Asia
Name: Nathan Czarnecki ’26
Major: Computer Engineering
Semester Abroad: Spring 2024
Program: Kansai Gaidai University
What would you say to a student undecided about studying abroad? Try everything in your power to be able to study abroad. There was never one moment where I regretted going abroad and I can confidently say it was the best time of my life. It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that no one should let pass. It helped me become a more independent person and allowed me to be immersed in a different culture which I couldn’t have experienced without going abroad. My most unforgettable moments were experiencing Sakura season, seeing Mount Fuji, and traveling to Okinawa.
Contact: njczarne@syr.edu
Topics I’m comfortable discussing: Staying in touch with friends & family, Adjusting to a foreign language, Allergies & dietary needs, Cultural Immersion, Culture shock /, Homesickness, First time abroad, Fitting study abroad into your home campus experience,, Health, safety, and support, Meeting locals, Preparing for departure, Selecting a program option
Australia and New Zealand
Name: Laura Kenneway ’25
Major: Forensic Psychology
Semester Abroad: Fall 2022
Program: University of Queensland
What would you say to a student undecided about studying abroad? I would say even if you are on the fence about doing it, please go for it. It may be scary leaving everything familiar behind but the experience you will take away is unbelievable. I was able to travel, meet new people, and learn new customs that I would have never known were out there if I did not jump on this amazing opportunity I had.
Contact: llkennew@syr.edu
Topics I’m comfortable discussing: Staying in touch with friends & family, Culture shock / Homesickness, First time abroad, Preparing for departure, Selecting a program option
Name: Tess Ayres ‘25
Major: Health and Exercise Science
Semester abroad: Spring 2023
Program: University of Sydney
What advice would you give to a student studying abroad? For the more serious stuff I would advise them to find times, days, and specific locations to commit to studying. It can be hard to balance it all while abroad and your studies should be the most important thing, it’s why you are there. I would advise students who are going abroad to reach out to other SU students, if possible, who are doing the same program ahead of time. I did this and although my main friends abroad were not SU students for the most part, having reached out to them ahead of time enabled me to quickly find people to explore the new city with.
Contact: toayres@syr.edu
Topics I’m comfortable discussing: Staying in touch with friends & family, First time abroad, Health, safety, and support, Preparing for departure, Selecting a program option
Name: Brady Arruda ’25
Major: Aerospace Engineering
Semester abroad: Fall 2023
Program: University of New South Wales
What would you say to a student undecided about going abroad? College is the perfect time to throw yourself into the unknown and explore another country/region of the world while continuing towards your academic goals. You’ll never know what’s out there until you go find out for yourself. Your world view will be vastly expanded.
Contact: bjarruda@syr.edu
Topics I’m comfortable discussing: Selecting a program option, Fitting study abroad into your home campus experience, Meeting locals, Preparing for departure
Name: Alexandria Fabrizi ’25
Major: Human Development and Family Science; Public Health minor
Semester abroad: Spring 2024
Program: University of Sydney
What was your most valuable experience abroad? Within my time in Australia, there have been so many truly valuable and unforgettable moments. From witnessing the beauty of such surreal landscapes, to forming new friendships with individuals from across the world, and engaging within a new learning environment, I have had so many amazing experiences. One of my most valuable experiences during this time has been spending a day with local youth in foster care on my campus. Through one of my courses here at the University of Sydney, I was given the opportunity to engage with local high school students, within the foster care system here in Australia, and show them around my campus as well as give them guidance on future options after high school. This experience allowed me to experience my passion of working with youth while abroad, as well as learn more about the culture and society of Australia.
Contact: arfabriz@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, Health, safety, and support, Meeting locals, Preparing for departure, Selecting a program option
Name: Allison Labick ’25
Major: Neuroscience & Health and Exercise Science
Semester abroad: Spring 2024
Program: University of Queensland
What advice would you give to a student studying abroad? The best advice I’d give to any student going abroad would be to take advantage of any and all opportunities available. Studying abroad provides a once in a lifetime experience, where you have a huge amount of freedom and independence, as well as being surrounded by many like minded individuals of varying cultures and backgrounds, all while being immersed in a completely different environment and culture. Even grabbing a bite to eat can be a completely new experience, so the best thing to do is step out of your comfort zone and be open to anything that may cross your path, whether it be traveling, taking up new hobbies and trying new activities native to the country you’re in.
