2021-22

LSB welcomed back 75 students from studying abroad in the fall.  A few of the students shared their experiences.

Marina Menendez '22
Major: Finance & Spanish Studies
Placement: Barcelona, Spain

What was one of your favorite classes? One of my favorite classes was International Finance because my professor was so engaging and really made the material come to life by giving us case studies about the Spanish economy and Barcelona specifically.

What did you like about your program/university? I liked how many students I was able to meet from all over the country. Everyone had a different background and yet, being together in Barcelona brought so many of us together.

What was your favorite place that you visited or favorite part about your city? My favorite part of Barcelona was a an area called Born. There were so many cool restaurants and parks to walk around, which made socializing with locals easy and really allowed me to feel immersed in the culture.

What advice would you give to the 2022 abroad students? Step outside your comfort zone when you can! Being abroad has so many amazing qualities but being able to grow and evolve is one of the best thing I came away with.

Nicholas Napoli '23
Major: Finance, Political Science
Placement: Paris, France - Business and International Affairs

What was one of your favorite classes? I really enjoyed a class titled International Political Economy, which covered a wide range of topics from geopolitics to the illicit global economy. In one week, we studied the practice of currency counterfeiting and illegal pollution, and in another we examined the instability of financial markets. I really enjoyed studying the intersections of politics and economics and the specificity of the topics.

What did you like about your program/university? Paris consistently proved to be more amazing than I could ever imagine. There's truly no other city like it in the world. The sheer quantity of culturally enriching places, activities, and experiences is overwhelming. Even after four months of rigorously exploring the city, I have a long list of things I still want to do. More importantly, I was constantly surrounded by new people, and I’ve come to form lifelong friendships with people from all over. At my residence, I lived with hundreds of other students from Spain, Italy, France, Turkey, and countless other countries. I actually ended up learning as much Spanish as I did French, so needless to say it was a unique (and perfect) situation. Regarding academics, I was part of a dual enrollment program where I took classes with other American students at IES Abroad, and then another class at the Paris School of Business with many international students. It was really fantastic to feel connected to other Americans but always have the opportunity to meet other international people at the Paris School of Business, as well as my residence.

What was your favorite place that you visited or favorite part about your city? On the weekend of my 21st birthday, my friends and I took a train to the region of Normandy and visited the beautiful coastal town of Étretat. It is a tiny little down nestled between cliffs that have very striking rock formations carved by the sea. It was really breathtaking, and I’ve never seen anything like it before. Not only was the setting itself incredible, but it was meaningful to share that experience with close friends.

What advice would you give to the 2022 abroad students? All the best things in life come from extending yourself into a place of discomfort. For me, this philosophy helped me decide to study abroad. I thought the transition from online class at home to studying abroad halfway around the world may simply be too extreme of a transition to make, especially during COVID outbreaks. I found a lot of discomfort in the idea of facing challenges abroad, but nothing good comes from staying in your comfort zone. Importantly, deciding to study abroad is just the first step of pursuing this philosophy. Once there, I continuously pushed myself into new situations–whether that may be meeting new people, enveloping myself in another culture, or traveling. I found those times of discomfort to be by far the most formative experiences of my entire life. It is important to note that one must be pretty proactive to make the most of the time abroad. There is an unfathomable amount of happiness and valuable experience that can be extracted from every single day, and it’s vital to work to unlock that.

Micah Doctolero '23
Major: Management Information Systems, French
Placement: IES Abroad Nantes, France

What did you like about your program/university? The professional experience I gained working in a middle school as an English teacher twice a week.

What was your favorite place that you visited or favorite part about your city? I visited Nice during fall break, and Nice was nice! The ocean and the Mediterranean lifestyle of the South made for a relaxing vacation, from swimming in the ocean to sunset watching on top of castles!

What advice would you give to the 2022 abroad students? Take advantage of every opportunity, whether professional (internships, tutoring, babysitting, etc.) or personal (travel because it's cheap and take advantage of every opportunity to push your limits).

Alex Mordini '23
Major: Finance
Placement: Milan, Italy

What did you like about your program/university? Milan is an amazing city to have as a home base while you travel. The city is small, so it's easy to become familiar. Also, public transportation in the city is very convenient. Italian coffee and food are amazing!

What was your favorite place that you visited or favorite part about your city? One of my favorite trips abroad was Dublin, Ireland. I went with a few friends and stayed in an Airbnb in a small town outside the city. We met a lot of locals who were very friendly. My favorite part of the trip was taking a tour bus across Ireland to the astonishing Cliffs of Moher.

What advice would you give to the 2022 abroad students? The semester goes by very quickly. Make a bucket list of everything you want to do and all the places you want to go. When you have your schedule for the semester plan your weekend trips. Flights in Europe can be very cheap if you book them ahead of time. 

Jessica Walke '22
Major: Accounting
Placement: Barcelona, Spain

What was one of your favorite classes? One of my favorite classes was a Spanish & European History class I took at the University of Barcelona. My professor was amazing and we still keep in touch!

What did you like about your program/university? I really liked how helpful and supportive my program was, especially through the visa process and helping students get settled in once we arrived.

What was your favorite place that you visited or favorite part about your city? My favorite place I visited was Marrakesh, Morocco because it was so different than anything I have ever experienced! It was really eye-opening to experience a new place and culture outside of Europe.

What advice would you give to the 2022 abroad students? Push yourself and get outside your comfort zone!

Kamaile Manol '23
Major: Management
Placement: Barcelona, Spain

What was one of your favorite classes? My favorite class was Start Up Design.

What did you like about your program/university? I loved how central it was. Everything was about a 10 minute metro ride. It was so much fun to explore different parts of Barcelona everyday.

What was your favorite place that you visited or favorite part about your city? My favorite place that I visited was Positano because it felt like a dream. The views were incredible and it looked like it was straight out of a post card.

What advice would you give to the 2022 abroad students? Never live the same day twice. My spanish teacher gave us that advice during the first week of school and although I love having a routine it was so important to do something new everyday to fully dive into the experience.

Katie Elkind '22
Major: Finance and Music
Placement: IES: Milan, Italy - Business Studies 

What did you like about your program/university? I loved the city and the trips they planned for us around Italy.

What was your favorite place that you visited or favorite part about your city? Cinque Terre! My favorite part of the city was the Italian culture, especially aperitivo!

What advice would you give to the 2022 abroad students? Be prepared to open yourself to uncomfortable and challenging situations, knowing it will help you grow. Also put yourself out there and try to get to know locals!

Gustavo Gutierrez '22
Major: Accounting
Placement: Milan, Italy

What was your favorite place that you visited or favorite part about your city? My favorite place was Interlaken, Switzerland where I overcame my fear of heights by skydiving and was able to hike one of the hiking trails I've had my eyes on for years.

What advice would you give to the 2022 abroad students? Enjoy every second. Time flies by too quickly. Do not be shy about taking pictures of videos because at the end of the day those are the only things that can stick with you forever.