Alumni Reflections Archives - IFSA

Takeaways from Studying Abroad Twice

ichilds — Wed, 20 May 2026 16:18:55 +0000

Because I studied international policy, my professors encouraged me to study abroad to better understand how countries approach policy challenges. I chose University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia, as I was doing research on international affairs in the Indo-Pacific region at the time. Beyond academics, my time in Sydney pushed me to step [...]

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How Edinburgh Art Influenced My Study Abroad Experience

ichilds — Tue, 19 May 2026 21:50:23 +0000

As a history and art history double major, one of the highlights of my time in Edinburgh was immersing myself in the city’s deeply rooted arts scene. Engaging with a new cultural landscape sharpened my perspective and deepened my commitment to pursuing a career in museum work and public history. Rethinking my U.S.-based assumptions Unsurprisingly, my favorite course this semester [...]

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How Study Abroad Helped Me Include Indigenous Perspectives in My Career Aspirations and Beyond

ichilds — Tue, 19 May 2026 20:45:26 +0000

I knew studying abroad would change and grow me academically and personally, but I wasn’t prepared for how deeply living and studying in Wollongong would reshape my perspectives. Looking back, it changed the way I think about the world around me through knowledge, sustainability, and the systems we rely on. I’m an environmental science major with an interest in urban [...]

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Discovering Peru’s Diversity: My Semester Abroad Across Mountains, Deserts, and Rainforests

ichilds — Mon, 22 Dec 2025 18:45:12 +0000

When I arrived in Lima, Peru, I was excited for a semester in a big city, improving my Spanish, eating delicious food, and dancing salsa. However, I did not know much about the country I had chosen to live in for the next few months, other than that it is famous for ceviche (a seafood dish) and Machu Picchu. Five months later, my study abroad experience [...]

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How Leaving the U.S. to Study Abroad Changed My Life

acarter — Mon, 06 Oct 2025 16:18:48 +0000

Initially, I was hesitant to study abroad. Having never traveled outside of America, I knew I was committing to learning a new way of life and being alone in an unfamiliar country. Despite these uncertainties, taking this leap of faith taught me things about myself and allowed me to experience a new way of life and culture. [...]

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Q&A: Life at the University of Otago

Kate — Mon, 21 Oct 2024 16:00:05 +0000

Interested in University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand? Spring 2023 alum Gracie Mathis has you covered! Watch her info-packed Q&A to learn about student life, where to see tiny penguins, can’t miss hikes, the best jazz night, how to meet locals, and more! https://youtu.be/LiGs0gWgt-Q Gracie M. | University of Puget Sound | IFSA University of [...]

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Learning To Slow down in the Midst of Adventure in Valparaiso, Chile

Kate — Mon, 02 Sep 2024 06:50:13 +0000

During my first week in Valparaiso, after months of backpacking around South America, I was eager to explore and fit as much of the city as I could. My stomach had other plans. An unidentified source—maybe the tap water at my workaway, the eggs in the carbonara I’d so lovingly made as a departure meal, [...]

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A Foodie’s Dream Experience

Kate — Mon, 02 Sep 2024 03:41:40 +0000

Food has always been an interesting topic for me. It was one of the driving factors of my decision to study abroad. The opportunity to experience new cultural diets and tastes all over Europe was hard to pass up. While I knew that I would be able to further my learning and interest on my [...]

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My Time in Aotearoa and the Legend of Māui

Kate — Mon, 02 Sep 2024 03:30:41 +0000

If there’s anything I learned in New Zealand, it was the importance of telling and listening to people’s stories. In Aotearoa (another name for New Zealand, meaning “land of the long white cloud”), indigenous Māori have legends that have been passed down faithfully from generation to generation. To honor my short time on their land, [...]

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From Molecules to Metropolis: A Pre-Med Journey in London’s Unique Ecosystem

Kate — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 05:29:11 +0000

For me, however, I saw the perfect backdrop for my quest to understand the complexities of life through the lens of biology by being in the heart of one of the world's most dynamic and historic cities, where history intertwines with cutting-edge science. As a pre-med student, I didn’t know if studying abroad would be possible for [...]

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