Study Abroad

For my semester abroad I studied in Tunis, Tunisia with the SIT (School for International Training) program Tunisia and Italy: Politics and Religious Integration in the Mediterranean. With this program I spent about three months in Tunisia’s capital, Tunis, where I explored the modern history, politics, and religious makeup of the city. I also had the opportunity to tour the country and view such archeological sites as Dougga/Thugga and the colosseum of El Jem. One of the highlights of my experience was staying with an incredible host family who welcomed me like family, introduced me to their city and the month-long festivities of Ramdan which fell during my semester. While living and learning in Tunis I was also able to put my Arabic language skills gained at Elon to use and learn some of the local dialect as well. With this program I also spent three weeks in Palermo, Sicily where I was able to explore regional issues like immigration from the other side of the Mediterranean and meet with NGOs who coordinate rescues in the Mediterranean Sea and help migrants find accommodations and jobs in Italy.

I am currently studying abroad in Berlin, Germany with the CIEE program. So far, studying abroad and living with a host family has been an amazing experience that has profoundly expanded my intercultural competency. Through program trips to other German cities, class excursions, and visiting academic lectures and art museums with my host family, I have gained a greater understand German language and culture through constant communication and learning. Moreover, studying abroad in Berlin has allowed me to practice other life skills such as self-sufficiency when navigating transportation, planning trips, and communicating in a foreign language. My time abroad has already taught me so much about myself and living as a global citizen.

I studied abroad in Shanghai, China during Spring 2025. As a student who is majoring in International & Global Studies who has also been learning Chinese at Elon, this opportunity felt like the perfect fit for me. I was able to strengthen my language skills while also engaging in topics that relate to my area of study such as history, politics, and culture. I was able to be fully immersed in Chinese culture and hear from locals about their own lives and perspectives. Going abroad not only encouraged me to become a better student and learner, but also to step out of my comfort zone as an individual. I feel that I came back from China as someone who is more resilient and willing to try new things. Overall, I’m so glad that I was able to experience life in China and I’d encourage others to study abroad as well!

I studied abroad in Morocco during the Spring 2025 semester. What stood out to me the most was the opportunity for full cultural immersion, especially living with a host family and being able to use Arabic in my every day exchanges. Beyond academics, it was the everyday interactions, like shopping in the markets or engaging in community life, that shaped me the most. Studying human rights and social justice in Morocco challenged me to think more critically about governance, inequality, and cultural nuance through cross-cultural experiences I had not had prior. Overall, my time in Morocco strengthened my personal independence and academic commitment to human rights work.

In spring 2024, I went abroad to Copenhagen, Denmark. I knew Copenhagen was going to be vastly different than the United States, and it was. One of the big things that stood out to me was the value of community. I had dinner with my host family most nights and many locations (like board game cafes) were designed to build a community. My main class was geared towards being a community; we went to these places and were encouraged to hang out outside of class – and we did! I became a lot more independent as a result of this experience and learned a lot about skills I did not know I had. I went on numerous solo trips throughout Europe and the city and took all forms of travel. I came out of the semester more independent, confident in my abilities, and with new academic knowledge.

I had the incredible opportunity to study abroad in Seville, Spain, during the spring of my junior year. Although it was officially a study abroad program, it truly felt like a “study at home.” The warmth and openness of Spanish culture made me feel immediately welcomed. Immersing myself in daily life, walking through streets lined with centuries-old buildings and historic landmarks, was breathtaking and deeply enriching.

Seville’s history made the experience even more meaningful. As the main port to the Americas in the 16th century, the city stands at the crossroads of Europe and Latin America. Visiting the General Archive of the Indies brought my two areas of study, IGS and Spanish, together in a tangible way. Experiencing this intersection firsthand made my time there not only academically enriching but also personally transformative. I am especially grateful to the IGS curriculum for preparing me to fully appreciate the city’s cultural and historical significance.

