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United Kingdom & Ireland: Student Comments
“Studying abroad is one of the best choices I have ever made. It has given me so many opportunities that have enriched my life in countless ways. Thanks to studying abroad, I also got to explore Europe. I never in my life thought I would be going to places like Greece and Italy, but now I have actually done it. I also have better job opportunities to look forward to. Because I have had to learn how to be more flexible when dealing with difficult situations, I feel ready for greater responsibility. Living in another country has helped me to be a better judge of what I think is proper, and stick to my resolve in spite of obstacles or opposition. No doubt this will stay with me for the rest of my life. ” —Kathryn Atwood, UC San Diego “The single most important item that I gained from studying abroad this year was experience. Each of the opportunities that have been afforded to me this year extend well beyond the classroom from a cultural, personal, and ultimately emotional perspective. This year I have not only lived with some of the most amazing people who I have ever met, but I have also quietly enjoyed observing and participating in a culture other than my own, one with distinct traditions, textures, and quirks. I have also been able to really see Europe this year for the first time in my life. Before September, my sphere of experience was essentially limited to California. This year alone, I have had coffee in Paris, pasta in Florence, and ale in Dublin. I have seen the 'Mona Lisa,' the 'David,' the 'Birth of Venus,' and the Sistine Chapel. I have walked through houses that James Joyce or Shakespeare once lived in. The list goes on. Truth be told, however, there probably isn't a single event that stands out as distinct or representative of my year abroad-the entire experience is much too large to compress like that. Traveling down to London or up to Cambridge are regular weekend options; a jaunt to Dublin or to Paris is never out of the question. There is every reason in the world to travel abroad. I've learned a lot about myself as both a student and as an American while living in Britain. I've met a lot of amazing people whom I will return to visit as soon as I can. And I've gained experiences that can never be duplicated, and which I hope to remember for the rest of my life. ” —Aaron Azlant, UC Berkeley “I had a great time studying abroad in England. I had so many great people to hang out with and classes that I enjoyed being in, especially my neuropsychology class. I was thankful they actually offered that class during the summer. After I had my group of people, everyone began planning trips for the weekends, in addition to trips the school had planned. During the eight weeks I studied in England, I also went on weekend trips to Dublin, Ireland; Scotland; and the Netherlands. The best activity I participated in was 'gliding over Sussex.' I was slingshot into the air in a tiny airplane that had no engine. I spent five minutes floating in the air, steering it left and right, all while viewing southern England. It was such a rush, and something I would never have thought to do on my own back in California. I have a million other great memories and experiences that will last me a lifetime.” —Kimberly Bell, UC Riverside “Our flat was not suited for socializing, but it was home. The eight of us who lived there, representing seven countries between us, found it comfortable enough. We often found ourselves there in the evenings, talking, eating, cooking, whatever. One night four of us, the "sisterhood" we called it, were in the kitchen. The one Briton among us, Ellie, had just cooked an English specialty, Shepherd's pie, something that neither I nor our other two friends had ever tasted before. Between us, the food, and a bottle of wine, we were thoroughly enjoying ourselves. Four young women raised in four separate countries, on three separate continents speaking three separate languages. Each of us with a different background, different religion, different perspective on politics, ethics, and life in general. Each person, who four months earlier had never lived abroad, sharing this moment with every other. Britain and America don't always agree on things. South Korea and Japan have past animosity, as do Japan and the United States. There in the kitchen, dancing and shaking any inhibitions and stereotypes from ourselves, we saw that each person was not that different from the others. With seemingly no similarities, the sensation of listening to a Swedish singing group was the same among each of us. Forget the politics, forget the stereotypes. The world is smaller than any of us can realize. Just dance.” —Brooke Blanchard, UC Davis “Everyone told me that studying was a breeze, but honestly, I studied hard! And we had lower-division GE-type classes! But seriously, get your work done as soon as you can so you can dedicate every moment to travel!” —Jeremy Block, UC Davis “I studied for a summer at the University of Sussex in the U.K. One weekend some classmates and I decided to travel to Prague, Czechoslovakia. By the time we arrived it was already late. We were wandering this town outside of Prague looking for our hostel and noticed a woman