Returning home from study abroad may be one of the saddest things I have done. After only two weeks, I had no desire to come home and definitely would have been content to spend the rest of my summer overseas. This program was by far the greatest experience of my life. I felt that the course I took was very beneficial, and I learned a lot while also building a professional relationship with a UA professor. This course also alleviated stress for me because I am also taking a course with this professor on campus in the Fall, and know have a much better idea of what to expect. This program has also led to great friendships for me. With a group of only ten students, we all became very comfortable around each other, and I now have nine more friendly faces to bump into in Bidgood. I also now have a much better grasp on cultures in different European countries, and a much greater appreciation for all the history that has taken place overseas.
Because of this program, I now have the serious travel bug. I have already started trying to plan other trips around the world, and am also looking into interning abroad next summer. Studying abroad has sparked my desire to see and understand the world, and has given me more depth as a person. I know what I have to be grateful for in the US, but I also now have an idea of what else is out there for me to experience.