highlights include meeting the CEO of Italy’s second largest bank, the owner of the Monterosola Winery and Master Chocolatier Giovanni Angiolini.

While studying the varying business customs and economic structure of Italy, I was able to broaden my perspective, grow in my cultural intelligence and gain memories and friends that I will treasure for years to come. 

My expectations for the trip were originally misplaced, as I presumed that there would be little to learn about business from any other part of the world besides the United States. I believed the exposure to another culture would have a limited effect on my perspective, and to be honest my initial purpose for participating in the program was for the culinary experience. I also expected not to connect or engage with my classmates in any meaningful way. I fully intended on leaving the group for the majority of the trip so that I could be on my own and eat delicious food. Thankfully, these uninformed expectations were not reality, and I was glad to be wrong.

I highly recommend a study abroad program for any student considering it. The program was an investment in my personal and professional growth and has led to lasting change since I returned. The experience caused me to reaffirm both my commitment to have an impact in my city through building long term relationships and promoting financial education, as well as my commitment to being intentional with all my opportunities so I can continue to grow and use that growth for the good of those around me.

Perhaps my loftiest new goal is to learn to speak Spanish so that I can be more effective in my other objectives. I have also stayed in touch with many of my classmates from the trip. They have become some of my closest friends, and I’ve been able to keep learning more about their unique cultures, traditions and languages. I’m incredibly thankful for this opportunity to participate in the University of Memphis’ Study Abroad program.

Tyler Kimbrough

France

I had the privilege to study abroad in Lille, France during the summer of 2022. At the time I had been studying French for some time, so I was very excited to get to explore their culture and way of life. In high school, you can go abroad for a fun trip or vacation, but in college, there’s more to studying abroad than just visiting for a week or two. I think it is better this way because it allows you to earn credits and spend more time exploring than if you’re just on vacation.

The program I chose was ESP Session 1 in Lille, or European Summer Program Session 1. It is a very broad program, so much so that it allows for non-French speakers to participate as well. There were many appealing things about this course including being able to study French and an elective of my choosing. Not to mention the location, cost and it didn’t conflict with other school activities.

Centered between Brussels, London and Paris, Université Catholique de Lille is a great location if you're looking to travel. The program coordinators take great advantage of this location and have many required trips included in the cost of tuition, but also some optional excursions that you can purchase ahead of time. Even if you do not participate in any of these exchanges, you will still do a hefty amount of traveling included in the program’s monthly schedule.

For me, I chose to participate in three of the five excursions: the Tyne Cot WW1 battle sites, the Nausicaa aquarium and the one to Paris. They were all worth it. 

When combining the program schedule and the excursions, I had three total days out of the month with nothing planned. On days like these, you can choose to do what you want to do, and I chose to travel to London for two days and Dunkerque for the final free day.

London and Paris, particularly, were astounding. The experience proved to me that I am capable of going across the world, to a completely different culture, and living by myself for a time. Even more so, it proved that I am competent enough in French to get around the country solely using the language. I had to put my language capabilities to the test, and it paid off. I will also add that the professor’s grade tougher than American professors do, so a “B” over there could be compared to an “A” over here in America.

I would highly recommend studying abroad, especially in France. It is a very beautiful country, with fine eating and drinking, and many places to see. There’s a whole lot more to France than just Paris, and there’s a whole lot more to French people than the rudeness we portray them to have. There are a few rotten eggs, as there are with any country, but I noticed no significant difference between the politeness of American Southerners and French Northerners.

Adriana Leal

Italy

In May of 2022, I had the amazing opportunity to study abroad in Volterra, Italy and increase my understanding of global business. While there, we attended Scuola Internazionale Di Alta Formazione (SIAF). Through firsthand organizational visits with business professionals, I was able to take what I was studying at Fogelman College of Business & Economics and use it in real world situations. 

I learned so much about entrepreneurism and how different it is from the United States. What shocked me most was the amount of preparation there must be to send an expatriate overseas to represent their company. Learning about their country to and their culture was eye opening for me.

I highly recommend studying abroad because it is a once in a lifetime opportunity for such a low cost and huge pay off. I was able to step out of my comfort zone and learn new things about myself and it has greatly benefitted me as I am now going into the real world once I graduate.

Jonathan Smith

France

Like many students at the University of Memphis, I had to meet a foreign language requirement. I had always been interested in the French influences in North America and the Caribbean, so it was an easy decision for me to choose French. I was surprised by how quickly I picked up the language and how much I enjoyed it. So much so that in my junior year I made it my second major.

While I was making progress, I knew that if I really wanted to take the next step, I would need to make the journey to France. I have always been an adventurous person. The isolation of hiking in the mountains and long walks in the forest were never intimidating but the thought of going abroad and using my French with native francophones scared me.

I gave myself every excuse to not study abroad. I would tell myself things like, “Oh, it’s too expensive,” or “I don’t want to be away from my friends and family that long.” It took me three attempts to finally complete all the paperwork, but I finally committed to the Lille summer program, and I was fortunate to spend two months in France. I even got most of my program paid for thanks to the University of Memphis Study Abroad program. It was a dream come true!

When I arrived in France, I was exhausted from the trip across the Atlantic, but I was so excited that I immediately switched to speaking in French. What surprised me was that the people there could understand me! Now I knew that I had made the right decision and it only got better from there.

