2018-19

Yash Garg
Major: Finance
Placement:  London, UK
Graduation Year:  2020
What classes did you take? I took several different classes: Theology of Communication, Economics Ecology & the Environment, International Internship Class, Photojournalism: London through the Lense, British Life and Cultures.
What was your favorite experience?  In London my favorite experience was going to a Chelsea soccer game. My favorite experience from abroad was skydiving in Switzerland over the Swiss Alps.
What was your favorite place that you visited or a favorite meal that you ate? My favorite place that I visited was Florence, Italy. I had a chance to climb the Duomo and get a breathtaking view of the entire city of Florence. I had two favorite meals: Mutton Pepper Fry in London and Squid Ink Spaghetti in Venice.
What advice would you give to the 2019 Study Abroad students? I would say, that time goes by a lot faster than you think. Take every opportunity to explore and see the city around you. Each city in Europe has so much to offer and so many things to do, so definitely make time to explore and get a feel for the culture and history of the city. That being said, it’s easy to get exhausted when traveling so much and being in the “go-go-go” attitude so every now and then it’s important to take a day to recuperate and relax. Finding the right balance is very important, but definitely prioritize exploring. Exploring is such a valuable learning opportunity that exposes you to so many people and ways of life. Make the most of your time, but definitely pace yourself. Walk as much as possible, it helps you see the world around you and you might see things you might have missed otherwise.

Maddie Thompson
Major: Management Information Systems
Placement: San Sebastian, Spain
Graduation Year:  2020
What classes did you take? I took a Spanish intensive course for the first two weeks to brush up on the language. After that, I started my normal coursework which included Fundamentals of Marketing, Entrepreneurship, Cross-Cultural Communication, which were all taught in English, and another Spanish language class.
What was your favorite experience? My favorite experience had to be getting to know so many international students through my school! The nine Santa Clara students were the only ones from the United States, so most of the other students were local, from Europe, or Latin America. I learned so much about other cultures from my peers, especially the very unique Basque culture.
What was your favorite place that you visited or a favorite meal that you ate? My favorite place I visited was Rome. Although notorious for being touristy, it is rightfully so, due to the vast history everywhere you turn. It was an amazing learning experience, especially because I could experience it with a fellow bronco who studied abroad in Italy two years ago and now has moved there to teach English. And my favorite dish had to be the pasta carbonara that was hand made right in front of me. If not that, then probably the culinary bite-size "pinchos" that line the bars of San Sebastian. 
What advice would you give to the 2019 Study Abroad students? My best advice would be to make sure to discover the culture right at your fingertips! As much as it's fun to travel on the weekends, my most valuable experiences were the ones where I actively participated in the local culture of San Sebastian.

Tiffany Lam
Major: Accounting and Information Systems
Placement: Auckland, New Zealand
Graduation Year:  2020
What classes did you take?  I took Financial Management, Understanding Organizations, Planets, Stars and Galaxies, and Religions in New Zealand. These classes fulfilled my Finance 121, Management 160, Natural Science, and Religion 2 requirements. 
What was your favorite experience? My favorite experience about being abroad was being able to engage in a new culture and meeting new people.  
What was your favorite place that you visited or a favorite meal that you ate? My favorite place that I visited was the Coromandel Peninsula. My friends and I went on a weekend trip up to the peninsula where we visited Cathedral Cove and dug a pool at the Hot Water Beach.  
What advice would you give to the 2019 Study Abroad students? Don't be discouraged to try new things. Being abroad offers many unique experiences, but you'll never know what they entail until you try them.

Andy Meger
Major: Economics
Placement: Vienna, Austria
Graduation Year:  2020
What classes did you take?  I took an international business class, music history, Central European history, and German. I also had the opportunity to intern at an environmental NGO through my program. 
What was your favorite experience? My favorite experience was skiing in the Austrian Alps near Innsbruck.
What was your favorite place that you visited or a favorite meal that you ate? My favorite place was probably the mountains of Slovenia. My favorite meal was Spaghetti Carbonara in Venice.
What advice would you give to the 2019 Study Abroad students? Make sure to spend plenty of time in your home city. While traveling is amazing, getting to feel like a local in a different country is a special experience.