walking her dog. She remained close to us as we were walking around, but still kept her distance. We finally found the hostel. I realized the woman with the dog was just making sure we made it to our hostel safely. It was then that I realized how caring and hospitable some people can be regardless if they are complete strangers.” —Denise Cajigas, UC Riverside “My time at St. Andrews (Scotland) led to my decision to seek an International MBA program at Wharton and the Lauder Institute of Management and International Studies. While my graduate experience was very fulfilling and rewarding, I link it all back to that blustery, gray, and wonderful year that introduced me to new perspectives on life, world affairs, international careers, and myself.” —Michael Chavez, UC Los Angeles “I had a great EAP experience. I lived in an on-campus flat at the University of Birmingham. All five of my flatmates were British students enrolled in the university and we all got along really well. I feel like I really got immersed in the British culture by being the only non-British person in the flat.” —Steven Chen, UC San Diego “My favorite moment during my stay in London was being able to have a class held in different portions of the British museum each week. We dissected the place unlike any other tourist among us.” —Rowena Duro, UC Riverside “Traveling would of course be the best experiences. Getting involved with clubs on campus is also a good way to get out and about with new people. I was also able to attend a totally unrelated academic conference, so look out for opportunities other than EAP or host-campus based events as well!” —Mathew Dutra, UC Santa Barbara “I had productions of my humorous plays of peerless dark wit produced at three seperate universities on both coasts of Ireland (Trinity College Dublin, University College Dublin, and NUI Galway). The experience allowed me to make numerous friends and travel across the country on several occassions; it was an enriching experience unlike any that could be found in the States. My theater experience in Ireland culminated with a farewell production at the Galway Arts Festival in July with people who became my dearest friends. For the arts, Ireland has soaring opportunities: the Jameson Film Festival in Dublin, the Cuirt International Festival of Literature in Galway, Oxegen music festival in the summer, along with the Druid theatre, the Abbey, and the Gate (among hundreds of other theaters, all far cheaper than the states). I volunteered for the Dublin Writers Festival that takes place in mid-June, and was rewarded with streams of flowing wine, some spending money, and a dozen friendships. I can't wait to return, perhaps indefinitely!” —Nathan Edelman, UC Santa Cruz “I'm currently in my first year of law school at the University of Michigan. If there are any students who are apprehensive about doing EAP because they think it will inhibit or delay their chances of getting into graduate school, they should take my example. I got back to the U.S. after my junior year, did nothing with regard to law school until I got to San Diego in late September, decided in October to take the LSAT, studied for the test, took the LSAT in December while simultaneously sending in my applications, got accepted to Michigan in April, and here I am. I'm proof that it can be done, and I truly believe that there's no way I would have gotten accepted here had it not been for my junior year in London.” —Don Ennis, UC San Diego “I traveled to Cairo while abroad for spring break. I volunteered in a few orphanges and a government-owned hospital in Assiut. Seeing how surgery was performed and how patients were treated is an unforgetable experience” —Sarah Farag, UC Los Angeles “This year abroad has helped me to expand my views more than any single experience in my life. I am far more independent after having to adjust to a self-directed academic system, dealing with many hurdles with little help, and traveling to multiple countries with both new friends as well as by myself. My social skills have even improved from not only creating an amazing social life in a foreign country but from meeting people in every country I traveled to. The program has offered an amazing foundation to create life-changing and memorable experiences.” —Lisa Gustafson, UC San Diego “My favorite memory is walking down Regent Street in London and having a tourist ask me for directions and being able to give them the exact directions they need. Actually the best part of giving directions was choosing between all the different possible ways and giving them the fastest one.” —Anita Jathavedam, UC Irvine “More people are applying to go abroad than ever before because of the increase in opportunities and the ability to incorporate it into their college plans. The opportunity to go abroad is open to all majors and recipients of financial aid, so there is no reason not to go. Studying abroad helped me establish my independence, gain a better perspective of the world outside the United States, and understand more about other cultures and systems.” —Miriam Kaufman, UC Davis “My EAP experience was life-changing. I was able to live in another country and experience different cultures. Being able to interact with other cultures and take classes abroad made me