Student Stories
Here are a few reflective essays, written by students, |
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| Australia | Italy | |||
| England | Spain | |||
Alexa Worman
It is truly impossible to explain to anyone how much you appreciate, experience, learn, and value the time you are studying abroad. So all I have to say to anyone who is pondering this endeavor is…what the heck is holding you back?It is truly impossible to explain to anyone how much you appreciate, experience, learn, and value the time you are studying abroad. So all I have to say to anyone who is pondering this endeavor is…what the heck is holding you back? When I was abroad, a common thought that often crossed my mind was, "What would I be doing if I was home right now?" I kept thinking of how my life at home had become such a routine and how I hadn't seen myself so happy in months, or maybe years. Though you are in Australia for 5 months and feel as though it would get familiar and boring after a while, every day for me was like a new adventure. A simple day just going into the city of Sydney fascinated me until the day before I left and every day I couldn't believe how fortunate I was to experience and live on the other side of the world. Apart from traveling all around Australia and other countries close by, I have to say that I loved the living situation we were put in. Though it did have its downfalls, the Macquarie University Village was wonderful because of its close location to classes, and its easy access to meeting various people from around the world. I feel as though this part of studying abroad helped me become much more independent. Being fully responsible for myself showed me how much I was reliant on my parents and what I was capable of doing for myself. Throughout my journey, I've had many adventures such as when I went to surf camp, snorkeled and went scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef, bungee jumped in the pouring rain 162 feet above a shallow pond, white water rafted in mission beach, soaked up the sun in the Whitsunday Islands, saw the famous twelve apostles in Melbourne, climbed the Sydney Harbor Bridge, abseiled down cliffs in the Blue Mountains, saw the Steve Irwin wildlife preserve, played with baby and adult kangaroos, and rode a gondola up into a famous rainforest in Cairns. Throughout all of these activities and experiences I never dreamed of having, one of the things I couldn't help but wonder was, how could anyone not want to be me right now? How did I ever doubt my decision to come here? How could anyone refuse the opportunity to do something this incredible? And, how can I possibly begin to tell everyone at home about this and expect them to get the full effect? It's impossible. All I can honestly say to my fellow students at Monmouth, who have yet to study abroad, is that they are missing out on one of the greatest experiences offered in life. Traveling to another country, understanding different customs, meeting people from various cultures, and being able to see a variety of places, was by far one of the most rewarding experiences of my life thus far. It showed and taught me extraordinary things about life, and perhaps, made me open my eyes to the many opportunities I may have for myself in the future.
Kaci Brannick
The friendships you make, challenges you face, and education you receive by studying abroad in Australia can only be explained by experiencing it yourself. By the final days leading up to the departure for Australia, my friend Nicole Wisniewski and I, had researched everything possible about the school we would be attending and Sydney in general. However, all the research and knowledge gathered could not prepare you for the experience you are about to have when you step off the plane in Australia.When I think back to my plane ride into Sydney, I cannot remember everything I felt when I landed, but the breath-taking view of the Opera House is something I will never forget. The first thing you notice is how welcoming and friendly the people are. It's a relief because you've endured the exhaustion of a day or more of traveling. The Macquarie University Village is an exceptionally fun and exciting place to live. They have many weekly events and other fun things to do all semester. I lived in a five-person apartment with Nicole, and students from India, Japan, and Korea. Living in an apartment with people of other origins and backgrounds, expanded my knowledge and helped me learned so much about the rest of the world and other cultures. Studying at Macquarie University was completely different than studying at Monmouth University. At Macquarie there are about 33,000 students and around 9,000 of them are international students; this is a huge difference when comparing it to Monmouth's undergraduate population of about 5,000. In addition, the classroom activity is almost entirely different. Here at Monmouth, you're used to learning in a small classroom with about 35 students max; however, at Macquarie, your lectures consist of 100+ students. In addition, there are no attendance policies in lectures (there is in tutorials) and this causes many students to skip lectures. I passed all my classes because I made it a point to go to each and every lecture. The indigenous culture is a huge topic in Australia and I took a class that taught you all about the culture and history of the Aboriginal people. This really helped me open up to the cultures in Australia. From studying abroad, traveling all throughout Australia, and traveling to Fiji for one week before returning to America, I gained immeasurable knowledge about myself, as well as the rest of the world. By studying abroad, I learned not only about Australia's culture, but about cultures from all over the world as well. Australia has shaped me into the understanding, mature, independent, and patient person I am now and I am so thankful for the opportunity I was given to study there. If you're on the fence about whether or not to study abroad, even if you're not thinking about Australia, just do it. Don't hesitate because this will be the best experience you will ever have and you will not regret it.
