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A Chanson of the Secret Garden

2020, what an unusual year! And it was this year brought me a very unique experience of study abroad in France.

AustinBonjour! My name is Yangzhi Xiao, I am an international student studying music industry in Syracuse University. I participated in Strasbourg France Program in Spring 2020, and I will be a junior this coming fall semester. You may wonder as an international student, why I chose to study abroad even though I am already studying abroad in the US? My answer would be experiencing with the world beyond one’s borders is the best way of learning. By living in a foreign country to study a new learning style and experience a different way of life, I have gained so much irreplaceable life experience. During this time abroad, I have not only expanded my horizons, but also got the chance to study at one of the most famous conservatories in France, le Conservatoire de Strasbourg. As an organ student, I was so lucky to be able to study with one of the four organists of the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris. Studying with the sophisticated French organist developed my musical competency and performance, more importantly, he showed me an original perception of the way of life as an organist. Moreover, the life at the Conservatory of Strasbourg allowed me study closely with the local French students in the choir, Le Chœur des Jeunes Chanteurs. I will never forget the time we spent together and confronted the challenge together, it helped us make the strong bond of friendship.

Study abroad is also a beautiful way to encounter the world! My first impression of France was its unforgettable historic and scenic attractions. Paris, the first city we visited in France, is a strong cultural presence echoed with a liberal ambiance, and its particular French Neo classicism architecture makes the city an immersive Rococo heaven. The more I explored the city, the more I felt like to get to know about the story behind it. There was nothing I enjoyed more than taking a stroll along the Seine River. Just by wandering around the little path under the bridges and watched the gentle wavelets rippling on the banks of the Seine, there was a sense of comforting tranquility pervading. During the time abroad, I was inspired by the atmosphere to learn more about French culture, and my local friends drew my attention to the literature of France. It is interesting to build a communicating bridge between different languages and cultures in this way. I have gained a deeper understanding of the country by receiving the ideas from the literature and discussing about them with the local people.

Furthermore, when the pandemic happened, I chose to stay in France. I still remember in the two months confinement, my host family always liked to share her perspective of current affairs and politics during the dinner time, and it actually helped me understand further about the local philosophy of the way of living. One is to stay curious about life, and another one is to always make time for oneself. By learning each other’s culture around the dinner table, we had a chance to dissolve gradually the misunderstandings and stereotypes of one another’s country. Therefore, study abroad is the perfect opportunity to reach out the world, because it provides the chance that lets all sides of ideas to be heard.

For me, I explored a new experience with language, arts, music, and food during this time study abroad in France, and I have obtained a stronger appreciation of diversity, because it is diversity that makes me have real experience with the world. The Syracuse Abroad program allowed me to realize that the stories behind each country remain significant to different cultures over time, and I am pleased to welcome you to join us to these amazing programs – let’s celebrate the diversity and life of the world together!

 

Yangzhi Xiao ’22

Syracuse Strasbourg, France

Music Industry

Studying abroad during COVID-19

Going abroad can be scary especially If you have never been outside of the country, but it was the best time I have ever had, although it was short. My name is Erick Lojano-Quispe, currently I am a rising Junior with a Major in Civil Engineering and a Minor in Italian. I went abroad for the spring semester during the 2019-2020 academic year. Syracuse makes it really easy to apply for visa, you just fill out some forms and they care of it and help you through the process.

One challenge you are going to come across is packing, what am I supposed to pack, how much am I supposed to pack? Well, you pack your essentials, medication, clothing, travel toiletry (you will be able to buy some there). How much clothing depends on how much laundry you want to do, and also keep in mind if you want to pay extra for luggage. I did not pay extra and I fit a week and a half’s worth of clothes and I still was under the weight capacity. I did laundry every week because the host families air dry clothes, so it takes a day or two to dry.

Speaking of host families, most of you applying will probably stay with a host family, I had the pleasure of staying with two different families due to the first host having a family situation. My experience with the host were each different, but each still provided a rich Italian lifestyle.

I know for many, a challenge is financially being able to afford studying abroad. I thought the same, but Syracuse provides a variety of scholarships and financial aid to alleviate the financial impact. A scholarship that helped me was the Gilman Scholarship. The Gilman Scholarship is an undergraduate program for U.S. citizens of limited financial means to enable them to study abroad. What is so great about the Gilman Scholarship is that the scholarship money goes directly to you, so you can use to pay off some financial expenses or use it as spending money to travel more, to purchase local items and food abroad.

