Why did you decide to study abroad?
After high school, I went to the Philippines to attend De La Salle University Manila. I moved back to California after two years and attended the University of Redlands in the spring. In my first semester, I already wanted to transfer out. Then at the very last minute, all three of my best friends from high school decided to study abroad in the fall. I thought it would be a once in a lifetime opportunity to live abroad with my best friends.
Why did you choose your program?
Because I signed up in the spring, the only program available for fall was the University of Redlands Salzburg Semester.
What makes the program you participated in so interesting?
We lived in Marketenderschlössl, a castle on the Mönchsberg hill in Salzburg for sixteen weeks! We did not have to pay extra to study abroad. All we had to pay was our plane ticket. We would have breakfast and lunch prepared for us. From Monday to Wednesday, we would go to different restaurants for dinner. For the rest of week, they gave us a meal allowance. University of Redlands Salzburg Semester includes three excursions. For my semester, we had a Vienna-Budapest Excursion for five days, Italy for ten days, and Balkans for ten days. We went to Vienna, Budapest, Venice, Pisa, Assisi, Forte dei Marmi, Vatican, Rome, Zagreb, Zadar, Umoljani, Sarajevo, Mostar, Dubrovnik, and Ljubljana. The university covered food and lodging in all excursions. We walked around town to study styles of architecture; we went to museums to learn about art; we went to concerts to listen to music from different eras; we practiced German in restaurants; we spent a day in a village to immerse ourselves in the local culture. Basically, Europe was our classroom.
What is the best thing about your program that future participants need to know?
Do not take activities for granted. Listen to the tour guides and take notes. Walking around town for hours was truly worth it.
What's one thing you would have done differently?
I wish I learned at least survival German before the trip. The whole time I wished I could converse with the locals.
Now that you're home, how has study abroad impacted your life?
I have never lived away from home prior to studying abroad. It definitely taught me to be independent and self-reliant. I also became more adventurous, more open to different possibilities – whether it was trying new food or simply having a conversation with a stranger. Most importantly, I became more aware of what was going on around the world. For example, spending three days in Sarajevo was an eye opener. And seeing how far they have come made me hopeful for the Philippines, the country where I am from.