Michelle Myers
Nicole Fera
When I first sat down to write this essay so many thoughts flooded into my head about the past year of my life and the whirlwind that took place. A year ago I can remember making the decision to study abroad in Australia and wondering what it would be like. I was nervous, excited and curious about what the new country would be like, all the people I would meet and all the adventures that were waiting in this new place. When deciding which country I would study abroad in, Australia was an easy choice for me. I wanted to go somewhere most people never venture to in their lives and the land down under seemed like that place. Since its half way around the world most people never have the chance to make it out there, let alone get to live there for almost six months. Looking back I can easily say that this one choice was the best decision I have ever made in my whole life. From the very first day of this amazing adventure I learned a lot about myself, different cultures and this crazy beautiful world that we live in. Times were not always easy, but in the end that's what makes any journey worth it. The day before leaving for Australia I finally felt what I was dreading all along, fear. Out of nowhere I got extremely nervous about the huge decision I had made to uproot my life. Then the morning before leaving I thought about everything that I would have to say goodbye to in America; all of my friends and family, my boyfriend, my dog and my life as I knew it in New Jersey. Thankfully I was able to take a deep breath and remember that these things would be here when I got home and that this experience would not come around again. I was also able to take comfort in the fact that I was going to be able to share this amazing time with some of my friends from school. I pushed fear aside the morning of the trip, said goodbye to my life for a while and boarded the plane not knowing what lied ahead. Getting to Australia was the first challenge that we faced because it took about 30 hours of traveling. This part wasn't too bad except for when we finally landed in Sydney. The feeling of excitement was quickly replaced by frustration and anger when a bunch of us traveling from Monmouth realized that our luggage had been lost. In a situation like this you can either become extremely upset or laugh it off and realize that there's nothing you can do about it and know that you'll get it back eventually. We ended up getting our luggage back a few days later and I think that this was a good first test in learning how to go with the flow of things and dealing with unexpected troubles when traveling in a new place. Everything worked out and then it was time to deal with problem number two, our roommates in our apartment in the Village. One of the most memorable moments of those first few days in Australia is when my two friends from Monmouth and I walked into our new home for the next few months. I had painted myself a pretty picture of what our apartment would look like and the awesome Australian roommates that we would be living with. This illusion was shattered the second we walked into the house. The place was a disaster with shoes all over the place, sticky gunk all over the counters of the kitchen, the most disgusting refrigerator I had ever seen in my life and a terrible odor flowing throughout the house. I remember thinking that if my mother could see this house she would have a heart attack. But then I focused once again on how nothing else mattered because we were in Australia. I was also grateful that I had my two friends living with me and we vowed to fix the apartment up and make it our own. Unfortunately, the apartment remained pretty disgusting the whole time we lived there and our roommates were less than ideal, but it's important that I talk about these two bad things that happened because they are the only bad things that I can remember from the entire trip. The rest of the experience was everything that I hoped for and more, so I am grateful that all I had to deal with was two slobs and no luggage for the first few days. Now it's time to talk about the memories I'll never forget. It would be impossible to talk about every awesome thing that I did and saw while studying abroad, but I'll do my best to share the most memorable. The first thing that pops into my head is all the amazing people I was fortunate enough to have in my life for those couple months and all the great times we all had together. Going to Australia I only knew five people from Monmouth out of the eighteen that went. Within the first couple weeks that was ancient history and now I feel like these amazing people have always been a part of my life. I'm grateful that we all got so close and also that we will all be able to have more good times back at Monmouth. Aside from my "new" Jersey friends, I also met people from all over the world and of course, lots of great people from Aussie. Some of the Australians that we became friends with will be in my heart forever. They showed us all of the great places to go in the city, drove us anywhere that we needed to go and taught us all the quirky slang that Australians say. Sharing Thanksgiving with a lot of Australians for the first time added to the countless memories. The only bad part about meeting these amazing people was having to say goodbye to them when we left. They taught us so much about a whole new culture and type of people that we all fell in love with from the moment we met them. I can only hope that they will come visit us one day or we'll be able to go see them again in the future. The second thing that I want to talk about is spring break and all of the traveling that I got to do while away. Most of us from Monmouth went on a trip called "One fish, Two fish" and even though it was a little expensive it was worth every penny that I spent on that trip. The trip started in Brisbane and took us all the way up to Cairns, stopping in some of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. It allowed us to do some awesome things such as bungee jumping, scuba diving on the Great Barrier Reef and lying out on the white sandy beaches of the Whitsunday Islands. This trip was probably the best 10 days of my life from start to finish and the only problem was how fast it flew by. Besides the spring break trip we did a lot of traveling and planning on our own and this definitely helped me become more responsible and independent. Any time I have ever traveled at home I have usually just gone with my parents or it's been something pretty easy to plan out. In Australia I really learned how to budget and find hotels and flights and make sure that we were going to be able to see everything that we wanted while we were there. Some of the best trips we took were to a surf camp in Crescent Head Beach where it was secluded and beautiful, Melbourne to see the Twelve Apostles and the Great Ocean Road and the Gold Coast, which had a really fun nightlife. All of these places really make you realize how much there is to see in the world and traveling in Australia has made me want to continue seeing all different places around the world in the future. Attending Macquarie University was a good experience as you are getting to learn from new professors and seeing the way that they learn things in a completely different country. Australian students take school very seriously and professors expect a lot from students in their classes. The workload is pretty hard and I think that it opened my eyes to how lucky I am that I go to a school like Monmouth, that really helps you out with your studies, with small classes and teachers that know you personally and care about your grades. In the end there are so many things that I could say about Australia and how much I loved it there, but it's difficult to put all of those feelings and good times into one reflective essay. It literally opened my eyes up to how big the world is, how much America is discussed and focused on in different countries, how different people think about the world, all the amazing things there are to see out there and more importantly, it taught me a lot about myself and how I deal with situations. I definitely think that I came home from Australia with a reinforced positive attitude, but also a little sad that the experience was over. No one can really prepare anyone for what studying abroad will be like because the journey will be different for everyone, but I think the best advice that I could give anyone is just to go and figure it out along the way. Anyone who is thinking about going away but thinks that it is too long and they'll miss home is crazy because the experience literally flies by. I feel like it was a month ago that I was leaving and now I am back in New Jersey writing about all these amazing times and thinking about the next time I'll get to go to this amazing, beautiful country.
