A May interim program has its pros and cons. While not as long as a semester or summer program, it presents the opportunity to spend a few weeks abroad while maintaining flexibility to work summer jobs and remain at UA during the fall and spring semesters. I feel extremely grateful for the UA Faculty-led programs that fit the most into the time given during these programs. As a part of the UA in Europe: International Financial Reporting class, I had the chance to visit seven different countries in a little over two weeks. I am extremely grateful for this program and have several takeaways from my time in Europe.
My first takeaway is not to be afraid to take day trips. Our trip included three “home” destinations (London, Amsterdam, Ghent) and the rest of our travels came through day trips to various cities. With Europe being much smaller than the US, it is surprising how quick it is to fly or train to another country. These can be relatively inexpensive as well, which is another perk. With an early exit and an evening return, you can fit 7-10 hours in a city which is enough time to hit most or all the high points and experience the local culture. Our day trips included Paris, Barcelona, Prague, Brugge, and Cologne.
My second takeaway is to expect to make friends and travel buddies. I signed up for this trip knowing very few of the people that were going. It can be scary to take this step, but I was surprised with how well the group did about sticking together and there was no one I couldn’t text to go sightseeing, grab a bite, or even just hang out at the hotel after the day is over.
My final takeaway is to set the non-negotiables but leave room for downtime. With so much to see in certain cities, it is easy to go from one attraction to another for several days there. I found, however, that my favorite times from the trips were spent hanging out at a local pub, going for a walk with friends, or exploring with no real itinerary. I had several key points I wanted to hit for each city and often visited these in the mornings to leave the afternoon flexible for whatever the day may bring.
Even in a short time, study abroad is an amazing experience that I am glad I participated in! In addition to these takeaways, I am leaving with a lifetime of memories.
