What inspired you to go abroad?
This was not my first experience studying abroad. I have always loved traveling and experiencing new cultures (I'm a big foodie). I also adore languages.
I first studied abroad during a midyear program in Fall 2023 after being accepted to my home university, Brandeis, for Spring 2024. I spent my first semester in Florence, Italy, and returned to Italy (this time Sorrento) that summer to complete an Italian studies minor.
I love studying abroad and have been trying to do it every summer. The EU Studies Freiburg IES program was my first study abroad experience outside of Italy. German culture is quite different, yet familiar, since most of my cousins live near München. It was nice to visit my uncles.
I chose the IES program because it fulfilled my majors in European Cultural Studies and the major I am currently developing at my school, International Relations (since Brandeis does not have an IR program). I have never learned so much in such a short time! We studied the 7 branches of the EU and took field trips to the EU Parliament, EEAS, Council of Ministers, the Commission, and many other places across Europe.
If you really want to see Europe and learn about its political and economic systems, this is the course for you.
Why did you choose IES Abroad European Union Summer - Politics & Economics?
Brussels City Walk
I chose this specific program, the IES EU studies, because it intersects with my three majors: European Cultural Studies, Politics, and International Relations, which I am creating through Brandeis University's IIM program.
One course in particular, International Order and the Black Sea Region, sounded especially interesting to me, especially since that has been a point of tension for ages, most notably now.
What was your favorite part about Europe?
Freiburg is lovely. It is near Switzerland and Strasbourg, as we learned from our EU Parliament trip, and close to the Black Forest, but my favorite part of Strasbourg is the cathedral. The Romantic and Gothic architecture, combined with the red stone, is purely stunning. I am not religious, but I loved visiting the nearby cafè, sitting in the shadow of this ancient edifice. It was fun to watch people, mostly locals, as they visited the restaurants or went to the market around the church.
Another aspect of Freiburg is its water features. My assigned apartment was on a lake, and numerous university students swam and sunbathed daily. The most unique aspect of Freiburg is its Bächle, a minuscule, man-made channels that run through the main city; here, locals wade with their cocktails after a long day's work, or children eagerly run, trailing their toy boats through the current.
What made your experience abroad extraordinary?
The field trips were astonishing.
We spent a day in Strasbourg, did a city tour, had lunch, and then went to the EU Parliament. We traveled to Brussels and visited the EEAS, Commission, and Council of Ministers, but also had plenty of time to see the city and of course try plenty of fries, waffles, and chocolate. I even saw The Cult in concert there! IES Abroad has every minute of the trip organized, so it is very easy to know when you attend lectures and when you are free to catch dinner with friends. It is very busy, though.
We also visited Paris and saw the other IES center, and visited the Ukrainian mission. We were far away from the tourist attractions, so meals were delicious and amazingly inexpensive (€3 appetizers!). I had a horrible experience in Paris in early July, but seeing it with friends entirely rewrote this for me.
Lastly, we visited Stockholm. We attended lectures on green energy and what life is like in Sweden from birth until death, which was a fascinating model. We then visited the Swedish Parliament and talked with a representative. On our last few days in Stockholm after the lectures, IES took us to the Vasa Museum and out for a traditional Swedish dinner.
How did local staff support you throughout your program?
Field Trip to Mission of Ukraine
The IES staff was amazing. They helped us get organized immediately. If you needed a fan (Freiburg doesn't have AC), Dörte would get you one. She had almost everything, but if she did not have something, she could point you to where to get it.
I love talking with Isik. She is from Turkey but spent several years in Italy, so we spoke Italian and bonded over shared experiences. She was our guide for the Brussels-Paris week. She knew all of the students and was just someone you could go to and talk about anything.
Lejla Zjakic and Karin Jors are also fabulous. Karin is even from the US and studied abroad in Germany before working for IES, so she really understands the students' perspectives and the culture shock experience. They led hiking groups and activities, and helped me track down an amazing waffle stand.
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad?