During the Spring 2024 semester, I studied abroad in Taipei, Taiwan. I enrolled in an intensive Chinese language course for three hours each weekday, alongside a course on cross-strait relations that deepened my understanding of Taiwan’s unique standing in the international arena. Outside the classroom, I spent much of my time exploring Taipei with my roommates (three other Americans and two Taiwanese), playing basketball at local courts, and immersing myself in daily life across the city. One highlight was traveling to Tainan, where I stayed in my first-ever hostel and experienced a different side of Taiwan’s culture outside of the big cities. I went abroad with the goal of improving my Chinese and challenging myself to step outside my comfort zone. Being constantly surrounded by Mandarin, both academically and socially, significantly improved my language skills and gave me lasting motivation to continue studying Chinese today.

I spent my “semester” abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina in Spring 2020. Due to the pandemic, my program only lasted about 2 weeks before we had to head home for the lockdown. While this experience was both unexpected and disappointing, it made me all the more grateful for Elon’s Winter Term schedule. I had previously gone to Peru in January 2019 as part of a course focused on Incan history and culture and, while exploring the beautiful country with my classmates and professors, was able to lean into my love of speaking Spanish, get my first taste of translating from Spanish to English and back, and experience the first of many hiking ‘pilgrimages’. The ability to travel as part of a structured, academic course is very different from an entire semester abroad, and allowed me to really connect my language, international studies, and history content from the classroom to the broader world. It helped make the theoretical tangible and is a large reason I still love to travel with an eye toward learning.

During my time at Elon, I had the privilege of studying abroad twice – first in Florence, Italy, during the spring semester of my junior year, and later in Ghana during the winter term of my senior year. My experience in Florence had a significant impact on my personal development, as I was challenged to meet new people, learn a new language, and immerse myself in a different culture. The city itself became our classroom, allowing me to explore firsthand the art, history, politics, architecture, and customs that have shaped Florence into what it is today. Although my J-Term in Ghana was shorter, it had a profound impact on me, particularly as someone who focused on Africa for my regional concentration within the IGS major. Traveling across the country, visiting diverse regions, and connecting the concepts I had studied for years at Elon to real-life experiences was incredibly meaningful and enriching.

The summer between my sophomore and junior year I traveled to Lebanon for an internship and received support from Elon. I worked with refugee children from Syria and it was a very meaningful experience. I focused my IGS studies on the Middle East and refugees and this experience really complimented my studies and helped me to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and real world experience. I was also able to really practice my Arabic and this is when I gained a lot of confidence in my Arabic skills.

I was lucky enough to study abroad every year I was at Elon, 3 J-term programs and 1 full semester. As a Latin America concentration, I spent my semester in Costa Rica. Living the pura vida life for 3 months was so much fun! I took interesting classes on development and human rights, taught English in a local community center, and spent most weekends on a beautiful beach or trekking in the jungle. I also lived with a host mom (and cat), so I was able to practice my Spanish 24/7. I came back to Elon so much more confident, both as a global learner and Spanish speaker!

I studied abroad in Santiago los Caballeros, Dominican Republic in the spring of 2016. On our first day there, we went on a scavenger hunt across the city. It had to be the hottest day of the year, and we soon became tired, overheated, and very, very lost. When we all finally made our way back to the bus, I sat down and another student, whom I hadn’t met yet, sat down next to me. I introduced myself, and asked her how her day had been so far. She looked me right in the eye, and responded in the most honest way I may have ever heard.  To this day, she is one of my best friends and one of the most authentic and genuine people I’ve ever met. Studying abroad in the Dominican Republic gave me one of my best friends, and a deeper understanding of honesty, authenticity and how to show up for friends.

I lived in a homestay with Berenice, who made a point to tell me about her day, each day, no matter how much of it I understood the first time. She’d sit with me and use as many gestures, pictures, and nearby objects she could find until I finally grasped the topic. Even if it was the second, or third, or fourth explanation, she was just as thrilled when I finally understood. She would have explained something thirty times and wouldn’t have minded one bit. I believe that we learn a bit from everyone we meet, and I think Berenice taught me a lot about patient and clear communication.

