Name: Yuelin Wang ’25
Major: Architecture
Semester Abroad: Spring 2023
What advice would you give to a student studying abroad? Always be curious and always be ready to experience new things. The outside world is very different from the “world” within the US boundary. Try to blend in with the locals to get a different perspective from the tourist point of view. Enjoy London if you are going there because London is an infinite city.
Contact: ywang21@syr.edu
Topics I’m comfortable discussing: Race & Ethnicity, Cultural Immersion, First time abroad, Meeting locals, Preparing for departure
Name: Elena Cooper ‘25
Major: International Relations and Psychology
Semester abroad: Fall 2023 (Summer 2023: Middle East Policy and Security Studies)
What was your most valuable experience abroad? My most valuable experience in London was invariably my trip to Lockerbie, Scotland to discuss the tragedy of the 1988 Pan Am Flight 103 bombing with some of its victims and their families. I have never experienced a more beautiful moment of connection and grief than I did that weekend, and I have never felt prouder to be a Syracuse student. We are forever tied to the families of Lockerbie, and I was honored to hear their stories firsthand and to give them reassurance that we were not allowing the event to be forgotten. It is so important to connect with locals wherever you go abroad; however, I feel particularly blessed to have shared in commemoration and in mourning with such incredible people. Not every moment abroad must be happy to be beautiful, and that weekend certainly was.
Contact: ecoope04@syr.edu
Topics I’m comfortable discussing: Staying in touch with friends & family, Allergies & dietary needs, Cultural Immersion, Culture shock / Homesickness, Financing study away, First time abroad, Fitting study abroad into your home campus experience, Health, safety, and support, LGBTQ+, Meeting locals, Preparing for departure, Selecting a program option
Name: Micaiah John ’25
Major: Acting Major, Disability Studies Minor
Semester abroad: Fall 2023
What advice would you give to a student studying abroad? Get to know the staff and faculty at your Syracuse center! They welcome new students to these countries every semester and have the tools and resources to help you through every part of your semester. If you do the London semester GO ON EVERY TRIP! If you are worried about travel around the UK and Europe, going on trips organized by Syracuse London is a great way to do that in a low-stakes environment. Also, PLEASE take time for rest and reflection throughout your time abroad. It gets busy!
Contact: mijohn@syr.edu
Topics I’m comfortable discussing: Staying in touch with friends & family, Cultural Immersion, Culture shock / Homesickness, Disability resources, Financing study away, First time abroad, Fitting study abroad into your home campus experience, LGBTQ+, Race & Ethnicity
Name: Dani Saril ’25
Major: Musical Theater, Minor: Public Communications
Semester abroad: Fall 2023
What was your most unforgettable experience abroad? My time in London was truly transformative, but the pinnacle of this experience was performing on the incredible stage that is Shakespeare’s Globe. During my time abroad, I was delved into the exploration of my voice, movement, and use of text. Throughout the semester, we prepared a shortened version of Shakespeare’s ‘As You Like It’. Our work drew inspiration from the lessons and activities we explored in class together as an ensemble. When the day of the showcase came around, I felt more prepared than ever to navigate the unique stage using the efforts I had prepared, and comfortable commanding space in front of an audience. Studying at The Globe was the opportunity of a lifetime, and I’ll cherish it for the rest of my life.
Contact: dfsaril@syr.edu
Topics I’m comfortable discussing: Staying in touch with friends & family, Culture shock / Homesickness, First time abroad, Fitting study abroad into your home campus experience, Preparing for departure, Selecting a program option
Name: Alex Shaffer ’25
Major: Sociology, minors in Psychology, Political Science and Women and Gender Studies
Semester abroad: Fall 2023
What advice would you give to a student studying abroad? I would tell a student to not worry as much as they are, and to expect the unexpected. Also, to just do it, do not think too much about plans if you have an idea just do it. I would also give monetary tips such as looking into a railcard and membership cards for stores in the UK to save as much money as possible.
Contact: arshaffe@syr.edu
Topics I’m comfortable discussing: LGBTQ+, Allergies & dietary needs, Culture shock / Homesickness, Disability resources, Financing study away, First time abroad, Health, safety, and support
Name: Gillian Stoltz ’25
Major: Musical Theatre
Semester abroad: Fall 2023
What was your most unforgettable experience abroad? Performing onstage at Shakespeare’s Globe — This was a dream of mine since I had first heard about Syracuse’s Abroad program in Drama and was a big part of why I chose Syracuse! Shakespeare’s Globe is one of the most well-known and sacred theatre spaces to actors everywhere, and to be able to see theatre there, learn from its actors, and finish with performing on the stage itself is a memory I will cherish for the rest of my life.
