Exploring Engineering in Strasbourg

Bonjour! My name is Emma Crandall. I am majoring in Environmental Engineering and part of the class of 2025. I studied at the Syracuse Center in Strasbourg, France in Fall of 2022 and I am studying abroad at the Syracuse Center in Florence, Italy in Spring of 2023!

I chose to study abroad in these programs because of the classes that they offer Engineering students. These programs make it easy for engineering students to go abroad without missing out on any of the classes they need to take. This is very unique to many other schools. I will go back to the main campus, still on track to graduate. Something that was particularly special about studying in Strasbourg was that I was able to take classes at the National Institute of Applied Science (INSA). I took one of the two classes offered to us there and they were taught in English. I was able to meet so many French students and work alongside them throughout the semester. Additionally, each Syracuse student was paired with a student at INSA and they helped introduce us to the city and the school.

Overall, the Strasbourg program is one of the smaller programs that Syracuse offers but this was an aspect that I enjoyed. Because there were less than 50 of us it was very easy to get to know everyone in the program. Something that strengthened this was the trips that we took all together as a program. We spent a day at a French castle and experiencing the Alsatian culture through food and a wine tasting. We also went to Interlaken, Switzerland and Dijon, France. I had a lot of fun on these trips and it was a great way to get to know the people in my program!

I lived with a host family during my stay in Strasbourg and it was a great way to get to know more about French food, traditions, and language. I had never taken French before going to Strasbourg and living with a host family and taking classes with the INSA students was a great way for me to practice.

During my time in Strasbourg, I did a Community Internship at a local rock climbing gym. I worked behind the desk checking climbers in, serving food and drinks at the bar, and cleaning. This was another great opportunity for me to practice my French! It was an awesome way to experience Strasbourg and if I hadn’t, I never would have learned what a big climbing community there is in Strasbourg and France in general. I was able to use the gyms for free and do something I enjoyed and hadn’t anticipated that I would be able to do abroad. Strasbourg really had a lot of opportunities for everyone to continue their interests and hobbies.

Living in Strasbourg and getting to know the city and navigating it was a highlight of my semester. It is a smaller city and sort of off the beaten track, despite its international importance as a Capital of Europe, so I got to know it well! It was also special to see Strasbourg during the Christmas holidays. The city is well known for its Christmas markets and the city just lit up during the holidays and it was so much fun walking around and exploring the markets.

Travelling is very important to me and I was able to travel to Paris, Munich, Barcelona, Madrid, Lisbon, London, Prague, Rome, and more while I was abroad. It was amazing getting to travel with good friends and family whenever it was possible! Going to all these places was an amazing experience but I truly enjoyed spending my time in Strasbourg. It is a beautiful place with lots of history and fun things to explore.

I learned a lot during my time abroad. It is one of the best ways to broaden your view of the world and gain perspective about the cultures and people around you both at home and in your host country. Classes are still challenging and the transition to living in a new place isn’t always seamless, but as long as you advocate for yourself the staff at the Strasbourg Center are more than willing and able to offer any help that you need. It was a time to work hard and play hard and every second was worth it! I truly think it was one of the most influential experiences of my life and I can’t recommend it enough!

Emma Crandall ‘25

Environmental Engineering

Strasbourg Center

Hola! I’m Jennifer Diaz and as I’m writing this I’m still in Santiago, Chile during the spring 2023 semester! My major is Environment, Sustainability, Policy and Geography and I chose to study abroad during my second year at Syracuse University. I decided to study in Santiago because of the immense amount of geography courses that were offered and, of course, to immerse myself in Latin American culture while improving my Spanish.

As a first generation Bolivian-American student at Syracuse University, I practically jumped at the chance to study abroad in Chile as it is one of the very few programs that are offered and I am honestly so grateful to have put my fears aside to immerse myself in a Latin American culture different from my own.

I’ve always spoken Spanish but I really wanted to improve my Spanish in a more grammatical context as well as speaking more confidently and after more than 5 months, I’ve seen nothing but improvement. I really haven’t ever taken any language classes in high school or college so I have always struggled with reading and writing in Spanish (besides when I text my parents!) but this opportunity to go abroad was a huge learning experience and immensely improved my Spanish in so many ways.

About the program

Currently, we are approaching our finals season at the university that we attend in Chile called Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. My mom was so excited for me to start school here because this is easily one of the best universities in all of South America. One of my favorite classes is Rural Geography because of what I want to do in the future which is to someday give back to countries with poor, rural populations that suffer in an economic, societal, and environmental aspect. In class we went into depth about rural communities in South America which was so interesting and significant to my learning experience in Chile.  

