Introducing Claire O’Leary

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What is/are your major(s)?

Accounting

What is/are your minor(s)?

Studio Art

What is the name of your study abroad program?

University of Otago

In what city & country is your study abroad program located?

Dunedin, New Zealand

What is something you would like the blog readers to know about you that they wouldn’t know by just looking at you?

I’m from Alaska, and I show horses competitively!

What is one thing that you are most anticipating about your study abroad experience?

One thing that I was most anticipating was getting to meet people from New Zealand and being immersed in classes with locals. I know there are a lot of programs that keep international students separate from students from their home country. But the program I’m in mixes everyone together, and I’ve made friends with people from New Zealand and the surrounding countries, such as Australia, and many of the Pacific Islands. Besides making friends, I was really excited to spend a lot of time outside. Back at home and in Colorado I love to hike, ski, bike, and just generally spend time outside. New Zealand is world-renowned for its outdoor culture and so far, I’ve been able to take advantage of it. In my first week of being in New Zealand, I was able to do the three big hikes that surround the campus. I’ve been skiing, camping, and currently planning on doing a multiday horseback riding camping trip as soon as the break is over!

Why did you decide to study abroad? or What inspired you to study abroad?

When I applied to DU, I knew that I was going to study abroad. The university is well known for it, and it was always built into my schedule, so I was never worried about how I would get credit. With my degree (accounting), it makes it a little harder to live abroad outside of school. The U.S. accounting standards (GAAP) differ from the rest of the world, which uses a standard called IFRS. This makes study abroad such an incredible opportunity for me because I get to see what it would be like to live outside of the United States. I was inspired to go to New Zealand by a family friend who had spent 6 months in Auckland and traveled extensively throughout the area. She has lived all over the world and declared that if she could live anywhere in the world, she would choose New Zealand every time. Then I went to the study abroad fair, and I talked with one of the ambassadors for UoO and the study abroad program. She talked to me for the next 30 minutes about how gorgeous New Zealand is. When she found out I was from Alaska, she told me how she got her PhD there and said Alaska was almost the most beautiful place in the world, second only to New Zealand. This sold me on New Zealand, and the next day I applied to the UoO and the rest is history!

CLAIRE’s Blog Posts
Coronet Peak in Queenstown, NZ. We had skied all day and decided to take a break at an overlook where you can see all of Queenstown and the sound below. Queenstown is similar to Vail or Breckenridge in Colorado.

Introducing Sana Khayat Kholghy

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What is/are your major(s)?

International Business & Languages, Literatures, and Cultures (Chinese Concentration)

What is the name of your study abroad program?

Queen Mary University of London

In what city & country is your study abroad program located?

London, United Kingdom

What is something you would like the blog readers to know about you that they wouldn’t know by just looking at you?

I have an emotional support TV Show – Netflix’s “The Good Place”. Turn on any episode and I’ll bet I can recite the next line before the characters do. Socially, I like to pretend that I know a lot about philosophy, but really, I rephrase things that the characters say to start a debate with someone (usually my sister, who’s caught on by now).

What is one thing that you are most anticipating about your study abroad experience?

Over the next few months, I anticipate gaining a deeper sense of self and independence. Until now, I have never lived on my own; DU is just a short 10-minute drive from the home I grew up in. This upcoming chapter of my life marks a shift in pace – I can begin navigating life on my own time, making important choices and exploring a big city without the safety net of having my family beside me. Having visited London with my family before, I’m excited to return with fresh eyes to explore towns across England, such as York, Bath, and Oxford, to uncover their unique charms while making new memories that are entirely my own.

Why did you decide to study abroad? or What inspired you to study abroad?

As a first-generation American, my parents always stressed the importance of seeing the world, understanding different cultures and perspectives, and adapting to various environments. When I was younger, my siblings and I would be taken halfway across the globe to visit our Iranian family throughout the entirety of summer break. Of course, I didn’t fully appreciate it as a kid, wishing to see fireworks on the Fourth of July or go to summer camp like my classmates.

My perspective changed in High School when I joined the Model United Nations team and realized how significant my earlier experiences were in shaping my global and cultural understanding. Competing in conferences all the way from Mexico City to New York, my childhood experiences helped me to become a delegate with a stronger sense of cultural fluency.

These experiences, alongside the life that my parents worked hard to build, have inspired me to study abroad. Studying abroad is more than an academic journey. At this point in my life, it is an opportunity to become a more socially mindful and culturally sensitive version of myself in London, one of the world’s most diverse cities. I have always aspired to be the type of person who can fully integrate themselves into the traditions and lifestyles of other cultures; this way, I can finally put my cultural awareness and adaptability skills into real-world practice.

SANA’s Blog Posts
An old and DELICIOUS restaurant in Mashhad, Iran, which I grew up eating at (a whimsical environment with the sound of streams and wind blowing through tree leaves)!