The main reason I chose Elon University for my BA was for its study abroad prowess, and I am immensely grateful for all five of my unique global exchange programs (3 summers, 1 winter term, and 1 semester). My full-semester experience was Spring 2016 in Amman, Jordan, through the Diplomacy and Policy Studies Program with CIEE. During this semester, I had an internship, significantly improved my Arabic language skills, conducted my undergraduate research project for the College Fellows, traveled to 4 other countries in the region, and lived with a host family. This semester in Amman has a direct through line to my Doctoral Thesis and my professional career today.

I studied abroad in Barcelona, Spain in Fall 2013, and it was one of the most transformative experiences of my life. What stood out most was how immersive and high-touch the entire experience felt: our coursework didn’t just teach us about Spain, it encouraged us to actively assimilate into the language, traditions, and social fabric of daily life in a foreign country.
Art, language, music and even the most routine of social exchanges became bridges for connection, dissolving social and cultural barriers and leaving bare the shared human experience that can be best found outside one’s native environment. That semester continues to anchor my worldview — shaping my belief in cultural exchange as a powerful force and reinforcing a lifelong optimism about the unifying nature of the global community.

During my senior year, I studied abroad in Lyon, France, an experience that expanded the way I see the world. Living and studying in a new country pushed me beyond my comfort zone and deepened my curiosity about culture, history, language, and global perspectives. What stood out most was how everyday life became an education: navigating a new city, building friendships across backgrounds, and learning to see my own identity through a broader lens.
That semester gave me more than memories. It gave me confidence. It widened my aperture of what felt possible. I returned home knowing I wanted a life that stretched beyond borders, professionally and personally. The lifelong friendships I formed in Lyon remain part of my life today, and that season abroad continues to shape how I work, connect and explore the world.

I left the country for the first time, Fall semester of my Junior year, and headed to Beijing, China. I took intensive Mandarin classes, lived with a Chinese roommate, and traveled to all the stops along the Silk Road. I also volunteered teaching English in different communities, and joined my school’s club volleyball team. My experience reminded me how incredibly vast life outside of my own truly was. I met one of my best friends to this day in a Zumba class at the gym, of all places. Looking back, I can’t imagine not studying abroad as it has truly shaped my world view, impacted my relationships, and truly enriched every part of my life. From working at a global company, to my love of travel, to my experience working at a Chinese immersion school in DC, my experience in China continues to stick with me 15+ years after.

In January 2009, I spent a winter term in Kerala, India, just as the United States was preparing to inaugurate its first African American president. During my time in southern India, I was unexpectedly interviewed about my views on the moment as an African American student abroad – and later found myself quoted in several Indian newspapers. It was the first time I realized how deeply connected global audiences are to American identity and leadership. A few months later, I continued my journey in Beijing, China through The Beijing Center, where I studied intensive Chinese, history, and economics. There, I met a U.S. diplomat for the first time – an encounter that quietly expanded what I thought was possible for my own future. Nearly a decade later, I returned to China to serve as a U.S. diplomat, bringing that journey full circle.

During my time in the IGS program, I had the privilege of studying abroad three times — two winter terms in London (2006) and Paris (2007), and a fall semester in Costa Rica (2008). In Costa Rica, I interned at the Instituto Mixto de Ayuda Social, took an independent study in Spanish and Costa Rican literature, and learned from professors like Dr. Anthony Weston, who taught us to nature journal before reaching for our cameras, a practice of presence I carry with me still. A visit to local schools, where environmental science was woven into every subject, shaped how I later taught elementary science and fueled my passion for place-based learning. Costa Rica also holds a deeply personal place in my heart . I met my husband there that year, though I didn’t know it then. I returned in 2022, now with extended family there, forever grateful for that transformative semester.