Most classes are at Campus San Joaquin which is an enormous and beautiful campus with so many places just to hang out with friends but also great places to study! I have also found myself at Campus Oriente very often when I would have weekly meetings with one of our program advisors Paula to go over Spanish lessons and honestly just talk to Paula about my week!

One of my favorite things about Santiago is that the program advisors, Mauricio Paredes and Paula, are seriously so kind and very dependable on quite literally everything while studying abroad. They are super dependable and will never make you feel bad about asking for help on whatever it is! During my first month in Chile, I attended Dr. Paredes’ dictatorship class, offered by the program, based on Chilean’s history during Pinochet’s dictatorship which was very enlightening because I never really heard about this until I was in his class and it is a very important part of Chilean culture.

Program Travel

The Santiago program allowed us to visit beautiful places in Chile ranging from all the way in the Northern cities to the Southern tip of the country. With Paula and Mauricio, we have visited Puerto Natales and the Patagonia region, Valparaiso, and San Pedro de Atacama throughout the semester! I can definitely see myself visiting in the future. These are also the places where we spent the most time with the other students in our program and it was very fun sharing these moments together. In addition to this, there are so many places to visit in Chile such as Puerto Varas where my friends and I traveled together to see and walk on a volcano (Volcán Osorno) which is something I never would have seen myself doing. We did lots of hiking during our time in Chile and I also went rafting for the very first time. There are so many nature activities to do in all of the country, my love for nature sparked anywhere I visited in Chile from the infamous desert in San Pedro de Atacama and the waterfalls in Puerto Varas (Saltos de Petrohué).

Apart from traveling within the country, I’ve also enjoyed traveling outside of Chile. The beginning of our program, we arrived in Buenos Aires, Argentina and had a three-week signature seminar there and learned about Argentine history and culture which was very meaningful. At the same time, we had so much time to explore this unique city and taste their delicious food. I felt so grateful to have met people I’ll always keep in contact with even though I was only in Argentina for three weeks. During Holy week at U. Catolica, everybody in our program took advantage of traveling outside of the country since this would take longer than traveling within Chile.

At home in Santiago

In Chile, the program sets us up to live with host families and I think this experience also made my time abroad so much better. Since I’m latina, I really do enjoy eating dinner together and sharing with huge families along with discussing all the chismes (drama) with my host mom! Along with helping me navigate myself around the city, my host family truly showed they cared for me and wanted me to have the best time in Chile. They are always so excited to introduce me to anything within Chilean culture, living with my host family allowed me to truly immerse myself in their culture. I was invited to their grandchild’s first birthday party, I just know I will be in contact with them even after I go back home. They have always made me feel so welcomed into their home, and for that I will always appreciate their kindness during these five and a half months.

There is so much to say about my experience in Chile, so much has happened in the time I’ve been here. I’ve met so many wonderful Chilean people and even other international students at U. Catolica and have made memorable experiences with the people in my program from Syracuse whom I will see again in the fall.

Although I am still in Chile, I’ve already reached the point where I am feeling that I will genuinely miss this country so much and the life that I have lived for five and a half months. In two weeks when I step in the plane back home I will be excited to see my loved ones from the states, however I will also be eternally grateful to have studied and lived in this country. It is something I never expected I would do however I am sure it is one of the experiences that will resonate with me for the rest of my life.

Hi there! My name is Jennie Bull, and I am a rising senior studying Marketing and Retail Management with a concentration in Fashion and Beauty Communications. I am currently abroad in Tokyo, Japan taking language and culture courses. As a business major, interested in the intersection of fashion and emerging technologies, Japan was the perfect option for me. Tokyo is a constant explosion of creativity and innovation, and I am so grateful to be here!

Not only am I taking courses here at Waseda University, I also recently started as an Editorial Intern for the Tokyo-based alternative culture and fashion publication, GATA Magazine. Here, I have been able to expand my interests in digital communications and art direction, under the mentorship of inspiring creatives.

Initially, I was nervous to come to Japan, mostly because I didn’t know Japanese, but also because very few people from Syracuse do this program. However, I couldn’t be happier with my decision. Knowing very few people beforehand, I was forced to step out of my comfort zone; through my university, internship, and experiences, I met so many people from all over the world that have made my abroad journey.