Contact: gestoltz@syr.edu
Topics I’m comfortable discussing: Staying in touch with friends & family, Allergies & dietary needs, Cultural Immersion, Culture shock / Homesickness, Disability resources, First time abroad, Health, safety, and support, Preparing for departure, Selecting a program option
Name: Yilin Zhong ’25
Major: Architecture
Semester abroad: Fall 2023
What was your most unforgettable experience abroad? There were so many wonderful experiences I had in the UK. In the architecture school’s trip to Scotland, I saw the Edinburgh old town. In my own trip to Seven sister Cliff, I saw the shinning white cliff covered in waving green fields. In London, so many art institutions and museums are free to visit and have fantastic Friday Late events, while those flee markets like the Jubilee market or Portobello market full with vintages and strange but delicate goods. Among all these experience, the most valuable for me were those field trips I had in history class & survey class. Instead of sitting inside a classroom, in London, students have chances to see the history of London in their own eyes. I really enjoyed seeing the ancient Roman wall remains surrounded by Brutalism concrete High rises in Barbican, or wandering around the Chiswick Garden.
Contact: yizhong@syr.edu
Topics I’m comfortable discussing: Selecting a program option, Adjusting to a foreign language, Cultural Immersion, Culture shock / Homesickness, First time abroad, Health, safety, and support, Preparing for departure, Race & Ethnicity
Name: Ella Brink ’25
Major: Computer Science
Semester abroad: Spring 2024
What was your most unforgettable experience abroad? Apply for the internship program!! genuinely the best part of my abroad experience. My internship was so special because I felt so immersed in London. Being able to feel valued in a professional space and actively contribute to making positive change in a field I care about was second to none; I learned so much about London work culture and really reinvented my personal
Contact: embrink@syr.edu
Topics I’m comfortable discussing: Staying in touch with friends & family, Cultural Immersion, Culture shock / Homesickness, Financing study away, Fitting study abroad into your home campus experience, Health, safety, and support, Meeting locals, Preparing for departure, Religious life, Selecting a program option
Name: Margaret Brown ’26
Major: Management and Public Relations
Semester Abroad: Spring 2024
What was your most memorable experience abroad? Undoubtedly, the most valuable aspect of my study abroad experience was the opportunity to accomplish so much and witness the richness of European cultures firsthand. Syracuse University’s dedication to providing such comprehensive programming enabled me to make the most of my time abroad and fostered a lifelong appreciation for global perspectives. It’s an experience I will always cherish and one that has undoubtedly shaped me into a more culturally aware and globally minded individual.
Contact: mbrown65@syr.edu
Topics I’m comfortable discussing: Staying in touch with friends & family, Allergies & dietary needs, Cultural Immersion, Culture shock / Homesickness
Financing study away, First time abroad, Fitting study abroad into your home campus experience, Health, safety, and support, LGBTQ+, Meeting locals, Preparing for departure, Race & Ethnicity, Religious life, Selecting a program option
Name: Yida Li ’26
Major: Architecture
Semester Abroad: Spring 2024
What was your most memorable experience abroad? The “Sustainability on Trial: Environmental Justice in Northern Europe” seminar was the starting point of my SU London journey. The seminar explores the concepts of sustainability and environmental justice within the vibrant and ecologically diverse landscapes of Scandinavia. Through intensive field studies and academic reflections, students delve into the dynamic interplay between human activities and natural systems, guided by Dr. Rebecca L. Farnum, a renowned environmental activist-academic. I consider this adventure into Earth’s very northern territories a life-changing experience. Deep within the Arctic Circle in Finnish Lapland, we woke up in the eternal twilight of the arctic night and traversed the seemingly ever-frozen tundra as we learn the lifestyle of the indigenous Sámi people. From reindeer herding, ice fishing, aurora hunting, to learning from the Sámi Council about the injustice the indigenous people faced, I was deeply inspired by the beauty and sublime of nature, as well as the resilience of the Sámi community that allowed them to thrive in the seemingly extraterrestrial land of the Arctic.
Contact: yli279@syr.edu
Topics I’m comfortable discussing: Staying in touch with friends & family, Adjusting to a foreign language, Cultural Immersion, Fitting study abroad into your home campus experience, Meeting locals, Preparing for departure, Race & Ethnicity
Name: Joshua Spodek ’25
Major: History, Social Studies Education
Semester Abroad: Spring 2024
What was your most memorable experience abroad? My most valuable experience while abroad in London was my weekly volunteer shift at Refettorio Felix, a community center that provides a 3-course lunch service Monday through Friday. Going into the semester, I knew that I wanted to volunteer regularly because I would not be taking any education courses in London, meaning that if I did not volunteer, it would be difficult for me to have experiences working with people while abroad. Fortunately, SU London’s Internship Director, Charlie Loynes, connected me to Refettorio Felix through SU’s extensive alumni network. And, unlike other service organizations I have volunteered with in the past, Refettorio Felix employs a unique approach to helping the local community.
Contact: jsspodek@syr.edu
Topics I’m comfortable discussing: Staying in touch with friends & family, Cultural Immersion, Culture shock / Homesickness, Financing study away, First time abroad, Fitting study abroad into your home campus experience, Meeting locals, Preparing for departure, Religious life, Selecting a program option