API: Experience Dubrovnik, Croatia (Scholarships Available)

I had the opportunity to study abroad in Dubrovnik, Croatia! I was a very shy quiet kept to myself kind of person before going to Croatia. Once I lived and studied in Croatia my personality opened up! I learned so much about the Croatian culture and made so many friends being abroad. I got to travel to many different countries and learn new things there as well. I was lucky enough to get to live in the prettiest place in the world. I got to try new foods as well and dive into the culture experience in Dubrovnik fully and not have it "americanized."

Studying abroad is something I didn't imagine doing; however, it became an experience that I often look back on and smile. Before this experience, I never traveled outside of the US before so, I was a bit terrified; however, API and their resident directors did an amazing job of preparing me for this wonderful experience. Dubrovnik is a great location to study abroad without becoming too overwhelmed. There were only 13 people in my programs, and the class size ranged from 4 to 20 students. So, it very easy to get to know everyone in your program and the locals. In addition, almost everyone speaks English! I was a bit hesitant about traveling while I was in Croatia; however, I noticed at English is a universal language, and a lot of people know it. It was a constant adventure while I was abroad, and I am beyond thankful that I had the opportunity to experience this.

Studying in Dubrovnik was one of the best decisions I ever made, and I learned so much from living in this wonderful city. There were only 22 people in my program, so we got to know each other very quickly. The apartment I stayed in was very nice, and I had two roommates. I had to walk up 200 stairs to get to it, but the views made it worth it. Dubrovnik is extremely safe, and the Resident Directors, Nada and Ivana, were very helpful with everything from housing problems to academic issues to travel recommendations. The university shares a building with the Dominican monastery, and while it is small (maybe 100 students total) it is in a great location and provides a unique educational experience. While I was studying there my professors included a former ambassador and the former First Minister of Scotland. Because the professors are flown in to teach, you might have a class every day for 4 weeks and then be done with that class, allowing plenty of time for exploring or hanging out on the beach. Almost everyone in Dubrovnik speaks English, so it was easy to get to know locals and learn about the history of the city. I learned so much about Croatian culture and the Croatian way of life, and I truly fell in love with this city.