realize how much this world has to offer and allowed me to learn more about different people's cultures, beliefs, and politics. I enjoyed having a teacher who was native to the country because I got to see things through her perspective.” —Karen Lopez, UC Riverside “My greatest experience was meeting my husband. I met a fabulous man in Brighton and now a year later I am back in England living with my husband, working, and considering further studies. I met him while I was studying at Brighton; he moved back to California with me so that I could finish my last year at UCR and the rest is history.” —Maria Lopez Tapia, UC Riverside “While in the U.K. I was able to play for the University of Sussex's women's basketball team and represent the school in games around the U.K., something I never would have gotten the chance to do at UCLA. Our team went undefeated through the season to win our league and made it to the Sweet 16 of U.K. women's basketball. We were also the first team from my university to get promoted to the top league in the U.K. Being able to play over there, have a great time with my team, and do so well was a truly unique experience that I definitely couldn't have had at UCLA. I met some really great people through the sports association and was able to fully participate in the university experience.” —Jan Ludke, UC Los Angeles “I can't say enough incredible things about my year abroad, and about University of East Anglia in particular. The buildings are concrete monstrosities, but the campus itself is set amidst an enormous, gorgeous parkland with a lake, ducks, forests, rabbits, and rolling grassy hills. There are always loads of student activities on campus (in which most people actually participate), and the student population is incredibly nice and welcoming. It's a small school with a close-knit community. The dorms are great, only keep an eye out for Waveney Terrace (it's rumored to be modeled after a Swedish Prison)! Norwich is one of the oldest cities in Britain; it was actually the capital of England before London! As a city it's a fabulous mixing of old and new: ancient cobbled, winding streets but plenty of great shopping and pubs. There's an enormous cathedral there too-it's very old, and the courtyard area around it is gorgeous and great for picnicking. We never ran out of things to do: clubs, pubs, shops, events, and new experiences to be had! Spending a year in Norwich was a truly authentic and mind-opening experience. I wasn't just another foreigner in another foreign city, like I felt when I was in other bigger metropolitan cities. It's a big city but with a small-city feel, and I was always pleased that I wasn't surrounded by Americans. In my opinion, I got the best of everything: an authentic experience in a rural big city, only an hour and a half from London and 45 minutes from the beach. Britain is an absolutely fantastic country. Don't listen to the stereotypes-keep an open mind and you're sure to be impressed. I found the food to be incredible (some of the best I've ever eaten!), the people were warm and friendly, and the weather isn't all that bad-just make sure to bring your umbrella and a 'jumper'! ” —Anna Maloney, UC Santa Cruz “One of my most memorable EAP experiences was volunteering in a special-needs school for elementary pupils. At first it was hard because I had difficulty communicating with the students. As the weeks passed I had a chance to know them and had gotten close to most of them. I was quite sad when I had to say good-bye. One of the students in the class whom I was helping made a good-bye card for me and asked his classmates to sign the card. It was a sweet gesture.” —Rowena Marcelo, UC Berkeley “My academic year in the United Kingdom was definitely one of the most unforgettable experiences of my life. Words cannot begin to describe how amazing an experience abroad is. It will challenge your perspectives, stimulate your mind, and upon your return home you will constantly be exploring ways to return.” —Rick Mbiad, UC Irvine “I studied at Cambridge in the U.K. and it was the best! Nothing can match the moments that I spent abroad and I would love to go back. The eight-week summer program was ideal because I working on a double major. I was able to complete upper-division general education units and I was able to visit six other countries. My favorite memory was going 'punting' down the River Cam and living among architecture from the 1300s (especially when having come from Southern California, where nothing in my neighborhood is older than the 1980s). I was able to meet so many different people, which enabled me to expand my way of thinking about the world. After studying abroad I have matured incredibly and am comfortable traveling with only a backpack full of clothes (instead of my previous usual two suitcases). Studying abroad has inspired me to pursue graduate study in another country, and I would ideally like to somehow become involved with international relations in the United Nations.” —Kelly McFarren, UC Santa Barbara “My favorite memory is meeting up with my friend only a few hours after the London bombing. We called each other every hour from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., but I felt anxious to see her in person. She worked at a lab near Tavistock