Alexa Correa
Major: Marketing
Placement: Sevilla, Spain
Graduation Year:  2020
What classes did you take? Abroad I took International Marketing, a class about the biochemical details of the Mediterranean Diet, a Spanish conversational class, and lastly, a class called Christianity, Islam and Judaism in the Spanish Context. 
What was your favorite experience? I would have to say my favorite experience was going to my Spanish friend’s house for my birthday. Some friends from my program came with me to his house near the end of the semester, his mom cooked paella, we sang karaoke and then they surprised me with a cake (chocolate fudge, my favorite). It was definitely a day I won’t forget! 
What was your favorite place that you visited or a favorite meal that you ate? My favorite place that I visited was without a doubt Morocco. We traveled by boat and bus to Rabat and many other cities including the “blue city” Chefchaouen. The best part was getting to talk to Moroccan students and learning about their culture, their favorite places and their favorite music. My favorite meal was also in Morocco, which was couscous with chicken, vegetables, and a sweet sauce drizzled on top followed by cookies and mint tea. 
What advice would you give to the 2019 Study Abroad students? Don’t spend too much time worrying about what’s going on at home; things might happen while you are gone that might give you the “fear of missing out” but don’t forget you will be having the time of your life abroad! Also, if your program/school gives you the option to get paired with a student from the country you are studying in (in Spain it was called the Intercambio program) definitely try to do it, it’s a great way to meet locals and improve your language skills.

Ailene Nguyen
Major: Accounting and Information Systems
Placement: Seoul, South Korea
Graduation Year:  2020
What classes did you take? I took two business classes and three cultural electives, one of which was the Korean language. 
What was your favorite experience? My favorite experience in Seoul was walking around Seoullo 7017, an overpass remodeled into a pedestrian-friendly park. Dubbed a sky garden, Seoullo 7017 is full of greenery, but lights up at night, making it the perfect place for an evening stroll. There are also many eateries and dessert cafes along the pathway for people to stop by and enjoy the views of the city.
What was your favorite place that you visited or a favorite meal that you ate? My favorite meal in Korea was soondubu (soft tofu stew), often served with rice and banchan (side dishes). I had soondubu for one of my first meals in Korea, since it was the most familiar to me, and it ended up being my go-to meal at multiple restaurants open 24/7 near the university. 
What advice would you give to the 2019 Study Abroad students? Some advice I have for 2019 study abroad students is to do a lot of research on the program or university you are applying to. Look for potential scholarships to help fund your studies abroad. I received a few scholarships and they really helped lessen the financial burden, allowing me to enjoy my time abroad to the fullest! 

Henry Godfrey
Major: Finance and French
Placement: Paris, France
Graduation Year:  2020
What classes did you take? My five classes included: French Language in Context, Business French, International and Intercultural Management, International Political Economy, Entrepreneurship.
What was your favorite experience? My favorite experience this fall was attending a Paris Saint-Germain football (soccer game). Watching the incredible European soccer players in person whom I had followed for years in advance was an amazing experience. In addition I went with my the son of my host family, spoke french throughout the game and had the opportunity to experience the culture of french football.
What was your favorite place that you visited or a favorite meal that you ate? My favorite place I visited was Barcelona because it was my first trip meeting with other Santa Clara students, also it was over Halloween! 
What advice would you give to the 2019 Study Abroad students? My advice to 2019 Study Abroad students is to ask themselves in advance how immersed they want to be in their host country's culture. Do you want to people from the US on your program? From SCU? From the host country? In addition research the program you are studying on and take advantage of all opportunities. My class at the Paris School of Business was one of my most valuable experiences this fall even though it was more work.