I remember how proud I was when I bought my first train ticket at the airport and took the train from Charles de Gaulle to Lille without uttering one word of English. Once in Lille, I found the hostel where I was staying until I could move into my dorm the next day. I know that people recommend that you stay awake for 24 hours after you arrive to Europe from the U.S. so that your body can adjust to the time change, but I didn’t care. I was tired! I woke up the next day and explored Lille before going to my student dormitory.

The city was a mixture of 18^th century and modern architecture. Like many cities in Europe, Lille has a great infrastructure to help you get around the city quickly. When I wasn’t in class, I was able to go to different museums for culture and brasseries for good food and cheer. One of my favorite places was a bookstore called Furet du Nord (I spent way too much money there). I loved being able to find my favorite titles in French and even discovered some new authors. Next to the campus there is le Parc de la Citadelle. It’s a large, lovely park with ponds to walk around and trails to hike. There is even a zoo in the center of the park.

Lille was an amazing city to study, and it is so close to the Belgium border that you can easily take day trips by train or bus to some amazing places. I got to visit Bruges, Brussels and Ypres. If you like comic books you must check out the comic book museum in Brussels. After my semester program ended, I decided to backpack throughout France for a month before returning home. I visited Normandy, La Rochelle, Fontainebleau and Paris. La Rochelle is where I made many friends and is probably my favorite city in France. I happened to be there on my birthday and paid a boat captain to ferry me over to l’île d’Aix which is a small island off the coast of mainland France. I could not believe how blessed I was to go on this adventure.

When I returned to the U.S., I came back speaking more fluently than I was before and my comprehension had greatly improved. The funny thing is that I found my courage to go on this adventure from the book Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer. In his book he quotes the adventurous young rapscallion Chris McCandless with, “Don't hesitate or allow yourself to make excuses. Just get out and do it. Just get out and do it. You will be very, very glad that you did.” 

Now metropolitan France is far from the Alaskan wilderness depicted in the book, but I was inspired by the exploits of Chris McCandless also known as Alexander Supertramp. I am so happy that I made this journey because I not only made incredible memories and friends, but I also proved to myself that I can push myself beyond what I believed my capabilities were. My advice to anyone who wants to study abroad is to plan and go for it. Life is too short to remain in our comfort zones. Sometimes we can find our true potential when we put ourselves to the test. Bon courage!

Lais Furtado Vaz

Spain

Attending and taking graduate classes at the Universidad Complutense, one of the oldest and most prestigious schools in Madrid, Spain during the summer of 2022, was unforgettable and has left a profound impact on my life and academic growth.

Despite initial anxieties regarding my Spanish proficiency and adapting to a new environment, my concerns were quickly put to rest by the attentive and supportive Madrid professors who provided guidance and recommendations for a fulfilling experience. Through their encouragement, I embraced Madrid's rich cultural offerings, visiting numerous museums which enhanced my knowledge of Spanish history and culture

I learned more in one visit to the Prado Museum then I learned in an entire Hispanic history class. The guide that led us was exceptional and gave us the best experience. We visited unbelievable places like the Alhambra in Granada, and I was particularly impressed by Madrid’s efficient public transportation, which facilitated the exploration of the city.

In the end, I was surprised by how safe Madrid was for young women who like to explore places on their own. The memories and friendships I made and the knowledge I gained during my stay in Madrid continue to influence my life to this day, and I consider myself fortunate to have had such an amazing experience.

Oakley Weddle

Italy

 

In the summer of 2022, I participated in a three-week study abroad program through the University of Memphis' Palazzi program. Studying abroad had always been a dream of mine, but COVID-19 had ruined my previous plans.

As soon as the opportunity arose, I eagerly embraced the chance to explore a new country. I have a passion for travel, having taken numerous trips growing up, such as Route 66 to California and multiple trips to New York City.

Prior to my visit to Italy, I had never left the United States. I can honestly say now that Florence, Italy brought me more happiness than any other place I’d ever visited.

During the nine-hour flight I felt a sense of anticipation. I was worried about making friends, conversing with locals and adjusting to a new culture. However, once I landed, my fears disappeared as I explored the city, learned about the culture and met new people.

I enrolled in an unconventional class, "The Emotional and Physical Art of Walking," which focused on philosophy, art and culture. For three hours every day, we strolled around Florence, learning about famous poets, philosophers and painters such as Dante and Leonardo. We explored different neighborhoods and indulged in delicious food, including gelato (which I had every day).

Not only did I learn about the city and the country, but I also made lasting friendships. After class, we'd often go to lunch and chat for hours, discussing our lives back home and our future plans. We longed to adopt practices of the Italian lifestyle.

I also took impactful day trips to Sienna, Cinque Terre, Venice, Rome and Paris, but Florence had a special magic that drew me back every time.

While hiking the Tuscan hills, visiting the famous Duomo and enjoying the food and coffee were amazing, the locals made the greatest impression on me.

I met so many wonderful people and saying goodbye was utterly heart-wrenching. I still keep in touch with them through social media and can't wait to visit them again. I also met people from different countries, including some who lived near me back home in Memphis. It took traveling thousands of miles to discover new connections with people from my own community.

I created the best memories in that city, laughing and smiling more than ever before. The painful final goodbye held on cobblestone streets could have never been anticipated by the person who was anxious on the flight to Italy. When I returned home to Tennessee, I felt a sense of sadness that is often overlooked by the excitement of traveling. Italy had a significant impact on me, and I will forever treasure those memories.

If you have the opportunity to study abroad, seize it. Don't let fear hold you back, as it will be one of the best decisions you'll ever make. Looking back, I would have kicked myself for being too scared to go. Italy has left an indelible mark on my heart, and there is little I wouldn't do to return.