Hoo's Abroad? Niki in Valencia!

Hoo's Abroad?

Niki in Valencia!

by Veronica Mercado

Niki Shumaker (CLAS '17) in Sevilla, Spain, in the royal alcazar.

Today we're going to find out more about study abroad in one of UVA's flagship global programs, UVA in Valencia. According to the Hispanic Studies in Valencia, Spain website, this program has "been created through the University of Virginia, which is responsible for the quality of the courses offered. All grades, transcripts, and credits earned in the UVA Hispanic Studies in Spain Program are accredited and forwarded by the University of Virginia to any other American institution of higher learning."

Niki Shumaker, a current second year in the College of Arts and Sciences majoring in Foreign Affairs with a minor in Business Spanish, just returned from the summer program in Valencia. This upcoming fall she will be interning with the Office of International Studies as a Study Abroad intern, helping other students take advantage of the many study abroad opportunities UVA offers!

What made you choose this place?
I chose Valencia because it offers courses for my Business Spanish minor, but in addition to that I have been studying Spanish since kindergarten, yet felt that I was missing out on truly understanding the culture. I think that one of the most important things in my life, especially as a Foreign Affairs student, is not only reading about other cultures, but to truly appreciate and experience them. I think this is the only way to truly understand cultures different from my own. Since I had always planned on minoring in Spanish, it was very important to me to take the opportunities available to do just that and really understand the roots and daily routines of Spanish life.

What classes are you taking?
I took Business Spanish (3040), Translation (4040), Business Practices of the Spanish Speaking World (4050), and Spanish Economy (4713). 
  

What was the biggest learning experience you have had?
The biggest learning experience I had while in Spain was how to accept that studying abroad is not being a tourist; it is much more rewarding than that. However, that means learning that your life will be filled with new patterns and eccentricities, and that you should not only learn to live with these, but to celebrate having them. It means having new favorite foods because you won’t have your favorite foods from home. It means having a new favorite place to run because you won’t have your favorite path in your neighborhood. It means replacing your cup of coffee with a shot of espresso with varying amounts of milk, and replacing your car with a bus or the metro. Instead of resisting these changes, the most important thing is to adapt, thrive, appreciate, and enjoy them.

Hoo's Abroad? Emily in Italy!

Hoo's Abroad?

Emily in Italy!

by Veronica Mercado

Today's global Wahoo is Emily Strait, a rising third year in the College of Arts and Sciences double majoring in Economics and Political Philosophy, Policy and Law! This summer, she is studying abroad in Florence, Italy.

What made you choose this place? I had visited Italy before and Florence was my favorite city, so I wanted to come back and see more. I also love wine and Italian food!

What classes are you taking? The two classes I am in are Renaissance Art History and History: Story of the City of Florence.

What was the biggest learning experience you have had? Learning how different the Italian customs are at restaurants and store and in public behavior!

Hoo's Abroad? Molly in Germany!

Hoo's Abroad?

Molly in Germany!

by Veronica Mercado

This global Wahoo is Molly Davey, a rising second year in the School of Engineering and Applied Science majoring in Computer Science. She just returned from a whirlwind trip across Germany, where she visited Braunschweig, Wolfsburg, Dresdin, and Berlin!

What made you choose this place? The engineering program that I am in was offering a special course (only in Germany) that partnered with Volkswagen in order to solve a problem which their company is currently facing. I selected Germany because the experience was unique and our group's research had the potential to change the thought process of a multibillion dollar automobile manufacturer. When selecting Germany I was also persuaded by the fact that my favorite engineering professor, Dana Elzey, was leading the trip. Professor Elzey is fluent in German, formerly lived and studied in Germany, and has led similar trips in the past.

What classes did you take? The class I was enrolled in is called "Special Topics in Engineering: Global Ingenuity Cross-Cultural Engineering Design."

What was the biggest learning experience you had? While in Braunschweig we had the opportunity to work alongside German engineering students. Working with the students I learned about what it is like to work in an international team, a skill set that I find crucial for working in our growing global business economy. I would say that collaborative international teamwork was the greatest learning experience I had while abroad.

Hoo's Abroad? Allison in Florence!

Hoos Abroad?

Allison in Florence!

by Veronica Mercado

Our first global Wahoo is Allison Xu, a third year in the McIntire School of Commerce who's also majoring in Foreign Affairs. She is currently abroad in Florence, Italy!

What made you choose this place? I chose it because it's a well-known cultural center of the world and a lot of the art and culture seemed interesting to me.

What classes are you taking? I'm taking a Politics in Italy and Digital Photography class.

What’s been the biggest learning experience so far? I think the biggest learning experience (it's only been a week so far) has been learning to be okay with being alone. A lot of being abroad is just exploring the city on your own, getting lost, and figuring things out yourself. So I guess being independent!