Study Abroad Peer Mentor Bios

Name: Brittany Boynton
Major: Sociology
Minor: Communications
Class Standing: Senior
Study Abroad Location: London, England

What was the highlight of your study abroad experience?

When my mom was able to visit me in London and I was able to show her around.  I felt like more of a native, than a visitor!

What would you have liked to know before you studied abroad?

How different the British Education system in comparison to ours!

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Name: Cassie Brunelle
Major: Business Administration
Class Standing: Senior
Study Abroad Location: Barcelona, Spain

What was the highlight of your study abroad experience?

Living in one of the most beautiful cities in the world and learning the Spanish language and culture were highlights, but making friends from all over the world is something I treasure the most. I was able to visit places I never expected to go, my favorites were seeing the Eiffel Tower in Paris, climbing above the clouds in a gondola to see the Matterhorn, and spending New Year's Eve in Lillehammer, Norway.

What would you have liked to know before you studied abroad?

The experience was short-lived. I wish I would have had the courage to go for an entire year. I wish I knew how much I would love it because in the end I would have loved to stay longer.

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Name: Nicole Eason (Lead Study Abroad Peer Mentor)
Major: Communications, Italian Studies minor
Class Standing: Junior
Study Abroad Location: Roma, Italia

What was the highlight of your study abroad experience?

Family Dinners with the most amazing roommates I could have asked for. Always prepared Italian family style.

What would you have liked to know before you studied abroad?

If you can, go for an academic year! Also, make a huge point to immerse and interact, or before you know it the opportunity will pass.

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Name: Gabriella Forster

Major: International Area Studies: Europe
Class Standing: Senior
Study Abroad Location: Aix-en-Provence, France (Fall), and Rome, Italy (Spring)

What was the highlight of your study abroad experience?

One highlight from my study abroad experience is the personal relationships I was able to form as a result of being in both France and Italy. In France, my host family was very welcoming of me, allowing me to really be a part of their family, while the friends I made in Italy gave cultural insight I would never have known or understood without their kindness. I found that wherever I went, the people I met always made my experiences that much better. From each encounter and each friendship, I understood so much more about where I was at that moment, where I was going, and where I had been.

What would you have liked to know before you studied abroad?

I wish I had known how much more amazing time abroad will be if you take as many risks as you can. It can be really difficult to break into social circles when you're the new kid in town, especially when you add different languages and cultures to the mix, but make the effort and you'll be rewarded with friendships that can last a life time. Get to know the place you're living in, and enjoy it, because while you're there it's home. Travel, find the humor in every situation, and know that only you guide your experience, so make it worth your while!

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Name: Tara Galvez

Major: English and Sport Management

Class Standing:Graduate Student, Sport Management Masters Program

Study Abroad Location: Galway, Ireland (1 year)

What was the highlight of your study abroad experience?

Everything. From making new friends, to traveling Ireland and Europe, to being in Ireland for Arthur's and St. Patrick's Day, to having my mom visit me for Christmas and my dad right before Easter, to joining clubs, to attending lovely balls, to walking aroudn in the snow at the Christmas Market, to learning to speak Irish, to walking in the rain (and sometimes hail) to my classes - the whole experience was absolutely wonderful and memorable.

What would you have liked to know before you studied abroad?

Not to bring as much stuff as I did and, rather than buying warm clothes here and hauling them there, I should have waited till I got there to get "Ireland-approved" clothes.

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Name: George Robles 
Major:Sociology
Class Standing: Senior
Study Abroad Location: Seville, Spain

What was the highlight of your study abroad experience?

My best experience from Spain was La Feria de Sevilla, which is a celebration of Sevillan culture where the women dress in Flamenco dresses, men wear spanish suits, and dance Sevillanas for the week-long party. It was definitely one of the best weeks of my life and really made me feel as if I was apart of their culture.

What would you have liked to know before you studied abroad?

I wish someone had told me to savor every moment you are there even more. It was one of the fastest five months of my life and I feel like I  could have done more with a lot of time and spend more time with many of the people I met there.

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Name: Katie Wilson
Major: Sociology
Class Standing: Senior
Study Abroad Location: Barcelona, Spain

What was the highlight of your study abroad experience?

Learning about a multitude of different cultures, practices, and world views; as well as gaining self-confidence through independent international travel.

What would you have liked to know before you studied abroad?

That I would end up wanting to stay the whole year.