Contact: allabick@syr.edu
Topics I’m comfortable discussing: Staying in touch with friends & family, Culture shock / Homesickness, Disability resources, First time abroad, Health, safety, and support, LGBTQ+, Meeting locals, Preparing for departure, Selecting a program option
Name: Cidney McMahon ’25
Major: Earth Sciences and Philosophy
Semester abroad: Spring 2024
Program: Frontiers Abroad: The Geology of New Zealand
What advice would you give to a student studying abroad? Being an African American woman, my advice for anyone but especially students of color is that you should try to do as much as research as possible about the location you are choosing to study in. I think it is very important to understand the culture to an extent before you get there. I chose a host country that is located in the southern hemisphere which means we had opposite weather and have much longer semesters which is something I feel a student should understand before traveling as well. I also think looking at the diversity demographics would be something that should be done to get a true understanding of your location. I personally think planning your travel and vacation breaks is extremely important with the new time you have to explore your location.
Contact: cbmcmaho@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, Health, safety, and support, Meeting locals, Preparing for departure, Race & Ethnicity, Religious life, Selecting a program option
Europe
Name: Janna Vanvranken ‘25
Major: Television, Radio and Film; Mindfulness and Contemplative studies minor
Semester abroad: Spring 2023
Program: Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences
What was your most memorable experience abroad? Learning in a Dutch classroom, it was a totally different setting and way of learning. Dutch are very life>work compared to America which was a hard adjustment for me. The classrooms were much more personal and required you to be present and active.
Contact: jlvanvra@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, Health, safety, and support, LGBTQ+, Preparing for departure, Selecting a program option
Name: Carly Ward ’24 G’25
Major: Bioengineering, Environment and Society minor
Semester Abroad: Spring 2022
Program: University College Dublin
What would you say to a student undecided about studying abroad? I was incredibly nervous going to a new country where I knew no one in my program, but I was open and met some of best friends in Ireland. There will be more semesters at Syracuse, but going abroad is a once in a lifetime experience (for most people) that changed my life and gave me a new perspective on the world and college.
Contact: cward05@syr.edu
Topics I’m comfortable discussing: Staying in touch with friends & family, Allergies & dietary needs, Cultural Immersion, Culture shock / Homesickness, 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: Evelyn Kelley ’25
Major: Television, Radio, and Film
Semester abroad: Fall 2023
Program: DIS Copenhagen
What was your best experience abroad? My most valuable experience in Copenhagen was growing comfortable with public transportation and biking. Growing up in a small, suburban town far from a city, I had absolutely no experience with public transportation. I knew how to bike but had never used it as a mode of transport for everyday activities. At first, navigating busses and metro systems was daunting and overwhelming, but I knew it was the most efficient way to get around, so before I knew it, it was second-nature to use public transportation.
Contact: ehkelley@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, Meeting locals, Preparing for departure, Selecting a program option
Name: Sophia Znamierowski ’25
Major: Biology/Neuroscience
Semester abroad: Fall 2023
Program: DIS Copenhagen
What advice would you give to a student studying abroad? Go in with an open mind. You are about to meet so many people and experience a culture so different from everything you are used to, and it’s easy to fall into the trap of sticking to the friends you came with or trying to plan a weekend trip every chance you get. I will say, take advantage of how easy it is to travel to other countries and seek new experiences, but don’t neglect the opportunity to fully immerse yourself in your home country. There were some weekends I had the option to travel but I decided to stay in Copenhagen to experience it more as a resident – this may be one of the only lives you get to live in another country, rather than just as a tourist. Respect the cultural norms and try your best to participate in them, especially if it means biking to class – this was one of my favorite parts of studying in Denmark. Try to learn some of the language!