Paul Mandala
There is no proper way to start to even scratch the surface of the last five months of my life. Living and studying abroad in Australia has surpassed any expectations I had of this adventure, and that's what Australia was for me. It was one giant adventure full of all kinds of traveling and all kinds of people. With any great trek there were ups and downs along the way but not a single bad day can ever put a damper on my trip to Australia. I made some really close friends from around the world, joined a few of the Australia sports teams such as soccer, rugby, and AFL as well as got into some amazing trail running. Partied like a rock star over mid semester break, had the coolest research job on a whale watching boat, and traveled to the red center or the true outback as it is known as. Not to mention, finished our little five-month escapade with a weeklong trip to Fiji. Australia opened some very new doors for me. I learned how to be open to make new friends, learned to multitask, learned to try new foods, push my limits, travel care free, live on my own, learned I actually miss my family a little, and eventually I even learned how to say goodbye. It taught me things I never thought I would learn. I learned about Australia and its aboriginal heritage, not to mention the international side of the country and how everything connects around the world. I can no longer look at the US the same as "The world Power". Most importantly it taught me the power of being free and alive, not to mention the power of TRAVEL! (this section is excerpted from Paul's full essay, facebook him if you want to read the full story) I also decided to take on an internship while I was in Australia. It seemed like too good of an opportunity to pass up! I began working out of darling harbor on a whale watching vessel doing research every Thursday. Part of my job is to sit at my computer during my free time and convert audio of what my boss sees the whales doing into an excel spreadsheet, which I might say is quite possibly one of the most boring and tedious things I have ever done. On the other hand, on Thursdays, I had quite possibly the coolest job. I would board the boat around 9 a.m. and we would take the ferry whale watching, not to mention take a free ride right past the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbor Bridge. Once we got out of harbor we would head out to the open ocean through what is called North head, a massive cliff face where some of the volunteers would spot whales. Once in the ocean it was the eyes of the crew and mine that had to spot the whales. At first this is a really hard task because you're not sure what to look for, but after seeing your first little white spurt of water shooting out of a whale almost a mile or so away its instantly installed in the back of your head what to look for. Although they are hard to spot they are very distinct. Then we would pick a pod of whales and do a trial run, which involves staying within a set limit away from the whales and observing behaviors. So for instance we would be within 50 meters (special permit needed), 100 meters, or 300 meters of any pod of whales without a calf. If there was a mother and calf our trials were held at 100 meters (special permit needed), 150 meters, or 300 meters. The goal of the research was to see if the behavior of the whales changed at the different distances. It's super hard to notice any difference for me from trip to trip but after it is plotted on a computer there are some noticeable differences. Some of the behaviors I was lucky enough to see Humpback whales do were blows, tail swipes, peduncle arch dives, visible and non visible tail arch dives, pectoral fin slaps, and even a few breaches. It's amazing that such a large creature can make itself airborne with just two huge swipes of its tail. Some of the other cool things I was able to see where the sea birds, fairy penguins, a seal, some dolphins and some flying fish. I think my favorite thing was hearing the penguins bark when they were in the area. So I came home with some extra credits and a lot of life experience. (Casey Petrocy, Rebecca Ryan, Paul Mandala and Nicole Wisniewski visit Ayers Rock)
Randy Rudofsky
When I first laid down the tracks to my college career as molecular cell physiology (biology) major, I never considered going away for a semester to Australia. Although I was interested in travel and seeing the world, the strict nature of my major's requirements made the semester abroad less of an option if I wanted to graduate on time. The amount of experience and what I learned about myself during my trip to Australia however, turned out to be worth more to me than all of my other semesters combined. I am so glad that I decided to push back my graduation for the experience that I had. I pushed myself out of my comfort zone and decided to go to another country with fellow students whom I didn't know at all, which I thought was good, because I wanted to see if I could hack it away from my fraternity and already established friends from old, and live on my own. It turns out that the people that I was getting onto the plane with as strangers would return with me as some of the closest friends with some of the best memories of my life. Growing together and discovering a new way of life in Australia, will forever be part of my fondest memories. The people I met along the trip, including the other Monmouth students that I traveled with, will always be a huge influence on who I have become and what I find important in life. Many of the experiences and times I had while in Australia could be explained by me typing what had happened, but I would not want to try because it is an understatement to say that some of the events, experiences and feelings while in Australia have to be experienced and words will NOT do them justice. The freedom was enjoyable while in Australia so much so that it is almost painful to be back into the environment that is my life here. Between school and work here there is almost no money or time for me and the time I got to spend in Australia for myself was worth more to me than gold. By living a much more free life I was able to pursue the non-priority aspects of life for a solid amount of time which otherwise I would not have been able to do. Care free days of exploring Sydney and the Australian continent with other students was nothing less than amazing. The freedom was enjoyable while in Australia so much so that it is almost painful to be back into the environment that is my life here. Between school and work here there is almost no money or time for me and the time I got to spend in Australia for myself was worth more to me than gold. By living a much more free life I was able to pursue the non-priority aspects of life for a solid amount of time which otherwise I would not have been able to do. Care free days of exploring Sydney and the Australian continent with other students was nothing less than amazing. The times that I had in Australia I consider truly beneficial to my individual development as a person. While taking courses at Monmouth has provided me an area of study and expertise that will help me formulate a career, the past 6 months has given me time to do something much more important. Study myself. I have definitely redefined my outlook on life and will use my experience in Australia to govern the path for the rest of my life. It is regretful that most of the students do not get to experience study abroad.
