Student Stories

Being on this trip has given me a distinct perspective on how I view America and the world. Moving forward, I will have a slightly different perspective on politics in America and how our customs are so different from being abroad. After listening to stories from some of the students I met where they say they’ve never wanted to visit the states was so shocking to me. America, in my eyes, has always been the dreamland for foreigners.

I want to continue traveling abroad to learn more about other cultures because I never truly understood them as well as I understand America. Being a first-generation daughter to an immigrant has allowed me to understand the world from my family's perspective, but I never thought about viewing it from others’ perspectives. I hope that I can take what I learned and experienced and apply it to my future job because I feel like it is important. It is important to embrace other cultures more, especially in a foreign country. I hope I can influence other students to travel because there is so much we do not know. No matter how much we read about, we will never understand it until we experience it. If I could give advice to someone who is traveling, I would say this, "Always be open-minded, never let what people tell you about other cultures determine your own outlook because you must experience it before you do."

 

My Experience

My overall experience visiting Costa Rica over the summer was amazing. The community, culture, and food were more than what I was expecting. As soon as I saw the town and the people in the community, it felt very welcoming. Being across the world, away from my family, was hard, but being from a Mexican community, Costa Rica felt and looked just like the towns of Mexico. This made it very easy and heartwarming to be somewhere that felt like a home away from home in multiple ways. 

What I Learned 

This trip was a great learning experience as I was able to incorporate material that I learned in my college courses. I not only expanded my knowledge in biology but, most importantly, I grew out of my comfort zone, which will help me build a foundation for my career. 

I knew I had a passion for animals and nature when I took my first biology course. This trip opened so many new doors of love for biology that I never knew were there. Being able to see animals such as monkeys, lizards, and butterflies right in front of me, feet away, is something I will never forget. Having the opportunity to swim in one of the most beautiful waterfalls, zipline through the forest, hike a volcano and adapt to a new lifestyle are all highlights I will cherish thanks to UIndy and Costa Rica.

  

Before my spring term trip, I had never set foot outside the United States. Between the cost of travel and the apprehension of being in a foreign country alone, I figured that traveling outside the US wasn’t in the cards for me. I was very interested when my professor, Dr. Thakar, first mentioned that he was leading a spring term class that would travel to Europe. The trip would be planned and guided by two professors with extensive experience traveling abroad, and I would be with a handful of students. However, while this addressed my apprehension about traveling abroad, the cost of it still felt unattainable for me. When I brought this up with Dr. Thakar, he was an excellent resource, pointing me to the Greyhound Adventure grant and providing a letter to use for crowdfunding. With my concerns met and funding acquired, I was ready to embark on our exciting journey. 

In the days leading up to the trip, I had a lot of concerns. What if I forget something? What if I get left behind or lost? What if I don’t get along with any students on this trip? We had held several meetings over the previous semester to make sure everyone had a plan and so that we could all meet each other, but those meetings didn’t do much to ease those thoughts. However, on the first day of travel, these thoughts were quickly shoved aside as I realized that most of us were in the same boat. Sitting at airport gates and being crammed into a transatlantic flight for hours with each other is a great ice breaker, and we all immediately began to bond over trips to the nearest Wendys and what meal we were served on the plane. The friendships formed on this first day of travel held throughout the rest of the trip and only continued to get stronger.

Each city we traveled to provided a different experience. During our three days in Amsterdam, we wandered through crowded streets with all sorts of shops, restaurants, and museums lining each one. The houses, hotels, and apartments lining the canals were unique and beautiful, each with its own small piece of history. The city didn’t fall asleep at night like you might be used to with Indianapolis but erupted into string lights and neon signs as the nightlife drew thousands of people downtown. Vienna was filled with incredible architecture; its historic palaces and museums genuinely made my jaw drop as we toured the city. At the top of the hill, at the Schonbrun palace in Vienna, I was met with a view that put so many of the skylines I’ve seen to shame. Finally, Berlin was a non-stop history tour. It seemed like every street we went down had some tiny bit of historical significance. Even traveling across the city by train, you could watch history unfold as the architectural styles changed from block to block. During our few days there, I visited several museums and historical sites and didn’t even scratch the surface of what was available to explore. 

Each day we would do one significant activity together to learn about the culture or history of the city, during which we would discuss each other’s plans or hopes for the day. With so much to see and do in each city, our class constantly split into small groups after each class activity. These small groups let us get to know each other as we moved around the city together. Before the trip, it had been expressed by several people, friends I talked to, family, and professors, that we would all be sick of each other by the end of our trip. However, that couldn’t have been further from the truth. By the end of the trip, we were all still staying up late with each other and making plans to hang out once we got back home. 

Overall, this trip proved to be one of the best decisions I could have made. The cultural experiences broadened my perspective on daily life in the United States. Experiences that I had expected to have little impact on me left me with a new and better understanding and helped to reform some of my opinions. In addition to these experiences, despite most of us barely knowing one another before the trip, we had all made close friends that we would never have found had we not gone. With our professors there to guide and assist us and these new friendships I made along the way, a concept that had initially been daunting became a milestone in my life.