Square, where the bus was blown up. Around 4 p.m., she decided to walk to my place from her work, which took about an hour. We met at a local grocery store on my street and I finally felt content after I got to hold her and realize we were both safe” —Allison Mistica, UC Los Angeles “My EAP experience was amazing-cliche, I know, but it was life-changing. My favorite memory is of the Scotland vs. Ireland rugby match in Edinburgh during the Six Nations Rugby tournament. The city was so vibrant, with such a great, fun atmosphere, because lots of Irish people had come over to Edinburgh for the weekend, and the rivalry between Scotland and Ireland is very good-natured (largely because they've both been historically abused by the English, whom the Irish and Scots cheer against in the Six Nations matches almost as loudly as they cheer in favor of their own nations' teams); everyone can go to the match and cheer for their team, but then Scots and Irish alike go out after the match together to have a laugh in the pub.” —Lisa Morrison, UC Davis “My experience on the EAP program at the University of York in England turned me on to the study of history at English universities. Four years after my year abroad at York, I began my graduate studies of history at Oxford University. Having graduated from two English universities, I now have a reasonable background for doing what I do now: teaching AP European History to high school students.” —Mark Newmark, UC Berkeley “Studying abroad was the most worthwhile thing I have ever done. Simply fantastic. To go into anymore detail would mean writing a book!” —Rachel Novak, UC Santa Cruz “Studying at the University of St. Andrews was an amazing experience. The opportunity to study in a foreign culture, to interact and make friends, was incredible. I am so thankful for the chance to go and for the people I met and the things I saw. I would do it again in a heartbeat.” —Nick Overfield, UC San Diego “Studying abroad was the best thing I ever did for myself. I made so many friends from all over the world. Now I have a place to stay in almost any country I want!” —Gina Patel “One of my most memorable experiences abroad is Thanksgiving and seeing my British friends taste pumpkin pie for the first time. There was also the time I visited the Magistrate Court for my forensic psych class and saw a British court case. One of the best, though, was attending a panel discussion on the subject of the Baltic States entering the EU with EU members present.” —Victoria Pons, UC Riverside “Studying abroad in the United Kingdom has forever changed my life. The experience has made me more independent and taught me a lot about myself. I was given the opportunity to learn and experience things that I would not have learned or experienced in America. I had wonderful opportunities to travel and I met extraordinary people from all over the world, many of whom will be lifelong friends. Before I studied in England, I took many things for granted, such as a good plumbing system. However, I miss a lot that Europe had to offer, like great transportation and good beer. As a result of my experience abroad, I have decided to spend another year in Europe. Right after graduation, I am moving to the Czech Republic to teach English at an English-speaking preschool. I am very excited and I know that this will be an opportunity of a lifetime. I have learned that there is a whole world out there waiting to be explored, and I am going to try and see it.” —Kristina Popplewell “My year abroad in Scotland was my first time traveling and living overseas. I have never looked back. I have lived in Costa Rica, Germany, and the Ukraine, and developed relationships and host families worldwide. I now manage programs for youth to live with host families in their sister cities and develop long-term relationships with their counterparts. Also, I believe I am the only astrophysicist to participate on an EAP exchange-I would love to know if this is true!” —David Potter, UC Berkeley “My EAP experience was dictated almost completely by my experiences on the KCL women's football team. I joined about a week after I arrived in England and played for the season, which lasted nearly the duration of the academic year. I played games in blizzards, befriended all the other KCL sports teams, and met a teammate who will likely be a friend forever.” —Rachel Press, UC Santa Barbara “EAP gave me the wonderful chance to direct and produce a play in Birmingham, England. The creativity and dedication of all the cast and crew was so inspiring that I count it as the most important educational and social experience of my college career.” —Niki Selken, UC Santa Cruz “In my career as a psychiatrist, it is crucial to be able to understand someone else's point of view. Living in another English-speaking country with a different culture and talking with exchange students from other countries was an invaluable introduction to the work I do today.” —Joanne Seltzer, UC Los Angeles “At the University of Birmingham, England, I had the opportunity to portray a lead role in a premiere production of a Stephen Sondheim musical. The theater department produced Saturday Night and I played the role of Celeste. It was a fabulous experience working with a professional British creative team including