Rebecca Ryan
After studying abroad in Australia, I have become more open and down to earth, as well as accepting. I used to make judgments or believe stereotypes of certain cultures and people, now I see the world with a new understanding. I am also more tolerant of other religions, cultures and customs. Living with 3 men from Bangladesh taught me a lot; I learned how to speak a little bit of their language, how to eat and cook food from their culture, as well as celebrating their holidays. One night that stands out in my mind is when we danced and had a huge feast with some people from Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. I had a great time with them, learning their ways and teaching them mine. Cultural understanding was a huge benefit of going abroad that I was able to attain. It expanded my worldwide knowledge. I learned that, in general, Americans tend not to know about other countries, but every other country follows the United States; I couldn't find Bangladesh on a map but my roommates could tell me the last 4 Presidents of the United States. I was impressed with them and disgusted with my global awareness. I decided to start learning more about other countries. The politics in Australia were extremely interesting and following them was enjoyable. This experience was able to bring out the best in me, and I honestly can say that negative aspects to studying abroad were few and far between. The only downbeat was the money issue. While studying abroad, the value of the American dollar decreased and the economy got even worse. That caused the Australian dollar to be stronger and items to require more money to buy. I spent a lot of money in Australia; their economy is probably amazing because of my efforts. Despite the monetary issue, I highly recommend any and every student to study abroad somewhere at least once in their lives. This was a truly rewarding experience and the best decision, of my entire life!
Sinead Friel
Tara Cooney
Ten thousand miles from Monmouth University is the most amazing place on earth, Sydney, Australia. As a sophomore in college, I had never been fortunate enough to travel outside of the United States. The opportunity to study abroad during the fall 2010 semester was hands-down, the best experience of my life so far. Walking off the airplane after the long trip was exhilarating and satisfying to finally step foot "down under." It wasn't long until I was all settled in at the Macquarie University Village and then on a bus with the sixteen other Monmouth University students to the Blue Mountains. This trip that Monmouth Study Abroad Office planned for us, was an exciting way to get acquainted with Australia before classes began; we played with kangaroos and koala bears, went hiking and bushwalking through the forest, and learned how to repel or abseil down a 90 foot cliff! One of the most amazing benefits of living with other students in Australia was being able to learn about their cultures and lifestyles. In my 5 bedroom apartment lived my best friend and I, along with Mohammad from Saudi Arabia, Brian from Hong Kong, and Hauke from Germany. It seemed intimidating at first but the five of us each had a unique bond the entire five months of living together. We all shared stories about our home countries and it was so interesting to get to know each other. There were many Australian friends that I made as well, who were eager to teach us Jersey girls the way they communicate, teaching us the accent and the slang words they use (which we ended up using a lot!). I discovered that the people in Australia are extremely friendly and easy-going, making it a very comfortable environment to live in when I was across the world and unfamiliar with it. During my semester abroad I took three classes worth four credits each. The classes were interesting yet tough compared to the classes at Monmouth University. It was also hard to study when there was so much out there to see, but I managed to get the work done and do well in my classes to make the experience even more worthwhile. When I was not in class, I was fortunate enough to experience some amazing things that many people will not get the chance to do in their entire lifetime. Along with my new friends, I climbed to the very top of the famous Sydney harbor bridge at sunset and viewed the famous Opera house from above which was breath taking. I learned how to play the didgeridoo which is an indigenous Australian instrument. I drove on the left side of the road and spent endless days on beautiful white sand beaches watching all the surfers. I ate lunch with friends 1,000 feet in the air in a spinning room at the top of the famous Sydney Tower. I toured Sydney's Botanical Gardens and went to my first Red-Bull Flu-Tag event in the city. There were numerous times when we took cruises in the harbor at night. At the Australian zoo I was lucky enough to see Steve Irwin's wife and two kids feed the crocodiles and I was able to hold a koala bear. During the two week break mid-semester break from classes, the majority of the Monmouth students went on a trip called One Fish-Two Fish that we booked with STA Travel. It was a bus trip from Brisbane, Queensland to Cairns, Queensland, which was nice to travel outside of Sydney and meet even more new friends. During the trip we stopped numerous times to do fun and exciting things. Most of the people went skydiving in Cairns while my best friend and I bungy jumped 165 feet in the pouring rain, at night time, in the middle of the rainforest. That was the most memorable and insane adrenaline rush I have ever had in my entire life. It was very frightening; however the idea is to be able to push and challenge you to do something crazy (knowing that it is safe, of course!). Also on this trip, I white-water-rafted down a very rocky and intense river and swung through the rainforest on a bungee swing attached to my best friend which was thrilling. I trekked up a river in a different rainforest until we found a huge waterfall to swim in which was considered a "natural spa." I was lucky enough to take a long boat ride to the Great Barrier Reef where we snorkeled and scuba dove and saw many tropical fish and amazing, colorful coral reef and in a natural made swimming hole of crystal clear water and white sand on Fraser Island that was supposedly haunted by aboriginal spirits. I learned how to paddleboard and I went on a speed boat ride while racing other speed boats in the Whitsunday Islands. We visited a real shipwreck on the beach on Fraser Island and drove on the country's longest highway which was actually on the beach with the waves breaking on the busses tires. Studying abroad was everything I'd hoped it would be when it came to meeting new people and doing crazy things, however there was one aspect I did not expect. When Robyn Asaro, the Study Abroad Director, spoke to me about studying abroad and the effects that it has on a person, she said that I would come back a different person. I did not believe that spending one semester at a different school in a different country could possibly have any effect on my personality or outlook on life but as soon as I got back to America, I realized that she was right. Spending almost six months in Australia, on my own, doing my own food-shopping, cooking and cleaning, etc., I became a more independent person. I learned what it was to be responsible and self-sufficient and it made me a more positive person. Not only did I become more independent, I became a happier, more positive, and more confident person. It is hard to explain the feeling in words, but when I returned home from abroad I knew that I was a smarter and more mature person and going back to the same routine was not an option. I learned who my true friends are and I became more determined to get good grades and follow my career goals with a passion. The change that happens in a person after a semester abroad is honestly a positive one and the people that I met from all over the world will remain my friends for a very long time. The staff at Monmouth University and Macquarie University in Sydney was very helpful and made the process of culture shock as comfortable as possible. I hope that many other people get to experience a similar semester abroad through Monmouth University and if I could go back, I'd gladly do it all over again.