  

If someone had told me back when I first started college in 2021 that I would end up going to South Korea for a study abroad trip, I would have not believed them. Now here I am in 2023, shortly after arriving back, a slightly more adventurous person than before. You see, before this trip, I had never left the United States and had never been away from my family for more than a couple of days. I am not known to do things out of my comfort zone unless necessary, so deciding to go on this study abroad trip was a big deal for me. I was tremendously nervous leading up to the day we would leave. There were so many things that were uncertain such as if I would be comfortable in a different country, would I be able to figure out things without my friends and family being there to help me, and whether I would enjoy the experience or would I freak out as soon as I got off the plane and regret every decision I had made leading up to this moment? 

However, more than anything, I was excited about this opportunity to experience a new culture and roam around an unfamiliar place. South Korea is around 6,740 miles from Indiana, or about an 18-hour plane ride away. The weather there tends to be hot in the summer, with a rainy season that usually lasts from late June to August, and cold in the winter, with quite a bit of snow, especially in the mountainous areas. The official language there is Korean, and it is very beneficial to learn the basics of this language before traveling there. You will notice, though, that there are many other languages often used too, especially on signs and on public transportation. English, Japanese, and Mandarin are the foreign languages used most often. Seoul is the capital city of South Korea. It is a very modern city filled with all kinds of new technology, but you can also find a lot of history there, such as at the Gyeonbok Palace. Though South Korea is known for its advanced city, it also has a beautiful countryside filled with lush greenery. 

This trip was not only my first time leaving the United States, but it was also my first time going on a plane. I was nervous about a lot of things, like going through security, what taking off on the plane would feel like, if it would be uncomfortable on the plane, and if I had prepared enough. To ease some of my concerns I talked to other students on the trip about their experiences traveling. Many of them had been on a plane before, so they were able to explain to me the process and what it would be like. I learned what we would need to do while going through security and what being on the plane is like. I felt more prepared after these conversations. 

My anxiety peaked when we were finally on the plane, about to take off. I chewed some gum as I had been advised by others that it would help with my ears popping as we change altitudes quickly. I took some deep breaths as the plane lifted off the ground. It felt scary for a moment as I could feel the plane speed up and it shook loudly, but it was not as bad as I thought it would be. Once we got high in the clouds everything felt normal again and I relaxed. In the end, I enjoyed the ride. I was able to get to know some of the other students who were sitting next to me on the ride. We shared our excitement and worries. The whole experience was much more bearable than I was expecting and was worth it once we made it to our destination. 

Every day we were in Korea was jam-packed with fun activities and new experiences. We started by having lunch together around 11 am, and then we headed to the subway station where we traveled to our first location. We went to many places, such as Seoul City Sky, a super tall building that gave us an amazing view of the city. From up there we could see all the skyscrapers, the parks, the rivers, and the mountains. We also got to go to Gyeonbok Palace, which was built in 1395 during the Joseon dynasty. Students in our group dressed up in Hanbok, or traditional Korean clothing, and took photos while exploring. It was incredible to see the old architecture and get an idea of how people lived long ago. We even got to see the throne on which the emperor would’ve sat! 

Another cool experience was going to Ewha Women’s University, which has a gorgeous campus. Ewha has about 20,000 students currently enrolled, and it is known as one of the most prestigious colleges in South Korea. We got to talk to some students there who told us about their experience at this college. We found out that, just like us, they enjoy spending time with friends and going out to parties instead of studying. Though you could tell school was something they took seriously, they also shared with us how they find ways to get away when possible. They have big dreams and aspire to do great things; it was inspiring to hear how hard they are working to make these come true. 

My favorite activity that we did was on our free day, which we got to spend however we liked. My group went to Lotte World, which is an amusement park that is inside a mall. I felt like a little kid again as we ran around and did as much as we could in the couple of hours we had. Of course, we had to get hair accessories to wear as this is an important part of going to Lotte World (at least, in my opinion it is) so I got myself a little hair clip that had a carrot on the end and I wore it in my hair. So, I walked around with a mini carrot in my hair, and it was a blast. The castle outside was beautiful and made me feel like I was in a fairytale. I screamed in excitement while we rode on the boat ride that took us through a jungle with animatronic animals. The Viking ride made me laugh while watching everyone in front of me scream as we swayed back and forth. After all the excitement we watched a live show, performed by characters unique to Lotte World, and I was sad when we finally had to leave. I hope to be able to go back one day. 

During our trip, we also got to experience going to the DMZ, or the demilitarized zone, that divides the North and the South. There, we were able to learn the history of the DMZ, as well as get a small glimpse into North Korea. Other things that we did include going to museums, going to a baseball game, and going shopping at malls. We were able to get souvenirs to bring home as a memory of our trip. One of the recreational places we went to that I enjoyed the most was Han River Park. There, we were able to run around and also sit and relax. It was nice to see lots of people smiling and enjoying their leisure time after school/work. We also were able to go to many cafes, which Korea is known for. They have delicious coffee and tea for those who need a caffeine boost, but they also have tasty lemonades and other fruit drinks for those who like something sweeter. 

