IES Abroad

Coming out of the worst time of my life last year, I had little to look forward to until I found IES’s Nagoya Summer: Language and Culture program. The application process was incredibly smooth and quick, and once I was accepted, so were the travel forms and health information. Arriving with the other IES students for orientation and some field trips, we were able to form connections early while acclimating to Japan and its wonders. And as we got settled into Nanzan at our respective dorms and with host families, making more friends was even easier. Classes at Nanzan didn’t even feel like work. I found myself looking forward to going every day despite the 20 minute trek to school. It is inspiring being able to learn a language in its country of origin, while also getting to take electives and art classes to round out your experience. Apart from that, we had a lot of free time (depending how many electives you took). Nagoya has so much to offer. My friends and I would go out for lunch or dinner around various subway stations after class, frequent the izakayas and karaoke places on the weekends, and sometimes take day trips to places like Tokyo and Osaka. IES went above and beyond with this- we had a built-in weekend trip to Kyoto including our own tour guide, an art activity, and an itinerary of all the best sites to visit. My professors were wonderful, and along with the other staff at Nanzan, worked with IES to make sure we were all safe and comfortable. When I had a spot of trouble with organizing my housing, the IES program coordinators, the CJS (Center for Japanese Studies) staff, and the international director at Nanzan were all there to support me. Throughout the summer I participated in IES’s Correspondent Program as a photographer. It was amazing to record pictures of us having the time of our lives and think about how these could help future students who are looking at this program. After returning to the US, I also applied to the Ambassadors program and had a lot of fun helping the IES table at Penn State’s Education Abroad fair. I’ve been inspired to change my major to Japanese language, and I plan to participate in the JET (Japan English Teaching) program. So not only did the program give me an awesome summer, it keeps impacting me, my career path, and my hopes for the future!

My experience abroad was different than most, because instead of taking classes, I was working at an internship! I loved the flexibility this offered me, because I was able to explore Vienna and travel to new places! At my internship, I gained valuable career experience and guidance from my mentor. When I wasn't working, I had so much time to explore the city. Vienna is a cultural hub with so much to do, especially in the summertime. My highlights were swimming in the Danube after work, exploring the foodie scene, and going to so many museums!

During my time abroad in Berlin, I interned at Impact Hub Berlin and got to experience what it's like to work in a real international environment. I helped with events, did market research, and worked with with people from all across the world. It taught me a lot about communication and stepping outside of my comfort zone. Outside of my internship, I explored the city constantly. I visited places I had only ever seen in history books and online, including remnants of the Berlin Wall, the East Side Gallery, graves of famous people such as Marlene Dietrich, and many smaller memorials that make the city's history feel very real. Some days were simply walking for hours and discovering new neighborhoods. Other days were all about food: trying Dürüm and Döner from different spots until I found my favorites. What made the experience special was how much I could do and see every week. Berlin is a city where you can learn something new just by getting on public transit and picking a random stop to get off at. Between the internship, the exploring, and the people I met, the experience really shaped my confidence and showed me that I can adapt and feel at home anywhere in the world.