Alexandra Appolonia
Alexis Fox
Amanda Gruber
Brittany Godburn
Elizabeth Medino
Jessica Bogert
Kaleigh Soles
Katie Riordan
Kelly Cherry
Lauren Lambert
Lauren Pharaoh
Matt Scala
Rachel Conners
Shauna McArdle
Stephen Rogers
Vanessa Mielke
Andrea Gonzalez
Angela Ciroalo
Ariana Tepedino
Bill Carrigan
Colleen Thomas
Erica McCann
Genevieve Fasano
Jenna Intersimone
Louis Garbarani
Nicole Adamusik
Nicole Gafanha
Taylor Wilson
Vanessa Campo
Alex Casares
It is hard to describe the full impact that this experience has had on me since I myself do not even realize how much I have changed. One thing I can say is that I know I have changed for the better. This was, without a doubt, the best experience I have had in my life. It gave me the opportunity to experience a new lifestyle. For 6 weeks I had the pleasure of living as a Giditana in Cadiz, Spain. In the mornings I would walk to school in beautiful weather; lots of sunlight and a refreshing breeze and temperatures that were usually in the 80s, with no humidity. Between the hours of 2:00pm‐6:30pm, I celebrated siesta time by sleeping, eating, and going to the beach. After siesta, I had the pleasure of aimlessly wandering around the cobblestone streets or shopping on the famous Calle Ancha. Around 8:30pm every night, I would watch the most beautiful sunset I have ever seen while running along the clear, blue water's edge. At 10pm I would go to Plaza de las Minas to have a glass of sangria, do my homework, and watch all the children play soccer while their parents joyfully chatted amongst themselves. On weekends, I would go out to the local bars and discotecas where I could have fun with my friends and meet new people. Life in Spain was truly paradise. After returning home from Spain, I truly believe that study abroad is an experience like no other. Most people love the experience; some people have a hard time adjusting. No matter what your feelings are about study abroad, one thing is for sure, no one ever comes back the same person that they were when they left. Study abroad is a learning experience. Not only do you get the opportunity to learn about another culture, and begin to see things from a new perspective, but you also learn so much about yourself. You surprise yourself and begin to see things you didn't think you had inside you. Your goals, dreams, and inner desires all change. For me, Spain is where I developed confidence in my Spanish speaking abilities and began to worry less about what other people think about me. It is where my aspirations for the future grew a little bigger and my bucket list grew a little longer. I realized that as soon as I graduate from Monmouth I want to go back to Spain and teach English. What I am taking away from this experience is worth more than I can explain. The people that I met and the experiences that I had in Spain changed my life. During my 6 weeks abroad, I learned to make the most of each day that I have, to take every day one step at a time, and that you learn so much more when you come out of your comfort zone.
Angela Costa
My study abroad experience in Cadiz Spain was a remarkable, life‐changing, and truly unforgettable experience. Choosing to study abroad was a simple decision for me, because I love immersing myself in culture. From the beginning I was always ready and excited to study abroad and now that the experience has come to a close, I do not regret the decision. One thing that I was unsure of coming into this experience was how well the whole group would get along. Twelve people, who barely knew each other, came together for six weeks in a foreign country. I expected us to break off into different cliques and be so different that we would not get along. To my pleasant surprise, since the very first minute in JFK airport, we all came together. Throughout the six weeks each and every one of us got to know one another and, in my opinion, became a family. Every excursion and activity we did was done as a family, complete with laughs and silly stories to reminisce over later on. I parted with everyone in the airport and did not shed one tear, because I know that I have made eleven new best friends. I know that we are all going to keep in touch and get together on a regular basis. The new friendships and bonds that studying in Cadiz has given me are priceless. In addition to new Monmouth friends, I have new Spanish friends and family. Not one person that I encountered during my trip was mean, rude, or unfriendly. My padres and their family were the most welcoming and comforting people. My Madre was amazing and from the moment I met her at the pick‐up spot she was gracious and so talkative! She always made me feel comfortable in the house and was a great help when it came to speaking and developing my Spanish. My Spanish Madre is someone that I will always remember and keep in touch with, because as she said, I will always have a family in Spain. Not only have I gained another family, I have gained so many more, lifelong friends. Through exchanges at school I got to meet so many great people, each one of them making sure that we experienced everything that Cadiz had to offer. From touring around Madrid to visiting La Alhambra, I will never forget this amazing trip. I would change nothing and I have gotten so much out of it. My favorite part of all was the amazing people I met in Spain who helped me grow as a person and whom I will never lose touch with. Being in a foreign country and talking about life and possibilities with new friends while watching the Spanish sunrise is something that has given me a whole new outlook on life. It's something that every person should try because it is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity.
