How did you decide which country/program to study abroad in?
I decided to study in France because I'm a French major. I chose the Aix-en-Provence program specifically because the tuition was the same price as being at IU.
What were you excited about and/or nervous about before your program?
I was pretty nervous about my French abilities before the program, but I was also excited to travel and experience French culture
What was your favorite place that you traveled to or an activity you did while abroad?
My favorite place I traveled to was Portugal. I loved Portugal so much that I actually went two times. I also did my favorite activities there, which were surfing and kayaking in the sea.
Could you articulate one personal/professional/academic goal you achieved while abroad?
I had a list of countries I wanted to go to before studying abroad and I was able to visit all of them by the end of my experience
What advice would you like to give to future study abroad students?
Be open to trying new things and getting out of your comfort zone. I was never an adventurous outdoorsy person, but some of my best memories came from trying outdoor activities (surfing, kayaking, hiking).
What do you wish you knew before you studied abroad?
I wish I knew how important keeping a journal was. I already feel my memories of the first days of my program starting to fade, so I think having a journal would have been nice to look back on my emotions at the time.