Additionally, even though my language skills were very minimal, I have thoroughly enjoyed learning Japanese and connecting with locals, everyone has been so lovely and helpful, making me feel very welcome in such a foreign environment.

It has truly been an honor to be exposed to the way of life here and witness firsthand the respect and pride that the Japanese public has for their country. The systems put in place are extremely efficient, it almost feels as though I am living in the future! Because of the phenomenal transportation here, I have been lucky enough to travel through various prefectures and explore the rich culture that Japan has to offer.

Beyond the bustling city life, Japan is full of beautiful nature and quaint towns full of personality. I will never forget the people I’ve met, the things I’ve experienced, and the places I’ve been to during my time in Japan, I will cherish these memories forever.

Studying abroad has opened my eyes up to the possibility of working internationally after graduation. I have grown to love exploring different cultures and environments, meeting people from all walks of life. This world has so much to offer, and I never want to limit myself; after living in Japan for 5 months I have garnered such an appreciation for the little things, the things that make us uniquely human.

I have learned so much about myself and have witnessed immense growth not just internally, but in the ways that I present myself as a global citizen. My time here has given me a whole new perspective on life, and I can’t wait to see where the next phase of this journey takes me!

Jennie Bull ’24

Marketing & Retail Management

Waseda University Spring 2023

Hello, my name is Callie Amill! I’m a rising senior at Syracuse University graduating in May of 2024, studying marketing and political science. I’m from Ridgefield, CT and studied abroad in
Madrid, Spain during the Spring 2023 semester.

My passion for the Spanish language and culture began when I started learning Spanish at ten years old, and I quickly realized that I wanted to incorporate a study abroad in Spain into my academic pursuits. With my heritage stemming from Barcelona and my grandfather’s prideful stories of Spain passed down through the generations, I felt a deep connection to the country.

My experience is unique in that prior to my study abroad experience, I had never left the United States. I didn’t know what to expect, but was excited for the challenges and eye opening experiences I knew were to come. I enrolled in the Spring 2023 program and signed up for the Marine Ecology Signature Seminar. I have always had a passion for aquatic life and environmental sustainability, and had the goal to get my scuba diving license, a great benefit offered within this program.

Throughout this special seminar I made new friends, learned about the impacts of climate change on immigration and migration specific to Northern Africa and the Mediterranean, and was able to swim among the fish at 40 m below sea level. This unique opportunity opened a new door for me in a newfound passion for deep sea diving, which I can only explain as truly serene and thoroughly impactful. You come to understand your role as a human being in navigating a perspective as but a small dot among the unexplored ocean, and yet a real threat to the organisms which inhabit it through overfishing and waste accumulation. I hope to pursue my passions in future dives off of Greece and in the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.

Following the signature seminar, I returned to Syracuse Madrid for the rest of the spring semester. I lived in a co-ed apartment homestay with my best friend and two host parents. Coming into this program, I had conversational abilities with Spanish but had not practiced in nearly a year. Through translating between my roommate (who spoke only English and Korean) and host parents (who spoke Spanish), I was able to greatly increase my fluency and come home practically fluent! This was a goal of mine and one I am proud to have achieved after spending four months in Madrid.

One part of my homestay experience that I had not expected was the deep cultural difference between living in the United States and abroad. This included hanging laundry to dry outside, a sharp 8 pm sit-down dinner, short showers to accommodate for the water crisis, and no ice in drinks. While new and exciting, I did come home thankful for my iced coffees and dryer, but that’s all a part of getting the whole experience and realizing the privileges of the western world.

Over the course of the semester, my friends and I were able to visit so many countries and cities. Some of my favorite memories are of skiing in the Swiss Alps, coming face to face with the Pope in the Vatican City, experiencing St. Patrick’s Day in Dublin, and enjoying the pebble beach of Nice. Study abroad has impacted my future in helping me to realize my love for travel and expanding my global experiences. In the future, I plan to live in another country and to invest in my passion for scuba diving as well as my love for languages.

My biggest piece of advice is to be open to new people and to book your trips ahead of time to save money! Consider what you are looking to spend, if you prefer to be active or more relaxed, and to what degree you prioritize certain activities. Put yourself first and realize that you don’t need to be friends with everyone or go on trips with all of the same people. Give yourself the room to have experiences that could be uncomfortable and help you to grow, step out of your bubble!

Callie Amill ’24

Marketing & Political Science

Syracuse Madrid

Tell me about yourself…Why did you choose to major in Sport Management?