Ashleigh Hegedus
This past summer was one of a lifetime—I had the opportunity to study abroad in Cadiz, Spain for six weeks. I literally lived my dream, and the program succeeded all of my expectations. This experience allowed me to expand my experiences and grow as a person. I knew before I even started college that I wanted to study abroad. This trip was not just to study in another country; it was to increase my knowledge of what I want to do in my future. Without a doubt, I will return to Spain for my career because I have found where I want to be. I have never found a place that I was so happy. Although this was the first time that I left the country, I did not feel any anxiety about leaving; I was just very excited and it was the only thing I could talk about. I remember the moment I stepped off the plane in Madrid; I couldn't believe that I was actually there. I was exhausted from the little sleep I had, but I had the mindset, "I can sleep in America". The first four days I survived off less than 4 hours of sleep a night because I didn't want to miss a thing, and I sure didn't. We toured the entire city, visited museums, ate delicious food, stayed out all night, etc. Before we knew it, we were on our way to Cadiz, our new home for the next five and a half weeks. We arrived in Cadiz with a warm welcome from our new families. I knew the minute I saw my new madre, I would love my family, which I did. I remember being so excited, with the last thing I wanted to do was sleep. I wanted to explore Cadiz and talk with my family, regardless of the lack of sleep I obtained. I loved Cadiz so much, that during our excursions I missed my new home, and on our free weekends I almost preferred to stay in Cadiz. In fact, we didn't end up traveling and instead we lived the life of gaditanos. Our friends took us to different places, such as Gibraltar, water and amusement parks, different towns, fairs, etc.; also, they introduced us to new people, and showed us the "ins and outs" of Spain. Within the six weeks that I was in Cadiz, I became a "gaditana"; I lived with a family, I walked through the streets, I hung out with "gaditanos", I indulged in the food, I studied the culture, I stayed up all night and watched the sunrise multiple times, I spoke the language, and made the greatest friends (friends for a lifetime), etc. I truly feel that I lived my study abroad experience to the fullest. Before I knew it, it was the last night in Cadiz. I didn't go to sleep that night because I wanted to appreciate every last moment I had in Spain. It was the hardest night. I said goodbye to all of my friends, all of which promised me they would come visit me in the United States. I cried, I cried a lot; I cried in the arms of my gaditano friends, at dinner, in the streets, in the plazas, in the bus, in the airports, in the plane, and the moment I arrived in the United States. I didn't want to end this trip under any circumstances. I feel that Spain is where I belong and the moment I graduate I expect to return, without a doubt. Now that I am back in the US, each morning I wake up and still wish that I were in Spain. I feel that a part of me is missing, but the good thing is that I know exactly where to find it‐ Cadiz, Spain. For now I know that I have to graduate, but I am planning my next trip to Spain, which will be in February to celebrate Carnaval with my gaditanos. And after that, I know that I will return to live there‐ "Soy de Cai, pisha!". VIVA ESPANA!
Cristina Steriti
I hate to sound cliché, but studying abroad in Europe changed my life. Not only has it changed my perspective on how I now view certain things but also, I have reconsidered my career and my future goals. Six months ago, I studied abroad in the south of Spain with Monmouth University. Cadiz is the oldest city in Europe and it is the most beautiful place I have ever been. Words cannot express the love I grew to have for this place. I would have never believed that spending six weeks in Spain would leave such an impression on me. Before leaving for Spain, I was planning on graduating in the fall and immediately finding a job within the corporate world and becoming a real person. While in Spain, my opinion shifted. I realized how I did not want my job to define my life. I was so consumed with finding a dream job that paid good money, that everything else was a blur. American society places such importance on work ethic and money. I was being heavily influenced by the societal norm of acquiring a job that could satisfy my materialistic ways. In Europe, everything is so different. Work is important and essential for survival; however, it does not define the individual. They might have their jobs, but after work is done, they are dedicated to living and enjoying each day with family, friends, and just having good times. There is a well known saying that best describes the significant difference of both the American and European lifestyles: "Americans live to work; while, Europeans work to live". After living as an authentic Spaniard for 6 weeks, I was able to witness the truth behind that statement. Everyone is much more laid back and easy going. Money is not so much of an issue for them. It only acts as a means to pay for what they need to get by; while, in America, the money made is never enough leaving many greedy for more. I realized that there is more to life than just working and making money. One must live and experience something new each day and learn to appreciate and to enjoy the little things. What really matters in life is staying connected with those whom you love and making memories with friends and family. I had always planned on finding a job within the media. I am a Spanish and Communication major, so I figured I could get a job within the television industry. I wanted to be a news anchor on a Spanish television channel. Now, I have decided that I am going to take a year off. I think that graduating in less than 4 years deserves some kind of reward. For me that reward is traveling. I learned so much from traveling. Studying abroad in Spain proved to be the most vital decision in my life so far. With that said, I am going back to Spain in less than 2 weeks. I just miss it so much and everything became so clear to me after studying abroad there. As a young kid, I always loved Europe. I am Portuguese and Italian, therefore I always felt a certain comfort level with the European lifestyle. I remember feeling a sense of belonging every time I got the opportunity to travel to Portugal. That same feeling became even more intense as a 21 year old in Spain. Because of this, I realized that I wanted to start my future in Europe. With that in mind, I spoke with one of my professors from the Study Abroad Program and told her about my serious interest in finding a job in Cadiz, Spain. It was quite upsetting to learn that they have a very high unemployment rate. However, just when I thought my luck had run out, destiny took over. Months after coming back home, I was contacted by my professor saying that she and a couple other professors from the University of Cadiz had selected me to be a professor of English for a 6 week summer program in Spain. I was delighted with the news. So, from the looks of it, I'll be in Spain this summer for round two. Last time, I was learning. Now, I'll be teaching. It's funny how things work out. When I was in Cadiz this past summer I was the happiest I have ever been. I fell in love with Cadiz and I strongly encourage everyone to study abroad. You will grow as an individual and learn so much about yourself. Studying abroad only acts as a way to show you how precious life truly is and how much there is to experience and take advantage of. The reason you were put on this earth was to live. So enjoy every moment, even the bad ones, and always follow your heart. I left mine overseas and I'm going to go get it back!