Contact: smznamie@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, Meeting locals, Preparing for departure, Selecting a program option
Name: Zach Ayala ’25
Major: Finance and Supply chain management
Semester abroad: Spring 2024
Program: DIS Copenhagen
What was your most valuable experience abroad? I went on a trip to Aarhus and a few other smaller cities with my core course in the early weeks of my program at DIS. The class was comprised mostly of business students like myself but also students interested in global policy, environmental science, and other niches of business I do not encounter on my day to day within Syracuse. On our trip we went to various danish companies where they gave presentations about their company, values, and cultural norms associated doing business in Denmark. We were treated to nice dinners and had team building activities that let our personalities shine. I will never forget how this trip fostered community among my class from the start and made the transition to being abroad a little bit easier feeling like I had a built in community from the jump.
Contact: zcayala@syr.edu
Topics I’m comfortable discussing: Staying in touch with friends & family, Cultural Immersion, Culture shock / Homesickness, Financing study away, First time abroad, Health, safety, and support, Meeting locals, Preparing for departure, Race & Ethnicity, Selecting a program option
Name: Connor McHugh ’25
Major: Business Analytics, Supply Chain
Semester abroad: Spring 2024
Program: DIS Copenhagen
What was your most memorable experience abroad? My most unforgettable experience in my host country was seeing the coronation of the new king in person. The weekend I arrived in Denmark, the coronation of the new king was happening. While this is a significant event in and of itself, it was the first time in nearly 900 years that the Danish monarch stepped down and voluntarily passed their crown to their heir. I went to the royal palace to watch the coronation and it was one of the most unforgettable experiences of my life. The level of national pride was unbelievable, as everyone in the streets had some sort of Danish flag on them, whether it was a flag, t-shirt, or scarf. That entire weekend, the city was incredibly lively, with bands marching through the streets and fireworks going off at night. It truly made my arrival to Denmark one to remember.
Contact: cbmchugh@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
Name: Sebastian Talib ’25
Major: Marketing Management major, Sport Management minor
Semester abroad: Spring 2024 (Spring 2023: Syracuse London)
Program: CEA CAPA: Rome
What was your most memorable experience abroad? My most valuable experience in my host country was my Italian roommate who was given to me by CEA CAPA because living with a local who was able to do activities with, introduce you to further locals, and help you with the foreign language was an abroad experience that was so different to my time in London and helped me get off the ground extremely faster and settle into my host country easier.
Contact: stalib@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, Health, safety, and support, Meeting locals, Preparing for departure, Selecting a program option
Name: Cody Wade ’26
Major: Forensic Science and Biology
Semester abroad: Spring 2024 (Fall 2023: Discovery Florence)
Program: DIS Copenhagen
What advice would you give to a student studying abroad? Do not over pack and be ready to connect with new people and expand you ideas of the world. It is a life changing experiences that words struggle to encapsulate, you have to see it yourself.
Contact: cowade@syr.edu
Topics I’m comfortable discussing: Staying in touch with friends & family, Adjusting to a foreign language, Allergies & dietary needs, Cultural Immersion, Financing study away, First time abroad, Fitting study abroad into your home campus experience, Living with a host family, Meeting locals, Preparing for departure, Selecting a program option
Name: Jamie Cole ’25
Major: Information Management and Technology
Semester abroad: Spring 2024
Program: CEA CAPA: Rome
What was your most memorable experience abroad? Having participated in a world partner program, I found the opportunity to meet and study with students from other universities outside of Syracuse University was the most valuable part of my experience. I was able to make lasting friendships and connections while also diversifying my learning experience. I had to step outside of my comfort zone, and very quickly strangers became close friends.
Contact: jcole05@syr.edu
Topics I’m comfortable discussing: Staying in touch with friends & family, Allergies & dietary needs, Cultural Immersion, Culture shock / Homesickness, First time abroad, Fitting study abroad into your home campus experience, Meeting locals, Preparing for departure, Selecting a program option
The Middle East
Name: Meghan O’Connor ’25
Major: International Relations & Middle Eastern Studies
Semester abroad: Fall 2023
Program: AMIDEAST Area & Arabic Language Studies (Amman, Jordan)
What was your best experience abroad? As an IR and Middle Eastern Studies major, experiencing Middle Eastern culture in person and having an immersive experience was not only ciritical for my understanding of previous courses taken at SU, but also for my view on the world as a whole.
Contact: mroconno@syr.edu
Topics I’m comfortable discussing: Staying in touch with friends & family, Adjusting to a foreign language, Cultural Immersion, Culture shock / Homesickness, Financing study away, 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