My name is Sebastian and I’m from New York City. I’ve grown up watching and loving sports and it only made sense to pursue a career in sports. As a sport management major studying abroad in Strasbourg, it was amazing to experience the sports industry in a foreign country. I feel like I gained a lot of amazing experience in something that I would never be able to do in the US.

Why did you choose to study in Strasbourg?

I chose to study abroad in Strasbourg because I am half French, I’m a dual citizen and I wanted to experience living in France to see if it’s somewhere I might want to live after college.

What was your internship experience like?

In Strasbourg, I did an internship with the Sporting Club de Schiltigheim which is a small soccer team in the north of Strasbourg. However, I was placed with the “Cécifoot” which is blind soccer. I spent a lot of time planning for the big tournament at the end of June. I got to meet some extraordinary people with some amazing stories. Their athletic ability, despite losing their sense of sight, is incredible. Coming to Strasbourg has allowed me to learn so much not just about France and what it’s like to live here, but about a whole new sport.

Did you face any challenges living in Strasbourg?

At the start it was a difficult adjustment to make. I’d spoken French at home, but I have almost no experience writing French. That was something I struggled with towards the start, but I could feel myself getting more comfortable with it as the internship went on.

What was your most rewarding experience abroad?

The most rewarding experience was seeing our hard work come together for the event. Working with the Sporting Club de Schiltigheim Cecifoot (Blind Soccer), we were preparing for the World Grand Prix France 2023, a preparatory tournament for the Paralympic Games next year. For many weeks we worked hard at planning the event, organizing hotels, documents, flyers, game programs, tickets, credentials, etc. It was very rewarding to see it all come together when the tournament started.

What surprised you about Sport Management through your international internship experience?

What surprised me the most was the way this organization was run compared to organizations in the US. Everyone knows their role and does a very good job at doing what they need to do. There are no set hours to be in the office (Unless there’s an event), everyone comes and goes as they please. I felt like it was a much healthier work environment than a typical 9-5. Sometimes I’d come in for just an hour or two, and other days I’d be there for 12 hours – it just depended on the day. That pleasantly surprised me about the sport organization in Strasbourg.

Sebastian Delangle ’24

Strasbourg Center, spring 2023

Falk College

My name is Olivia Porrill, and I am a fourth-year architecture student. As an architecture student, you get the opportunity to go abroad for two semesters in two different locations. I knew before even coming to Syracuse University that I wanted the experience of going abroad, and so I knew that I definitely wanted to go abroad for both of those semesters. In the Spring of 2022, I was at the Florence Center, and then in the Fall of 2022 I was at the London Center. Each semester was totally unique and extremely fun. Going abroad was the most memorable experience of my time as a student so far, and I am looking forward to sharing the joy of my time abroad with other students.

Going to Florence was frightening at first, as I was very worried about the language barrier and generally being immersed in a totally different culture. However, making the decision to live with a host family made this fear more manageable. Living with a host family was my favorite part of my time abroad in Florence—I could not have asked for a more kind and welcoming family. My host mother, Mimma, would prepare home-cooked three course meals every night of the week that I always looked forward to coming home to. Living in a host family was also a great time to practice my Italian. Before coming to Florence, I did not know any Italian; but after a semester of taking Italian classes and speaking with my host family, I was very surprised at how fast I began to pick it up! I also worked an internship during my time in Florence, which was an amazing way to see architectural practice from a perspective that was not purely American. On top of all of that, my classes were amazing, and I got to go on exciting field trips with excellent professors, as well as plan some trips with just my friends.

After going to Florence, I was not as nervous about going to London – mainly because I had the relief of knowing that I knew the language. However, my experience in London was equally amazing as it was unique. I took full advantage of how cheap West End show tickets are compared to Broadway tickets (15 – 40 pounds!) and got to see several amazing theatrical productions such as Cabaret, Mathilda, Hamilton, A Christmas Carol, Moulin Rouge, and much more. The access to arts and culture was amazing, nearly every museum is free! I also got familiarized with public transportation, and generally the experience of living in a big city. The tube did confuse me at first, but I got the hang of it a lot quicker than I thought I would. The Syracuse London Center is amazing, they are always offering free tickets to shows and other experiences and being supportive in every way possible. My professors were also incredible, and I got to go on architecture field trips throughout London, and even to cities outside of the United Kingdom such as Paris, Berlin, and Vienna. Overall, it was an incredible and empowering experience, and I was very sad to get on the plane back home.