director, musical director, and choreographer. I loved being a part of a workshop-oriented production and had a wonderful time.” —Tyson Sheedy, UC Los Angeles “Living in England for nine months, I learned more than I could have ever learned living in California. Even before I left I could not have known how much the experience would impact my future, as well as my personality. I needed to be-and did manage to become-extremely outgoing and open-minded in order to make strong friendships and create a sense of home living with British students, and traveling in a strange land. Fortunately everyone I met welcomed me warmly, as I found most of my fellow students were looking for the same sort of support. I stayed with friends' families all over Great Britain and I visited international students' homes in other countries around Europe. The education system gave me a different view of the educational institution and my own particular studies. It was a much looser form of teaching, with which I had to develop a more independent attitude and a stronger sense of self-motivation. These adjustments forced me to re-evaluate my avenue of study. EAP gave me a chance to discover myself and make myself a stronger person. I continue to visit England as often as I can. I've fallen for their people and their way of life so much so that I'm hoping to pursue post-graduate studies in London next year! ” —Alexandra Spautz, UC Los Angeles “While at the University of Sussex in the United Kingdom, one of the many amazing experiences I enjoyed stands out from all the rest. In November of my year abroad, I joined a student organization called DASH (Direct Action by Students of Higher Education). Each year, DASH sends a convoy of humanitarian aid to a women's shelter in Bosnia. Since I had joined at the end of the first term I didn't think that I would be able to participate in the convoy itself. But I worked hard on fundraising campaigns and helped to organize the customs paperwork that was needed. As it turned out, I was lucky enough to go on the convoy that year; four other DASH members and I drove all the way across Western and Eastern Europe to Bosnia! It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that taught me so much about a country and a war about which I would have otherwise been quite ignorant.” —Peter Stocker, UC San Diego “I worked for the London Film Festival. It was one of the coolest things I got to do. Not only did I get to meet new film stars but everyone was impressed that I was from California. Very cool!” —Andrew Susskind, UC Santa Cruz “Absolutely amazing. I have way to many good memories to talk about just one. The whole year was unbelievable and most definitely the best year of my life.” —Koh Tanimoto, UC San Diego “EAP helped me to realize my potential socially and academically. As an English major I was able to take a variety of classes that counted toward my degree and gave me a better understanding of both British and Irish culture. I took classes such as The Celtic Saints and 16th-Century Irish Bardic Poetry in the folklore and history departments. My professors were active and engaged in their lectures, and were equally as interested in talking to their students outside of class. Being part of the student community at my host university immersed me in another way of life. I was not only learning about my host country, but about myself and my country. My EAP experience was rich, and so far, the best academic and personal decision I've ever made.” —Erin Topping, UC Irvine “Simply put, I had the best time of my life. I met people with whom I will be friends for the rest of my life. I got to travel with these people and I learned so much from them. It was the people who I met there that really made my experience priceless.” —Tri Tran, UC Riverside “It is strange that I had to travel so far to find 'home.' Studying in the U.K. has been my opportunity to grow on my own and become a person who has worldly opinions. I have never appreciated foreign views and opinions before, and yet so often mine coincide with theirs. The journey has changed my life and given me direction and desire. I want to keep an open mind while I finish my last year in California and learn about my own complex country. EAP has given me the best opportunity of my life and I've been thankful every second of it.” —Rebecca Underwood, UC Santa Barbara “Although I was in England, I was quickly known in my flat as the Irish girl. I simply fell in love with that country. I kissed the Blarney Stone, had my birthday in Dublin, and saw an Oscar Wilde play at the Gate Theatre in Dublin. I am such a big Oscar Wilde fan, and because I researched all of his haunts and homes in Europe I had a fabulous time tracing his life. I went to his grave in Père Lachaise in Paris, his childhood home, and the statue of him next to it in Dublin. I visited Wilde's house in London, and the colleges he attended in Dublin and Oxford; and I celebrated Wilde's 150th birthday with his grandson, Merlin Holland, at Trinity College Dublin. I saw U2 in concert in Manchester, England. I saw Maria McKee (a singer I enjoy) in London, and Gavin Friday (another celebrity I enjoy) in Brussels, London, and in Dublin” —Monique Willms, UC Santa Cruz
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