As many of you know, or can assume, the academic spring semester of 2019-2020, was when the Covid-19 situation started picking up pace, it was also at this time where it became serious situation in Europe, specifically in Italy. Syracuse responded accordingly and suspended the program and advised all the students to book a flight for home, of course many students had many questions specifically, financial questions. Syracuse reimbursed the flight leaving Florence. Originally the students were provided two options, to either return to main campus after the spring break or switch to online classes. Of course, main campus Syracuse switched online classes as well, so most if not all of the abroad students were still in our abroad classes. One issue you might think about abroad classes going online would be the time zone difference, however, many professors accommodated the students by uploading power points, uploading videos, and provide the whole day for exams and quizzes since they realized that many students lived in different time zones.

I enjoyed exploring Italy, and I have so much left to see. I definitely will visit again one day.

Erick Lojano-Quispe

Syracuse Florence Center

Why Strasbourg was the right fit for me

I’m Blake and I’m a triple major in political science, history, and citizenship and civic engagement (Class of ‘22). I studied abroad Strasbourg, France the second semester of my sophomore year of college, it was the most engaging and the most enjoyable three and half months of my college career (thanks to Miss Rona)! I’ve always wanted to travel the world since my Uncle shared his stories of traveling the world during his twenties. Syracuse Abroad’s program is world-class and provided everything you could imagine and more!

Originally, I was dead set on going to the Madrid program, I had friends in Spain, and I’d taken Spanish in high school. However, a political science professor encouraged me to look into the Strasbourg program because of its classes. After learning more about the program through abroad fairs, I was drawn to the idea of host families, its location towards the middle of Europe and learning a completely new language, culture, and history.

strThe Syracuse Strasbourg program itself features a signature seminar that takes you through several countries with your fellow abroad peers. It is a wonderful opportunity to get to know everyone and led to my entire group becoming close and friendly. I still talk to my friends from the program today!! Other courses at the Strasbourg Center took students to various parts of France, the Council of Europe, or places within Strasbourg. There are weekend programs that are free (included in the initial cost) around the Alsace area that the program offers. I highly recommend these programs, you will see a fantastic castle, eat incredible cheese fondue, and have exquisite cuisine. The staff is incredibly friendly and becomes part of your abroad family, if you need ANYTHING, don’t hesitate to ask from them.

As far as actually living in Strasbourg, you are paired with a host family. The housing coordinator, Mick Hardenberg, does a wonderful job and I couldn’t have been happier with my host family. I grew incredibly close with my host mother as she introduced me to her friends and family, took me to different cities within the area, and celebrated birthdays! I also had another abroad student from a Russian program with me. His name was Igor and he practically became a member of the abroad program by the time we had to go home.

Of course, there were also plenty of opportunities to travel on your own or with a few of your friends. I got to visit my friend who lives in Paris and works at Disneyland Paris. I went to Zurich, Switzerland with a large group from the program, (and they don’t lie, Switzerland is crazy expensive)! For spring break, I traveled to Athens, Rome, and Marrakesh. Visiting all the different historical sites and even another continent, was truly an experience that is unrivaled by any other in my life.

Overall, studying abroad is an opportunity that can never be replaced, it teaches you how to be a global citizen, approach life with more empathy, at times pushes you out of your comfort zone, establishes friends all over the world (use hostels!), and makes you a more curious individual! Just approach the experience with an open mind, the rest will follow.

Blake Moyer

Syracuse Strasbourg

Adjusting to life in Madrid

Growing up in a Vietnamese household showed me how valuable it is to know different languages. Knowing another language allows us to interact with more people and helps expand our knowledge on cultures/traditions other than our own. I began studying Spanish in high school and wanted to continue to develop my skills by pursuing a minor in college. I’m so thankful to have been able to spend four great months in Spain. I had the opportunity to travel to various cities in Spain from the coastline (Cabo de Palos) to the center (Madrid) and there’s a piece of my heart in every city. Similar to how we encounter different accents, foods, and traditions in various parts of the U.S, Spain’s different regions offer a variety of traditional foods, drinks, and traditions.