I shut myself in my room to study too much. I was trying to read in depth all of the readings (important for the Political Seminar class, but a waste of time for the Black Sea Course).
I should not have stressed so much on the Black Sea class, but should have learned geography before I left the US. Understanding the countries in that region and their histories is very important.
Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.
Freiburg Cathedral and City
That is a difficult question because in the end, we were travelling so frequently.
For the days I would study at IES, I would wake up, eat a yogurt, and either take the tram or take a 40-minute hike to class with my new friend Mathias, stopping at a bakery along the way. We would have a fun lecture and interactive activity in the EU seminar course (one time, I was supposed to play a member of Parliament to help pass a bill).
After this class, I would go to the café on the corner and have a sandwich and gelato, sometimes a donut. Then, I would go to my Black Sea class. In the late afternoon, students study and go swimming at the lake.
In the evening, I would go to the grocery store across from the apartment and buy fresh pasta, yogurt, Barilla Bolognese (surprisingly super delicious), and anything else.
What did you enjoy doing during your free time abroad?
I loved exploring.
I liked tracking down the good chocolate places in Brussels. I enjoyed searching for the best Käsespätzle in Freiburg. I liked scouring the city for the perfect green shoes on a 2-hour break before the model EU final exam (the big final Exam was a model EU, yes). I liked finding a pretty Bächle boat to bring back to my friends in the US.
What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?
I lived in a shared apartment with German students. There were two bathrooms, a common kitchen space, and a shared balcony. It was a massive relief to me that they were all single bedrooms. They had locks if needed, but I never had to worry about either my security or theirs.
My German is pretty lousy, but I practiced with my favorite roommate, Leif, while he practiced his English. We shared coffee; I shared my secret stash of chocolate cookies with him, and we watched The Hangover together.
What is one thing every future participant should know about your program before their program begins?
Two things: 1.) Do not use your university card at the mensa/cafeteria; save it for laundry. 2.) Your world is going to change dramatically. The people there are so friendly, and shopping–whether for food, clothes, or something else—feels very different than in the US.
The city has a clear identity and charm. Also, if you want a break from cooking, German food, or kebabs, Antica is a superb Italian restaurant. Also, look into the food market. You can try German, Persian, Turkish, and Indonesian cuisine, as well as pizza or seafood. I miss being able to just buy Turkish delight 15 minutes away from my school.
Would you recommend European Union Summer - Politics & Economics? Why?
I would absolutely recommend this program. Not only is the city beautiful, but IES is also super well-organized. You get the schedule at orientation and can plan trips around it.
The classes are intense but never boring, and you learn so much. I feel as if I know more about the EU than some Europeans! I had no idea, going in, that there were 7 branches and what each one does.
You talk about immigration policy and laws, which are really interesting. The travel costs (except for food) are covered in full by IES, so you do not have to worry about plane or train tickets or where to stay. Everything is in the schedules they give you.
What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is?
Belgian Waffles
You definitely know more about other cultures and learn humility and tolerance from this, but you also learn a lot about yourself.
Uprooting your life, even for a handful of weeks, and moving to an entirely different country with a different language and stores and materials is a big change. You have to go out, advocate for yourself, and survive on your own. You have to fight culture shock and feeling like a moron for not understanding basic phrases. There is so much mental toughness involved. You find an inner strength and more closely treasure the friends you make.
Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?
I feel bored. Life feels more incomplete. I can't just drive for 2 hours and feel as if I am in an entirely different world. I miss Europe. A lot.
My friends who were also on the IES trip often write in our WhatsApp chat that they dreamt the night before we were all over there again together or that they went to the Black Forest.
There was a lot of chatter during September and October when the universities here were celebrating Oktoberfest and how the beer and wursts were not the same as in Germany, but they still brought nostalgia.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
Meaningful travel means going past the overly touristic spots and finding the soul of the city. Where are the locals spending their time? What is the best cool-down place after work? Which eateries and bars do they frequent, and do they know the servers personally? Where can you have a genuine conversation with someone as you stumble through the couple words you know of the country's language?
