Phone: 408-554-6940
Sarah Smialowicz '08
Peer Advisor: Exchange Students Coordinator
What made you choose to study abroad? Why the particular
program/country/location?
I fell in
love with France
6 years ago. After the first time I went to France, I promised myself that I would
live there in the future and studying abroad allowed me to do this. I chose a direct exchange program in Lille because I wanted to
be completely immersed in the culture.
Also, Lille’s
location was an ideal place because of its proximity to so many European cities
I wanted to visit.
What have you learned from your study abroad experiences
that have contributed to your personal, vocational, or academic growth?
I feel as if I continue to learn from my study abroad
experience a year after I first went to Lille. Being in a business school abroad I learned
how much the United States
really dominates the business world today.
Not only because English is the “language of business” but also because
so much field work and research is conducted in the US.
People involved in business really look to the US as an
example of what do to. However, most of
my learning came from outside the classroom.
Learning about another culture gave me the opportunity to understand a
lot more about myself and where I come from.
It is virtually impossible for me to express everything I learned during
my time abroad until now but here are some examples of what I took from my time
abroad. I learned how generous people
can be, how to relax, what makes me who I am, how to cook French food, the
importance of enjoying every day, how to say words in Spanish, Turkish, Polish,
German, Italian, Arabic, what a cup of coffee should taste like, but most
importantly I learned that I have a passion for meeting people from all over
the world.
Advise to prospective study abroad students?
- Study Abroad
- Study abroad for the longest amount of time possible (even
though it is intimidating)
- Choose a place that you are passionate about or intrigued by
- When you get to where you are studying, take advantage of
every moment and meet as many people as you can
- Learn inside and outside the classroom, learn all day!
- Travel and explore as many places as you can
- If you need help, and you will need help, just smile and
ask. You will be surprised at how
willing people are to help you!
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