How did you decide which country/program to study abroad in?
I decided to participate in the Hutton International Experiences Program and specifically aim for the Greece program after attending a callout session and hearing Professor Olga Kalentzidou talk about her goals for the class and trip.
What were you excited about and/or nervous about before your program?
I was really excited to learn and participate in a different culture for a few weeks, and also to explore Evros, Greece as it isn't a region many tourists commonly go to. I was nervous about being away from my family and not knowing my classmates too well, but I was looking forward to getting to know them.
What was your favorite place that you traveled to or an activity you did while abroad?
My favorite place that I traveled to was Pentalofos, Greece because it is close to the borders of Turkey and Bulgaria, so I was able to see the sunrise over those three countries at the same time.
How do you think the intersections of your identities and values impacted your study abroad experience? Do you have any tips to share with future study abroad students?
I am very close to my Mexican heritage as a first-generation person, and I was able to observe the similarities between my own culture and Greek culture due to this. It made me appreciate the differences more, but also see how despite being in different parts of the world, the two cultures have shared values that are centered around unity and family. I would advise future study abroad students to immerse themselves into their chosen country's culture as much as possible!
What advice would you like to give to future study abroad students?
Take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way! There is truly never another time to live like the present, and I was reminded of that each day in Greece. The experiences that you have when studying abroad are so different to the ones that you will have if you simply vacationed in another country, so make sure to appreciate and live out each moment of it
