Sharing Stories from Abroad

San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, Spain 

Study abroad alumni gathered to share their tales from abroad. Shepherd University Study Abroad Office hosted a panel on Monday, November 11th. The versatile panel brought experiences from all over the globe: Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Ireland, England, Italy, Quebec, Russia, Switzerland, and Spain. 

Quebec, Canada

The panel was originally designed as an outreach event for students who do not know much about study abroad. However, it quickly turned into a round table discussion. There were not a lot of people who attended so the hosts reshaped the room to complement the crowd.

I really enjoyed this event. Each person gave a brief account of their study abroad experience.We talked about the cultural differences, the people we met, the programs we attended, the food, the language barriers, the financial restraints, and our unforgettable 'learning moments'. 

Costa Rica

The panel was especially interesting because even though we all experienced new ways of living, our new experiences were sometimes radically different from the one another's.The alumni who studied in Russia and Czech Republic learned to not even make eye contact with people on the street. Conversely, I was taught to greet everyone with a kiss on each cheek.