As a junior at Elon, I spent a semester abroad at Kansai Gaidai University in Osaka, where I joined students from around the world in classes ranging from Japanese language to cross-cultural psychology while participating in a local homestay program. The semester was a rollercoaster of favorite firsts (visiting Kiyomizu Temple, teaching campus coffee shop staff to bake holiday cookies, visiting my host mother’s restaurant) and learning opportunities (missing a cultural cue, getting lost in rural Japan, my first taste of nattō). Living and learning outside the U.S. fostered a new sense of self-awareness and sparked an insatiable curiosity about the different ways people see and experience the world. Importantly, study abroad showed me the benefits that can accrue by allowing oneself to be comfortable being uncomfortable, whether in a new environment, context, or role.

During my junior year at Elon (2003–2004), I spent several months living and studying in Paris through a partner program alongside students from several North Carolina universities. I lived in a homestay on the outskirts of Paris in a neighborhood called Asnières-sur-Seine with Madame Simmonot and her son Hardouin. For the first time in my life I was speaking French every single day. Madame Simmonot made me dinner two nights a week, but for the most part I was living pretty independently there, which was a far cry from the dorm life I had as a freshman and sophomore in the Danieley Center (Danieley Center 4 LIFE!).
Studying International and Global Studies at Elon had a much bigger impact on my life than I realized at the time. My experience in Paris was the first time I truly understood what it meant to live inside another culture rather than simply visit it. It challenged many of the assumptions I had grown up with and made the world feel much bigger. If there’s one thing I encourage students to do, it’s to study abroad. It has the power to completely change the way you see the world and sometimes even the direction your life takes.

In the fall of 1999, I spent a semester studying abroad in Valladolid, Spain – an experience that truly changed the trajectory of my life. Immersing myself in a new culture opened my eyes to perspectives, traditions, and ways of living far beyond what I had known. Living with a host family who embraced me as one of their own made the experience deeply personal and unforgettable. I had the opportunity to travel throughout Europe and North Africa, building friendships and confidence along the way. Even now, I can close my eyes and remember navigating the city’s streets, learning independence, and stepping into the woman I would become. To call the experience memorable feels like an understatement – it was transformational, and I remain forever grateful.

I left for Valladolid, Spain on August 31, 1997, it was my first international experience. It’s individual moments that stand out the most from my time abroad. The hug my Spanish madre gave me when I arrived; the kindness shown by a local goat herder when my friends and I got lost in the hills and the sound of our footsteps as we walked respectfully through the Dachau Concentration Camp in Germany.

My family didn’t travel much beyond the northeast as I was growing up in Connecticut, so that study abroad experience not only exposed me to the language and culture of Spain and the warmth of the Spanish people, it became a doorway for me to experience more of the world than I ever would have without it.

When I returned to Elon, I immersed myself in direct experiences with people through assisting my professors with their research and conducting supervised research of my own within the anthropology and history departments. Those chapters of my Elon education helped me understand my gifts and that I wanted my life to include continued international exposure.

Today, I run a research and consulting firm called StoryB that helps mission-driven organizations and communities drive lasting social change. My study abroad and subsequent experiences in the anthropology department proved to me that understanding the lived-experiences of people and the context of the cultures they are raised within enhances any planning process. Currently, I am in the midst of a one-year international public anthropology project called Women’s Work, documenting how collective action enables women’s economic independence and supports women-led responses to shared global challenges. I just returned from India and am about ready to head to Spain and Peru and can say with 100% certainty that my drive to pursue in-depth field research was directly informed by my time studying abroad at Elon.

In 1997, the spring of my junior year at Elon, I participated in a study abroad program in London. It was my first time in the UK. I took a wide array of courses from art and architecture to politics. I had an internship two days a week working for the Labour Party. I was studying comparative politics and campaign management at Elon so to be working on an MP campaign the year that marked the first shift in power since 1979 was extraordinary. The internship not only offered practical experience but it allowed me to experience London through the eyes of a local. The UK’s proximity to the continent also provided an opportunity to travel to six other European countries, reinforcing the value of being outside my comfort zone.