I am UIC: You won’t regret studying abroad
Walking through the busy streets of Madrid, lying in the sand in Barcelona, standing before the Roman Aqueduct built during the 1st century A.D., and walking to school every morning in the beautiful city of Bilbao.
It all sounds like a perfect dream doesn’t it?
It was my reality last summer. Through the Bilbao Summer Program that UIC offers, I was able to immerse myself in the culture, history and everyday life that I previously had only been able to visit through textbooks and class lectures.
Studying in Spain for the summer introduced me to so many amazing individuals, both from Spain and different states in the U.S., whom I still have contact with today. I had the most passionate professors teach me about literature, the economy, and another world. It was a unique and unforgettable experience, from the educational and exciting excursions to historical and breathtaking sites, to the adventures I embarked on with the friends I made. Studying abroad was the best decision I could have made.
I must admit it wasn’t an easy one, however. It had been my dream to study in Spain since high school, but it wasn’t until my junior year in college that I finally decided I would follow through with the application process and set my fears aside. I was afraid of airplanes and the thought of being in a country I had never visited. Being an entire ocean away from my family for weeks was nerve-wracking. I had so many concerns, including financial ones, but the UIC Study Abroad Office helped me clear my doubts and find the help I needed.
Whether you dream of visiting Spain, France, Italy, or another country outside of Europe, the study abroad journey is something I will always encourage all students to embark on.
Pay a visit to the Study Abroad Office in 502 University Hall. Learn about the diverse set of study abroad programs the university has to offer because there are so many unique journeys waiting to be lived by you.
Studying abroad is much more than a trip. It’s experiential learning. It’s growth.
Michelle García De La Vega is a senior double majoring in communications and Spanish. Among the things she loves doing most are drinking coffee and laughing. The moments she appreciates most in life involve family, friends, music, warm weather and experiential learning. Her goal is to travel someplace new every year and she aspires to one day be a conduit of news for her community.