This leads me to want to share with you the food that we had while on this trip. I feel like I should start with the BBQs we had while there. In Korea, when you go to barbeques, everyone sits together around a grill that is on the table, and you prepare the food yourself. You get many different types of meat to eat, such as bulgogi (beef) and samgyeopsal (pork belly). They also bring you many side dishes, such as one of my personal favorites, kimchi, which is fermented cabbage that is full of flavor. You might also get some soup, such as kimchi-jjigae, or kimchi stew. Even if you are not a fan of spicy food, I recommend trying these dishes, because they serve you plenty of water to accommodate for the burn on your tongue.

I want to mention some culture shocks that were experienced while in Korea by not just me, but others on the trip as well. First, there are the bathrooms. Now, don’t be alarmed, it is not because they are bad. The opposite, actually. The bathrooms in Korea provide much more privacy than in the United States. They also tend to be cleaner. Not only that, but they also have toilets that can do many things, such as warm the seat for you. It is all controlled by buttons that are usually placed on the wall beside the toilet. However, some bathrooms have squatting toilets, which most people who have never used them before dislike. I personally did not mind them, but just be aware you may run into one in Korea, but usually, there are regular toilets available as well in the same bathroom. 

Another surprising thing is the clothing sizes you will notice when you go shopping. The sizes run a lot smaller than back at home, with some stores even having a “free size,” or just one size that is equivalent to a size small to maybe a medium in the U.S. This makes it hard to buy clothes if you are not a smaller size, however, if you go to international stores, you can find somewhat bigger sizes. You will be able to tell that the beauty standard is different in South Korea than in the U.S. Another culture shock we had was the fact that it was close to impossible to find trash cans outside. So, if you have a to-go drink or have an empty candy wrapper, you will likely have to carry it for a long time. If you fail to find a trash can, you will have to bring it with you back to the hotel. This is due to the fact that individuals are responsible for paying to throw out their trash. Because most people do not want to pay for other people's trash, they do not provide a public trash can.

Getting back to our activities, at the end of each day, the professor would take us to a popular area to spend time before heading back to the hotel. We went to many places such as Gangnam and Itaewon. These are popular districts, also known as neighborhoods, in Seoul, especially known for their nightlife. Now, the nightlife in South Korea is very different than in the United States. Businesses stay open much later into the night, there are many people out walking around, and there is a lot of fun to be had. My favorite night activity that we did was noraebang, or karaoke. All you have to do is pay a small charge to rent a room for however long you like, and then everyone fits into said room and sings their favorite songs. It was fun to sing my heart out while jumping around the room. We all had many laughs, and it was a great way to end a long day. 

Another thing you can do at night is go to bars. I went with a group to one that played K-pop music videos on a projector. It was fun to watch and sing along to the songs while having soju. In Korea, the legal drinking age is 20. Even though I was 19 when I went, I was of legal age because in Korea you are considered 1 at birth, and everyone ages on January 1st (so, everyone adds a year to their age on this day), so I was old enough to drink. I had fun trying soju for the first time as well as rice wine. We also did a lot of shopping at night and got desserts such as gelato and strawberries covered in hardened sugar. We went to many photo booths, which are all over the streets in these districts. We would put on silly hats and cram into a small room to take many photos. It would often be past midnight by the time we would get back to the hotel, and after a shower, I would pass out for the night. 

There were so many fun things I was able to do on this trip that I never would have imagined possible before. I discovered that I love traveling and experiencing new things. I found that it is worth the discomfort of flying on a plane and being in an unknown place, because, on a trip like this, you will find out that the world is so much bigger and more beautiful than you could have ever imagined. You will meet amazing people and create memories that will last your entire life. So, if you are on the fence about studying abroad, I say go for it. If you are fearful about traveling or don’t know how to prepare, talk to others about their experiences and do research. Know about the place you plan to go, learn a little bit of the language, and know about the cost and the exchange rate so you can budget accordingly. Lastly, be excited and know that you have plenty of support with you as you make your journey. Go out there and experience the world!

The music department had the opportunity to study abroad in Northern Italy this past spring term. Our goal was to explore the music, art, and culture in Italy, as well as give us more insight into the people that we study in our music history classes. In just ten short days, we visited Venice, Murano, Verona, Florence, Lucca, Cremona, Milan, and Lecco. There was so much to do, and so little time to do it!

One of my favorite things that we did on the trip was going to the pianoforte museum. This was really cool for me because I am a piano major, so I got to learn more about my instrument. We also visited some of the most famous museums Italy could offer. I thought this was really cool because we got to see a lot of famous paintings and statues.

My all time favorite thing over the course of the trip was definitely the food. My friends and I really enjoyed trying new food, as well as the authentic version of our Italian favorites.