Signature Seminar:

Scuba, seas, and sardines! The signature seminar I attended was Marine Ecology. I wasn’t knowledgeable on the topic of marine life and being environmentally friendly until after this seminar. Monica and Amelia, our two advisors, were so passionate about marine ecology. Not only that but we also got scuba certified. After our lectures, we would go on dives to learn about the marine life we discussed. It was a wonderful experience and if you love to swim, I highly suggest this seminar. During this seminar, we swam in the Mediterranean Sea, tried traditional gastronomy such as sardines, and even crossed the border to visit Morocco. An unforgettable experience in a beautiful environment. Also, don’t forget to pick up after yourselves, the sea needs our help to stay the beautiful blue it is.

Academics:

Before actually arriving in Madrid, I decided I was going to take four Spanish courses. Although it was tough, it was the right decision. Through my Mujeres en España, Modern Spanish Art, De Madrid al Cielo, and Spanish grammar classes, I learned so much about the history of Spain. The topics discussed in class gave me opportunities to talk about them at home with my host mom. She was more than happy to explain concepts I didn’t understand and we bonded over the works of art I saw at the different museums. Living with a host family was the best decision I’ve made and I still keep in contact with her today. As with any experience, you get out as much as you put in. The language barrier is hard and the host families know this. My host mom would correct me when I used the wrong words and at times I would describe a word I didn’t know and she would then teach me.

Diversity and Inclusion:

In terms of diversity, Spain is very diverse. The only problem that arose was when I would walk, people would shout at me “china.” This is the word for Chinese in Spanish. Assuming someone’s demographics occurs often around the world and people can’t always tell different ethnicities apart, this occurs in Spain as well. My number one tip for this is not to get offended quickly, but to be patient with people and if you have time and want to, you can share your background to politely correct them. In terms of gender, there are still very traditional roles in a household in Spain. From my women in history class, I learned about the progression Spain has made. Cat calling would occur while we walked the streets, but I have never encountered anything worse than that. Remember to be respectful and strong in your words if you don’t agree with someone’s actions towards you and say “No.”

Involvement:

I worked in the Office of Student Life abroad and it was super fun. Pilar and Horacio were the two employees I assisted and they were also great listeners. The Madrid staff is so kind and they really will help you with whatever you need. I participated in the MadWorld program which I definitely recommend. From day trips to Salamanca and Segovia to attending a bullfight, this program helps you learn more about the culture and traditions of madrilenos. Another opportunity I had was interning at CPM MassPublic, a Spanish communications agency in Madrid. There, my role was to write blogs and articles for its magazine Welcome to Madrid. My supervisor Yolanda was very helpful and very understanding. She was open to any ideas I had and helped me improve my writing. By the end of the internship, I was published in its Winter edition. Blogs and articles would range from gastronomy to fashion. My time there was extremely valuable.

I often blink and wonder if my time abroad was real. How can someone grow so much and learn so much in a mere four months. I would go back to Spain in a heartbeat because of the great people I met. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, don’t be afraid to try new things, and don’t be afraid to take on new adventures by yourself. Time abroad is so limited that we miss out on things we wanted to do. Make your own timetable, explore the different areas of Madrid and regions of Spain. The weekend trips to different countries are memorable and very fun, but learning about your host country is also important and worthy of your time. Being in Madrid opened my eyes to a whole new environment and showed me how each culture is unique. I realized my passion is to use communications to foster community. Although the world has billions of people on it, we can always connect with someone.

Michelle Truong, 2021

Syracuse Madrid Center

Public Relations and Marketing Management

Syracuse Abroad Fall 2020 program updates

All Syracuse study abroad programs for Fall 2020 have been suspended due to the continued likelihood of international travel restrictions for US travelers, and the predicted COVID-19 related impact on experiential programming and overall student experience abroad.

We regret the impact this has on students planning on studying abroad next semester, and we hope that students choose to attend one of our Spring 2021 or Summer 2021 programs instead. All of our centers and partners are already designing exciting new activities, courses and programs to make the spring a robust and dynamic experience.

All fall applicants in need of assistance with their fall semester on campus should reach out to the following Syracuse University departments:

  • Students in need of housing for the Fall 2020 semester should contact the Office of Student Living. Please contact orlsc@syr.edu or 315-443-3637 for further assistance. For on campus housing, students can contact the Housing, Meal Plan and ID Card office at housing@syr.edu or 315-443-2721.
  • Students who need to register for Fall 2020 courses on main campus or make adjustments to your existing schedule, please contact your assigned academic advisor in your home school/college.

For more information, students can contact suabroad@syr.edu.