Kristen Dowling
I have always loved to travel. It is my dream to be able to travel as part of my future career. This is why I knew that studying abroad would be right for me. In fact, I was so excited to go that I had no reservations about leaving my boyfriend and family for 6 weeks. I have always been a very independent person and although I knew I would miss everyone very much, I never thought I would miss them as much as I did. When we arrived in Cadiz I was overwhelmed. I have studied Spanish since high school and it is my major in college. But when I got to Cadiz I felt like I was listening to a completely different language. The Gaditano dialect is so strong. They do not pronounce D's or S's, they speak with a lisp (called a theta), and they also speak fast. Not only was I intimidated but I was frustrated. I came to Spain with high expectations of my ability to communicate but they were crushed when I attempted my first conversation. Despite all this, I began to get more comfortable with the pronunciation after a couple weeks. I met a few locals who were studying English and we helped each other learn. Everyone in Cadiz is so patient and nice and went out of their way to help us adapt to the culture. The Gaditanos are known for their kindness. If you're lost, they will stop and show you the way. If you have a question, they will not only answer it, but they will explain the reasoning or history behind the answer as well. Many Spaniards are also known for their stubbornness. I learned this the hard way. My padres were older (in their late 60's and early 70's) and were very nice, however, at times they were very narrow minded. We didn't always agree on everything and no matter how much I tried to explain my point of view, I was always wrong and they were always right. I tried not to let these incidences bother me because I know this way of thinking is just part of who they are. The food was amazing. The Spanish tortilla (omelet) is now on my list of favorite foods. Everything is so incredibly fresh and the fruit was the sweetest I've ever tasted. I expected a more Mediterranean diet but when my Madre served us fried food for almost every meal, I realized I was wrong. It took a while to adjust to the eating schedule. Eating dinner at 10pm was not easy to adapt to but when the food is as delicious as it was you don't mind eating at any time of day. I was surprised about the portion sizes. In restaurants they serve tapas which are small dishes for one or two people. But in the home, the padres encourage you to eat until you're about to burst at the seams. I definitely gained some weight over in Europe but it was worth every bite. My 6 weeks in Spain has given me a lifetime of unforgettable memories. The food, the people, the excursions, the breathtaking views, the all‐nighters, and especially the friends I made are all experiences that have allowed me to realize just how lucky I am to have had this opportunity. Of course there were days that I missed home a lot, but I think everyone is our group would agree that we all learned a lot about ourselves during our time abroad and came home with a few more friends, a few more pounds, and many more priceless memories.
Michael Cardonick
Writing this essay is both difficult and simple. I have plenty of stories to tell and advice to give, but the challenge of it all is finding the words. Studying abroad in Spain has been one of the most rewarding choices I have ever made. It has only been two weeks since I returned to the States and I still find myself telling stories of my adventures and missing my Spanish friends. I only knew the friends we made in Spain for a short while, but sometimes I feel a better connection to them and more grief leaving them then I did with my friends here at home. I've never met such a caring bunch of people before. At first I was shy to talk because of the language barrier; I didn't want to make a fool of myself. However the people in Cadiz make you feel so comfortable. Many of the friends we made were trying to learn English so we would teach each other, they would make mistakes in English and us in Spanish. Hearing everyone make mistakes such as asking for the contraception of the WiFi instead of contreseña (password in Spanish) or sending text massages instead of messages makes you ok with laughing at yourself. Everyone makes mistakes and something I've gotten out of studying abroad is being able to laugh at your mistakes and not beat yourself up over them. Remember, trying and failing is more important than not giving yourself a chance. Though our friends taught us much, it was our Spanish family that taught us the most. Only being able to communicate in Spanish at times was frustrating and difficult, but necessary. I've been studying Spanish at Monmouth for almost three years now, countless hours using flash cards and remembering conjugations, but being immersed linguistically has been the most fulfilling. However the Spanish family is more than just people to talk to; they gave us advice on where to go to have a good time at night, what places to visit, help with directions, and how to cook. The classes in Spain were much different than my expectations. The professors felt like our friends, not our superiors. The classroom was filled with discussions, lessons, and laughter. At first I stressed about the classes, but the professors' guidance and reassurance relieved me of my fears and made me feel more comfortable. They told us not to have too much anxiety and ensured us that we learned and knew the important knowledge and points of the class, and in the end what they said was true. My advice for the classes is give it your best, but remember that you are also in Spain to be immersed in the culture, so don't worry too much because you don't want it to affect your time in Spain. Before leaving I didn't know much about the Spanish culture, but after spending time there I learned more than I could from reading any text book. Unfortunately we didn't travel outside of the country, but Spain has more than enough to offer within its borders. We saw a handful of cities; Cadiz, Madrid, Segovia, Granada…all in Spain—but all different. I'm grateful we got to travel around because it made me like Cadiz even more. I only have a single regret of my study abroad experience and that is not finding a way to stay longer. I enjoyed every minute of my six weeks in Spain, but six weeks is not long enough. I feel as if I simply got a taste of the culture and life style. If I could move back to Cadiz I would in a heartbeat and I would be proud to say "soy de cai pisha".
