In what city & country is your study abroad program located?
Florence, Italy
What is something you would like the blog readers to know about you that they wouldn’t know by just looking at you?
I am very hard-working and am very interested in being a wine sommelier.
What is one thing that you are most anticipating about your study abroad experience?
I have never been to Europe, so I am excited to travel. I am excited to immerse myself in a new culture I’ve read so much about, and I am excited to share my experiences with my family and friends through gifts and stories when I finish studying abroad.
Why did you decide to study abroad? or What inspired you to study abroad?
I am studying Hospitality with a concentration in Food and Beverage Management, so I am very interested in learning about the food and beverage culture in Italy. I have always wanted to travel, and this study abroad experience DU offers made my decision to come to school here very easy. I have heard stories about people abroad, and I want to be able to create my own stories/memories with my college friends.
My happy place, the Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri. It also has my dog, Walter, in it. I am excited to relax at the lake this summer before my study abroad adventure.
In what city & country is your study abroad program located?
Bilbao, Spain
What is something you would like the blog readers to know about you that they wouldn’t know by just looking at you?
I’d love for blog readers to know that I am bilingual! I am half-Mexican, but extremely white presenting. It is something I’ve struggled with for a while, but I also recognize what a privilege it is to be able to speak a second language so easily, without experiencing as much racial discrimination as other members of my family have faced. I am looking forward to getting to speak Spanish with the locals, and re-connect with a culture so similar to my own.
What is one thing that you are most anticipating about your study abroad experience?
One of the many things I am most anticipating about my study abroad experience is immersion. I am a native Spanish speaker, however I speak Mexican Spanish. I was lucky to have the opportunity to study abroad in Spain before, and it was a bit of a culture shock realizing there are different variations of Spanish. I never realized how much of a difference there could be, especially with certain slang words. I am also anticipating developing a new way of thinking and a new method of experiencing life. I want to make the most out of my study abroad experience, and I am determined to try new things I never would in the states. I anticipate plenty of new experiences, new people, new cultures, and most importantly, new delicious foods!
Why did you decide to study abroad? or What inspired you to study abroad?
I decided to study abroad because I was lucky enough to have the experience when I was 16 and in high-school, and now I am getting the privilege to return to Spain with a new outlook on life and new experiences under my belt. I have always had a passion for travel, for new people and new places. I cannot wait to come into the Spanish culture once more and really take things in from a more mature perspective. I was also inspired by the possibility of being able to share my experiences with younger DU students when I got home. I want to be able to reflect positively back on my time abroad, whilst mentally preparing and informing future “global citizens” in the process.
DU Abroad 