Name: Amanda Chau ’22
Major: Sociology and Psychology
Semester Abroad: Spring 2020
What would you say to someone undecided about going abroad? One of the best things about going abroad is being able to learn a new language while immersing yourself into the culture of the actual country itself. “To learn a new language is just to open a door in a new world”. Learning a new language in its host country gives you so many opportunities to easily learn it and practice it. You would be able to talk to so many more people in the world. Also, by going abroad, you have the opportunity to travel to other countries over the weekends and breaks. This gives you more chances to keep expanding your horizons and travel to more places. To be able to see all of these amazing places that you usually just see from pictures and TV is whole different experience. You would be able to say that you’ve been there and you’ve done that. I think that is one of the best parts of traveling.
Contact: amchau@syr.edu
Topics I’m comfortable discussing: Staying in touch with friends & family, Cultural Immersion, Culture shock / Homesickness, First time abroad, Fitting study abroad into your home campus experience, Health, safety, and support, Living with a host family, Preparing for departure, Selecting a program option
Name: John Mazza ’22
Major: Civil Engineering
Semester Abroad: Spring 2020
What did you learn while abroad? One thing that I wish I knew before studying abroad was how different my classes were going to be taught. As an engineer my classes have always been taught in a very specific way and were very math-oriented which was not the case in Italy. While I was in Italy my classes were much more conceptual and did not have too many calculations involved. This took me a little bit of time to get used to and it was not something that I was expecting. After spending time in these classes I realize that it made me a stronger engineering student because I was introduced to a new style of teaching that a majority of engineers do not experience. I wish I would have know that this was the case before I went abroad so that I could have prepared myself more because preparation was a bog part of my pre-departure routine.
Contact: jmmazza@syr.edu
Topics I’m comfortable discussing: Staying in touch with friends & family, Adjusting to a foreign language, Cultural Immersion, Financing study away, Fitting study abroad into your home campus experience, Living with a host family, Meeting locals, Preparing for departure, Religious life, Selecting a program option
Name: Allyson Greenberg ’22
Major: Environmental Engineering; Environment Sustainability and Policy
Semester Abroad: Spring 2020
What would you say to someone undecided about going abroad? I would tell that student that any experience they may be afraid to miss on campus is incomparable to the many memories and opportunities they may experience during a semester abroad. Not only is it fun to explore another country and their culture, but it is a time of self growth and reflection. If going abroad seems to be far out of your comfort zone, know that all SUAbroad staff, both on campus and in your host country, are more than willing to help you with anything and ultimately expand your comfort zone.
Contact: agreen22@syr.edu
Topics I’m comfortable discussing: Staying in touch with family and friends, Financing study away, First time abroad, Fitting study abroad into your home campus experience, Living with a host family, Meeting locals, Adjusting to a foreign language, Allergies and dietary needs, Cultural immersion
Name: Amreeta Verma ’23
Major: Architecture
Semester Abroad: Fall 2021
What was your most valuable experience in your host country? The architecture program took a weekend survey trip to Venice and visited The Architecture Biennale. It was an exhilarating experience, being fully immersed in art and architecture from around the world. I got to see research and designs from so many cross-disciplinary fields, several of which aligned with and inspired some of my own personal research. Being in a design environment surrounded by other creatives was a great experience for exchanging ideas and networking as well.
Contact: amverma@syr.edu
Topics I’m comfortable discussing: Staying in touch with friends & family, Allergies & dietary needs, Culture shock / Homesickness, First time abroad, Race & Ethnicity
Name: Mary Fitzgerald ’23
Major: Inclusive elementary and special education
Semester Abroad: Fall 2021
What do you wish you had known before going abroad? I wish I had known more about the adjustment to a new culture and language. The social customs and expectations of Italy are very different from the US and while I knew some of them, I wish I would have had more information about specific cultural differences. I also wish I had known that while there would be hard moments where I missed my friends and family, it would still be worth it.
Contact: mefitzge@syr.edu
Topics I’m comfortable discussing: Staying in touch with friends & family, Adjusting to a foreign language, Cultural Immersion, Culture shock / Homesickness, First time abroad, Fitting study abroad into your home campus experience, LGBTQ+, Preparing for departure, Selecting a program option