I am very grateful for my time abroad, and it has inspired me to look for more opportunities to spend time abroad in the future. Through studying abroad, I have become a much more confident and independent person. It has also affected the way that I view architecture; being able to see architecture in a European perspective has been incredibly insightful for me and motivates me to continue looking to other places in terms of architectural education and practice. I think that everyone can gain something from going abroad, and I hope to encourage other students to take the opportunity.

My name is Laura Kenneway, a sophomore at Syracuse University, and I recently attended the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia in fall 2022! I am majoring in Forensic Psychology here at Syracuse with my graduation year being 2025. Choosing to go abroad was one of the best experiences I have ever had.

Being only a sophomore, I realized that many people thought you could not go that early in your college career, but you can go whenever suits you! I knew I wanted to study abroad in Australia for about eight years now, so honestly I wanted to get out there as soon as possible. I am happy to talk to fellow students about Australia or World Partner Programs in general! I know a lot of the abroad students choose Syracuse Programs at the satellite campuses but there are plenty of other places to travel as well. I can talk specifically about homesickness, traveling alone, researching, or just about my experience abroad!

This program was a World Partner Program, so rather than going with a group of Syracuse students, it is more independent and you go to a separate university in the country you wish to study. I traveled 10,000 miles across the world not knowing one person. That may seem very daunting to some, but these universities do so much to help their foreign students. For example, mine has a group called Quest which was a club for all of the study abroad students at the university. This club allowed us to go on overnight trips, attend fun restaurants, and so much more so we could become comfortable and get to know each other. I was able to meet incredible people from all over the world. Some of my best friends now happen to be from Argentina, Mexico, Chile, Australia, Germany, and France. That is why I recommend the World Partner programs so much- they allow you to meet people from all over the world and experience new
things on your own.

Every place was so accommodating and helpful when I had questions, and this brings me to some things that I believe everyone should do before going abroad. Research, research, research the country you are going to. For Australia, I had to get a certain student visa and overseas healthcare insurance. You want your experience getting there to be as smooth as possible and having all the information sorted months in advance will do that. And if you were to travel to different countries while abroad, like me, look into their requirements as well.

As I mentioned, this experience has changed my life. I am planning to take extra courses here at Syracuse to graduate a year early so I can go back to the University of Queensland to continue my schooling in a masters program and potentially move there permanently. It truly felt like the right place for me and if I did not travel abroad, I would have never known that. So my advice is to just go for it. Travel out of your comfort zone because there is so much of the world that is meant to be explored and experienced.

Laura Kenneway ’25

Forensic Psychology

University of Queensland

Hello, bonjour and hallo! I am Daniel Morozov, a biochemistry major of the class of 2026. In the fall semester of 2022, I participated in the Discovery Strasbourg program, which was an absolutely amazing experience!

As a Discovery student, I had three choices of where to study abroad: Madrid, Florence and Strasbourg. I had previously been to both Florence and Madrid, so my choice of studying in France was based on my desire to try a new experience – which is what studying abroad is all about. Though I speak two languages fluently and have studied Spanish and Latin for five and three years respectively, I knew nothing in French except one phrase that I learned on Duolingo: “je suis le cheval.”

And that’s the thing; you do not need to know a language to study abroad in most of Syracuse’s centers – as I learned. The language courses provided there are immersive in the local culture, so learning is both easier and more interesting. And while on the topic of the Syracuse Strasbourg Center, I loved every aspect about it.

The best part about the Center is its size, when I was there we had less than 40 students, some not even from Syracuse! This small size made classes more enjoyable as we were able to get closer with the professors and work together rather than simply being lectured (no offense, main campus). Additionally, the Center had a plethora of fascinating events and trips planned for us that facilitated meeting new people. Whether we travelled to local Alsatian villages, Paris, Germany or Switzerland, each trip was a highlight of my time abroad.

You also get the opportunity to travel by yourself or with friends (both are different and interesting in their own rights). Personally, I enjoyed traveling by myself the most when I went to Germany twice – once to a small village in the middle of nowhere and the second time to Berlin and the Baltic Sea where I met up with my family.

One final (of many) aspect of what made studying abroad so memorable was the living situation with a host family. I lived by myself with my host mom, and I took the semester to learn about her, her family and friends, and the culture by which I was surrounded. She, along with her family, helped and encouraged me to try new things and learn the French language. This, I am sure, is consistent among the other host families and makes the semester abroad truly amazing!

Daniel Morozov ’26

Biochemistry

Discovery Strasbourg