This summer, 95 UP students studied abroad! Most students participated in programs led by UP faculty, others participated in various programs organized by IES Abroad, a study abroad organization that UP partners with. We’ve shared some student experiences below, as well as on our Instagram (@UPStudyAbroad) stories highlighted on our profile.
From Josh Henderson: (Quito, Ecuador) “While on study abroad in Quito I’ve been able to improve my Spanish speaking abilities and feel much more confident communicating with others in Spanish. I’ve also learned more in-depth specifics about Ecuadorian culture and the unique customs and traditions they have. Finally, I am learning a lot about Latin American literature and the different periods of genres that existed.”
From Thu Vu: (IES Abroad Madrid) “As someone who is minoring in Spanish, the experience so far so been so immersive and has helped me take a step closer to my goal of being fluent. I’ve also learned so much about the rich culture of Spain, from their artwork to their lengthy history, which has given me a new perspective on the world. I will always cherish this experience.”
From Grace Elder: (IES Abroad Vienna – different from the UP Salzburg program) “Doing an internship abroad has been essential to my development as a business major so far. I am currently interning for Impact Hub in Vienna, Austria. I am carrying out events, in which I help set up the event space and the hospitality aspects for weekly events that other companies rent out. Additionally, I am working on an exhibition with another intern to highlight the Impact Hub in Vienna members. We have been contacting the companies and starting a dialogue to potentially get their company shown in the exhibit! We are hoping to have parts of the exhibition up before we leave on July 22nd. I have gained a lot of interpersonal skills and connections with people from all over. It has also been integral to my understanding of business culture and what type of company I would like to work for in the future. We are living apartment style, so breakfast, lunch, and dinner are on my own and I’ve been learning the differences between American grocery stores and Austrian ones.”