Where did you study abroad?
I did one J-Term course in Australia and then studied in Madrid for a semester through the IES program.

Why did you study abroad?
The ease of studying abroad is one of the things that attracted me to St. Thomas.  You have so many different options.  I always knew I wanted to go for a semester but I also wanted to try a J-Term course.  Studying abroad allows you the opportunity to do so many things that you wouldn't normally be able to.  In Australia, we went to the Australia Federal Reserve and were able to talk to government officials.  It was so much more "real world" than sitting in a classroom.

Did studying abroad fit into your major?
The J-Term class in Australia was a recommended class for my major and as an International Business and Spanish major, studying in Spain was a natural fit.  I knew I wanted to go to Madrid and St. Thomas offers so many different programs in Madrid.  I choose the IES program because it had the most classes that would fit my requirements.  I actually think that studying abroad pulled me ahead in credits because, in Spain, I was able to fulfill two requirements with the same class.

What do you think is the biggest benefit to studying abroad?
Studying abroad opens your eyes to many new opportunities and possibilities.  Before I went, I didn?t realize what a bubble I lived in.  It wasn't that I didn't think about other countries and cultures, but I just didn't think about how other people think.  The world is so connected and it is so important to know about and understand other cultures.  Everyone knows things about the United States and we can't reciprocate.  I learned so much about Australian and Spanish culture - more than I could have in a classroom.

What do you think is the biggest challenge to studying abroad?
I was really scared to go to Spain.  I had never been to a non-English-speaking country before.  For the first couple weeks there, I didn't understand anything.  Learning a new language is really frustrating.  And it's the little things, like understanding how to flag down a waiter in a restaurant.  I think I loved Spain so much because, although everything was a challenge, everyday was an adventure.

Of course, coming back to the Minnesota was challenging too.  All of a sudden I could understand the conversations around me and I didn't have to think before asking a question.  Everything was easy again.

Were finances a barrier to studying abroad?
Finances for a semester abroad wasn't as much of a problem as J-Term.  For the semester, all of my scholarships applied so it was comparable to a semester at St. Thomas.  J-Term, on the other hand, was a new expense, and I had to take out additional loans.  

Advice?
Studying abroad is worth it.  No matter where you go, you will learn something about yourself and about your country.  It's an experience you can't get in the classroom.  Even the bad parts are learning experiences.  On the flight to Spain, my shampoo exploded in my suitcase, so when I arrived at my host family's house, there was shampoo everywhere.  My host mother was really concerned about the suitcase but  I couldn't understand a word she was saying - except for shampoo, which sounds similar in Spanish.  I think she was trying to clean it but I just stared blankly at her.  That's the only thing I remember about my first day in Spain.  It was a horrible day but one of my funniest experiences in Spain.  My host mother and I laughed about it all semester.