Tanya Sonia

A Conversation with Tanya

Why did you choose to go on this program?

I am a member of the honors college, and we are required to pick a capstone. There was study abroad, internship, and a thesis. I decided to go with the study abroad option since I have always wanted to travel the world and getting an internship is a much less rare opportunity. Also, I have heard from past students that the study abroad with the honors college is worth it because it is well organized, and the faculty is amazing.

What surprised you the most about your experience?

What surprised me the most is that it was not near as stressful as I thought it was going to be. I was expecting to be stressed out the whole time because of the language barrier and due to the different culture. It was a little hard at first navigating through the city and trying to order food, but as the trip went on it got easier and easier to adapt to the local culture. Also, the amount of free time we got surprised me as well. I was expecting us to have lectures and assigned things to do the whole time but there was a great deal of free time that they give you that way you can visit various places that are on your bucket list.

What was your favorite part of your time overseas?

My favorite part of the trip was getting to visit the Eiffel Tower at night with my friends. We had to climb up a lot of stairs to get to the 2nd floor, which was quite a workout, especially in heels. However, the workout was worth the view, it was beautiful and like nothing I have seen before. I mean Paris is known as the city of lights and it makes sense why. We also got to eat some amazing gelato while on the tower and it's an experience that I am never going to forget.

How do you intend to use this experience in the future?

I intend to use this experience in the future especially for when I go into the workforce. When you go into the workforce you may be working with people who have a different culture, and they may not speak the same language as you. So, you are going to have to overcome it by using resources and keeping an open mind. Also, this experience has helped me learn to appreciate the little things like AC, free water, and public bathrooms. So, from now on I am going to learn to appreciate everything that is given to me even if it doesn’t seem like much.

What is your advice on students who want to study abroad and go on this program in the future?

My advice for students wanting to study abroad is to not even think twice about applying for the program. It is an amazing experience with fellow peers and amazing staff. By being a part of the program, you are going to get many things out of it. For example, you will get to meet new people, get out of your comfort zone, and grow as a person. All of this is going to be greatly beneficial for you. Additionally, you will have a lot of free time so make sure that you research beforehand about the different things there are to do in that country.