News

Hi! My name is Emily, and I’m a member of the class of 2024 at Colgate University. I studied abroad at Syracuse University’s spring 2023 and summer 2023 programs in Strasbourg, France! I chose this program because I’ve been studying French since I was nine years old; it’s been a lifelong goal of mine to become fluent, and what better way to achieve that than by living in France for six months?

During my spring semester in Strasbourg, I took international relations classes at the SU Center, as well as classes in a variety of subjects at a local French university. Half of my classes were in French, and the other half were in English, which certainly posed some challenges at the beginning of the semester, but I’m incredibly glad I did because it helped my French listening comprehension and writing skills tremendously.

My favorite class of the semester was HOA 350/FRE 439: Art in France from Impressionism to Surrealism. At the end of the semester, we took a weekend field trip to Paris to see these works that we had studied during our class, which brought the artwork alive in ways I never would have expected. I also participated in a community internship at a local French elementary/middle school each week.

During the summer, I was enrolled in FRE 350: French for Diplomacy at the SU Center, as well as participated in two community internships. One was at a nonprofit that helps integrate political and climate refugees into the EU community, and I also continued my spring semester internship at the same local school.

Education was a career path I’ve been waffling with for a couple years on and off, so I was very excited to have the opportunity to have consistent teaching practice. Seeing my students was the highlight of my week every single week, and because of my community internship, I’m very much interested in teaching a foreign language after I graduate in May 2024!

Whether you’re a Syracuse student or visiting, the SU Center staff was incredibly welcoming and a great resource to help you get settled in Strasbourg! Coming in as a visiting student, I was intimidated by the fact that most of the students were from Syracuse; these worries quickly disappeared when I met everyone on the first day. Everyone was so kind and friendly, and I still talk to my friends from both the spring and summer programs.

Strasbourg has two primary housing options, living at a student residence and living in a homestay with a French family. Most people in Strasbourg do homestays, and it makes for some really unique experiences! The homestay option was the right fit for me, as it helped advance my day-to-day conversational skills tremendously, as well as provide a source of additional community and comfort when I was feeling homesick.

I attended all of the Center-sponsored travel throughout the spring, and I also did a lot of weekend trips during my time in France to other nearby countries. I have some friends who preferred to fully immerse themselves in French culture by only traveling within the country, but I had a blast exploring other cultures! Some of my most memorable trips were to Budapest, Hungary; Porto, Portugal; and to Krakow, Poland.

If you’re on the fence about if study abroad is right for you, my advice would be to do it! I learned so much about myself academically, professionally, and personally in ways that I wouldn’t have been able to otherwise while on campus in upstate New York, and it was an incredibly eye-opening experience from start to finish.

Emily Balog ’24

Colgate University

Syracuse Strasbourg, spring and summer 2023

Hi everyone! My name is Sophie Creager-Roberts and I am double majoring in Environment, Sustainability, & Policy and History. In the fall of 2021 I studied abroad in Poland through Syracuse’s Exploring Central Europe program. We explored themes based around identity, history, and politics in the context of Central Europe with particular emphasis on the 20th century. I was drawn to this program because it offered the unique opportunity to gain a truly comprehensive understanding of a country’s past and contemporary influences of its history.

Our professors taught a variety of uniquely interesting and engaging subjects such as Polish language, Central European history, and Polish culture through film. Additionally, I was able to pursue my interest in environmental justice through participating virtually in a course offered at Syracuse’s London Center called “Climates of Resistance.” Intersecting my two experiences, I was able to explore both passions through the ethnographic research projects we produced and published on Urban Labs (http://urbanlabsce.eu). 

What exceeded my initial expectations was our two-week signature seminar and weekend trips which took us to each region and major city of the country. Our journey took us to Gdańsk, Lublin, Kraków, Warsaw, and Berlin (a visit beyond Poland) in addition to excursions to smaller towns in Poland’s countryside where we were hosted by foundations engaged in peacebuilding and reconciliation. These trips bonded our cohort as we collectively navigated rich new spaces while also reckoning with atrocities committed in the same places.

The staff that organized and taught this program were always available to answer questions not only related to academics but were also genuinely invested in our well being. Almost half of our program ate a plant-based diet and our directors went to great lengths so that we could still experience the local cuisine despite our dietary restrictions which was a worry I had pre-departure.

Our phenomenal staff member, Anita, relayed information about activities and cultural events going on within Wrocław (vegan food festivals, museum exhibitions, comedy nights) which helped us become acquainted with the city as a whole. One of my favorite memories was when she had our cohort over to her apartment and taught us how to make pierogi from scratch.

During my three-months in Poland I took my first solo-travel trip, met incredible people from across the world, and gained invaluable knowledge about myself and Central European history. This program is unique in both the academic and personal growth it encourages, and I would recommend it to anyone interested in pursuing either!

Sophie Creager-Roberts ’24

Environment, Sustainability, & Policy and History

Exploring Central Europe: Wrocław, Poland; fall 2021

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