New World Partner Program Announced

Syracuse Abroad is excited to announce that the University of Edinburgh has been added to the World Partner roster of approved programs.  In partnership with study abroad provider IFSA, students will receive a high level of pre-departure and in-country support while in Edinburgh and attending the university.

IFSA’s University of Edinburgh Partnership provides students with the opportunity to take courses at the sixth oldest university in the English-speaking world. Founded in 1583, the University has five main campuses in the city of Edinburgh, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the University. The University has played an important role in leading Edinburgh to its reputation as a chief intellectual center during the Age of Enlightenment and helped give the city the nickname of the Athens of the North.

Edinburgh is a glorious, historic city dominated by Edinburgh Castle. The city has it  all – beautiful, spacious parks, urban convenience, transportation links to the United Kingdom and Europe, and an unrivaled historical atmosphere. As home to the Fringe Festival, Edinburgh lends itself to the largest arts festival in the world. Edinburgh is also known for its luscious green landscapes, the filming sites for Harry Potter and the Royal Mile.

While studying at the University of Edinburgh, students can take part in a variety of classes and academically enriching opportunities. Areas of study include Archeology, Biology, Classics, Chemistry, Geography, History, Mathematics, Physics, Policy, Psychology and more. Students can even enroll in classes that center around Scotland such as Scottish History, Celtic studies and The Highland Bagpipe. The university consists of over 270 societies and 60 sports clubs including women in STEM, a cappella groups, orchestra and many more. This historic atmosphere lends itself to unlimited opportunities, adventures and discoveries.

The University of Edinburgh is open to students beginning in the spring 2021 semester. Applications are being accepted now until October 1. Students can make an appointment with Deb Goddard or contact her directly for more information at dsgoddar@syr.edu.

View all World Partner Programs

Studying abroad: From a dream, to reality

Hi! I’m Shannon and I’m a senior duel majoring in Sociology and Public Relations. I went abroad to Florence in the fall of my junior year and it was by far the best semester of my college career (and probably the best three and a half months of my life!). Ever since I was little, I’ve been in love with the idea of traveling the world. So, when it came time to choose a college, a top-tier study abroad program was number one on my list of requirements. I can say will full confidence that Syracuse was the right choice for exactly that!

Because I’ve always loved traveling, and have always dreamt of study abroad, trying to choose from all the diverse abroad programs offered at Syracuse seemed like an impossible decision for me. I started attending the abroad fairs and talking to my academic advisers about my plans to go abroad the second I got to campus, but when junior year rolled around and it was time to make a decision I still felt overwhelmed. I was torn between the London program because there are some classes offered at the London center that could count toward my Newhouse major, and the Florence program because the opportunity to experience the culture, art, and history of Italy really interested me.

Obviously, I ended up choosing the Florence program, and it’s the best decision I ever made! The language barrier, cultural differences, and chance to live with a host family are some of the aspects of my semester abroad that most challenged me; however, I know that those are also the things that taught me the most about myself, and helped me grow as a person. The language difference and host family experience specifically were aspects of the Florence program that initially scared me and made me seriously consider choosing the London program instead. But, looking back, I wish I could have told myself not to be worried about those things because they’d end up being some of the best parts of my abroad experience!

Being worried about living in a foreign country where you don’t speak the language and living with a family you’ve never met is perfectly reasonable, and it’s something that almost every student is nervous about before they go abroad. But seriously, take it from an abroad alum, don’t let that fear choose your abroad program for you! You will have an absolutely amazing experience and you’ll look back and laugh at yourself for being so stressed over those things. I’m SO happy I chose to study in Florence, and I know if I had let my fear of the language barrier and living with a host family dictate my experience, I never would have learned or grown as much during my time abroad as I did. At the end of the day, every single abroad program offered at Syracuse is an amazing opportunity to expand your horizons, experience a new culture, and challenge yourself to try new things. You will have a once-in-a-lifetime experience regardless of where you go, so choose the program that speaks to your heart and just take the leap! I promise you won’t regret it.

Shannon Bozman ’20

Florence Center, Fall 2018

Finding my religion in Madrid

Hola! My name is Ariel Hylton and I recently graduated in the Class of 2020 at Syracuse University. I majored in Communication Sciences and Disorders and Spanish and studied abroad in Madrid in the Fall of 2018. I loved every second of abroad! I really wanted to be immersed in the culture and practice speaking and communicating with others in Spanish. I chose Spanish Identities for my seminar and loved exploring Northern Spain and a couple cities in Portugal and France. This seminar was carried out solely in Spanish and I gained so much from it. I also traveled to so many different countries. Being able to learn from locals and their cultures was incredible. But I was still looking for more during my abroad experience.