Nicole Kennedy
I can best describe the summer of 2009 with two words - life changing. That summer I took advantage of the opportunity to study abroad in Cadiz, Spain. This turned out to be one of the greatest decisions of my college career. The study abroad program at Monmouth greatly surpassed all of my expectations, not only that summer, but still to this day. When I returned from my trip to Spain I told everyone and anyone that “Studying abroad in Cadiz, Spain was the best decision I ever made.” Three years later I still stand by this statement wholeheartedly, and I strongly believe that studying abroad helped me to reach my goal of becoming a Spanish teacher. This past January, I graduated from Monmouth with a degree in Spanish and Special Education. As I listened to Ambassador Michael Oren speak during graduation, I realized that my dreams of starting a career after graduation were not looking too bright. However, ten days later, I found myself at my first interview for a full time teaching position. As I nervously entered the interview I was greeted with excited questions about my experience studying abroad in Spain. This instantly calmed my nerves and I was eager to tell them how my incredible experience in Spain made me the perfect candidate for the position. Before I knew it, I was hired on the spot due to my enthusiasm and passion for teaching, children, and Spanish. The principal later informed me that out of the 25 resumes they received, I was the only candidate with study abroad, which made mine stand out above the rest. My enthusiasm and passion for Spanish developed during my study abroad experience in Spain. During those six weeks, we lived and breathed Spanish culture. We spoke Spanish and learned about Spanish history and art. We lived with amazing Spanish families and ate delicious Spanish food. We traveled to Madrid, Segovia, Seville, Granada, and Morocco and saw monuments and cathedrals, alcazars and palaces. We went to Bolonia and saw ancient Roman ruins. We went to the beaches until 9 at night when the sun was still out. We hung out in the plazas and made friends with natives of Cadiz. We became accustomed to daily life in Spain. By the end of the trip it was as if we had turned from Americans to “Gaditanos”. There are no words to express how truly amazing it was. All of these experiences contributed to my success while at Monmouth and will continue to help me succeed in the future. As I prepare to begin my career, I feel so grateful to have had the opportunity to study abroad. I literally found myself, personally and professionally. The time I spent studying, speaking and enjoying the language and culture has helped me to be the person I have become, and I will be a more effective and successful educator because of it. I plan on sharing my experience with my students and introducing them to an exciting and different culture and language. Maybe one day I will have the opportunity to travel with them to Spain. For those who might be “on the fence” about study abroad - take advantage of the opportunity before it's too late. It can be a life-changing experience that will also help make you more “marketable”. Study abroad was the key to success during my career search. Will you choose to add a line on your resume and a new chapter to your life?
Rachel Werner
Even when I was applying to schools I knew that I wanted to study abroad. I had taken college level Spanish classes in high school but I didn't know if I wanted to continue with Spanish classes. When I was looking into the study abroad programs that Monmouth University offered I was limited because I am an athlete at Monmouth and cannot leave school during the year. I decided on Spain and then came to the conclusion that I should continue my education in the language and add a minor in Spanish. I had known that I wanted to study abroad for a long time, but considering the experience itself, I had no idea what to expect. Unlike some other people that I know that had studied abroad, I was not nervous in the slightest bit. I was nothing but excited and ready to go for the whole month of summer leading up to the flight from JFK. And from that flight on, I had a permanent smile on my face for the next six weeks. The first three days in Madrid were crazy and exciting but also exhausting. I loved seeing some of the things Madrid has to offer, like the amazing art in the Reina Sofia and El Prado. Walking to a museum we ended up walking right through a protest about the economy. This was one of my favorite things we saw in Madrid, it was thousands of people united in one place to tell the government what they believed. After three whirlwind days, we flew down to Cadiz where one breath of the salty air set me in a trance. I remember sending a Facebook message to my best friend at home about halfway through the trip, when she asked me how I liked it, I said, "I think I fell in love." She replied with the obvious answer "With a boy?" And then I explained to her, that no, I had not fallen in love with a boy, but I fell in love with this city, this place, the views, the people, the cruise ships outside my window every morning, and the sunset outside my balcony every night. I had never pictured myself living in a city until I saw this one, in Southern Spain. The streets are all cobblestone and one way, with barely enough room for one car. It takes only twenty minutes to walk from one end of the city to the other. And surrounding the city on three sides is the beautiful clear blue ocean. Even though this city was gorgeous and authentic, even more genuine were the people or Gaditanos. These people were just as beautiful on the inside as they were on the outside. The last morning in Cadiz, one of the other girls and I went to the beach for one last time. We ended up standing waist deep in the cool, sparkly water and talking about the whole six weeks for two hours. While we were in the water, a man came running out to us and told us that since the tide was coming up our stuff was going to get wet, so he moved it for us. A stranger on the beach at 11 am on a Friday morning moved our stuff because it was going to get wet, and then apologized for bothering us to tell us that he moved it. This was a perfect example of the type of people that live in Cadiz. I loved every minute in Spain, I loved all of the fairs and festivals and nights out. I would recommend this experience to anyone and everyone. Everyone should feel like I did about this little, poor, quaint city in Spain. Everybody should get the opportunity to have the feeling of waiting every minute to return to somewhere, like I have been since the minute the bus drove us over the bridge to the airport, since I bawled my eyes out saying goodbye to my Madre, since that last morning at the beach. I have always been someone that wants to see everything the world has to offer. I am fascinated by different cultures and the different ways of life people have. I never thought that an experience would make me want to go to the same place twice. But Study Abroad in Cadiz, has done just that.