As a Jewish woman, I was worried about going abroad. I was so used to celebrating the High Holidays with my family, friends and peers in a place I’m very comfortable going to and wasn’t sure if I’d ever find a similar community. However, I discovered KAHAL, an organization providing Jewish students with various Jewish experiences throughout the world.

Being invited into a new community may be scary and worrisome at first, but attending services for various Jewish holidays was the best decision I ever made. I attended services at a local synagogue in Madrid for Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Hanukkah. I met those who were also Jewish students studying abroad in Madrid, locals and individuals passionate about Judaism. In addition, the services were led in English and Spanish. Because I was fluent in Spanish, I was able to communicate with the other congregants and learn from them.

A local family also invited me into their home for a Hanukkah dinner. This was an experience and evening I will never forget. The family provided me with a delightful meal and included me in their own service. I truly felt at home. I remember going back to my host mom’s apartment and telling her how much I enjoyed spending the evening with that family. My parents were also thrilled to hear that I connected with other Jews.

I also loved learning more about what it’s like to practice Judaism in another country, especially in Spain. Toledo, a small city just outside of Madrid, is historically known for their Jewish community. I was able to visit Toledo during my time abroad, see various synagogues and discover how the Jewish people in this city practice Judaism.

My host mom in Madrid was always so willing to talk to me about being Jewish in Madrid and Spain in general. During the days when I left to go to High Holiday services, my host mom showed interest in my religious experiences the moment I walked through the door. I was able to teach her about my religion and she then shared a little about her own. Even though my own parents weren’t there to talk and spend time with me, my host mom always made me feel important as I celebrated these holidays in Madrid.

KAHAL and the experiences this organization provided me with truly enhanced my experience studying abroad in another country and city. I recommend KAHAL to any Jewish student planning on studying abroad. It really made me feel at home even when I was miles and plane rides away from my family and friends in the United States. Whether you’re traveling to Madrid, Paris, Prague, Shanghai or Sydney, KAHAL will connect you to immersive experiences in your local community! Check out KAHAL’s website for more information: https://kahalabroad.org

 

Ariel Hylton ’20

Syracuse Madrid

Adventures in Strasbourg

Eva KBonjour! My name is Eva Kamman and I’m a junior here at Syracuse studying environmental engineering. I studied abroad in the fall of 2018 at the Syracuse Center in Strasbourg, France. I chose this program for two main reasons. The first is that my family is French so being able to live there made me feel much closer to those relatives. In fact, in a weird way, it kind of felt like going home. The second was that I was able to take classes both at the Syracuse Center and at l’Institut national des sciences appliquées de Strasbourg (one of the premier engineering schools in France). Taking classes at INSA allowed me to regularly be in the same building as French engineering students and occasionally work with them. In one class, we had a few lectures where each SU undergraduate was partnered with an INSA graduate student to solve problem sets. While I was abroad, I took statics, electrical engineering fundamentals, calculus III, French IV, and I had an internship for credit.

When I went abroad, I definitely didn’t expect to hold an internship. However, the SU Center has a fantastic program that places interested students into positions around Strasbourg and I felt it was too good of an opportunity to pass up. I was matched with a research professor at INSA and worked with him for a few hours each week in his student office where I was able to collaborate with his other student researchers. My work was focused on standardized precipitation evapotranspiration indexes and developing a method for calculating potential evapotranspiration in different climatic regions around the world. Being able to work with my advisor in a completely different setting than what I am used to was beneficial to both my academic and professional growth. Eva K

Though I’ve talked a lot about my academic experience so far, I am a strong believer that you shouldn’t go abroad just for the academics. Europe’s accessible transportation took me all around the continent – some notable places were Barcelona, Munich (for Oktoberfest!), and Greece. Each trip that I planned with my friends tested our organizational skills a little bit more. After all, I had always relied on my family to plan trips for me. Of course, there were the occasional flight cancellations or AirBnb mess ups, but we were always together and made the best out of whatever situation we were thrown in.

Studying abroad was probably the best decision I have made in my college career so far. I don’t think that I would be as successful either personally, academically, or professionally as I am today had I not taken advantage of the SUAbroad program. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me! Merci beaucoup et bientôt.

 

Eva Kamman ’21

Syracuse Strasbourg