Nichole Diaz Broadens Her Horizons This Summer with Study Abroad
Just imagine: you’re a college student taking a few classes in a foreign country, surrounded by students who speak a different language as you slowly immerse yourself in their unique culture. Maybe you’re learning about sociology while also experiencing a Japanese tea ceremony for the first time. Perhaps you’re taking STEM classes and taking in the sights of the monastic ruins of Glendalough in Ireland. Maybe you’re learning about business or improving your fine art skills while you step back into ancient history at the Acropolis in Greece. Studying in another country offers students amazing opportunities; not only will it often give students an edge when they apply for jobs or graduate students, but it will also help shape them into a stronger, more independent person who has a deeper understanding of the world around them. McKendree University encourages all Bearcats to explore opportunities to study abroad, starting their sophomore year – and junior Nichole Diaz made it happen this summer.
She’s Back, Barcelona! Nichole Diaz Studies in Spain
When the opportunity for studying abroad presented itself to junior Nichole, she knew where she wanted to study: Barcelona, Spain. She had previously visited the city and loved it, and she knew that being back on her own while furthering her studies was a chance she couldn’t pass up. Her fluency in Spanish and previous knowledge of Catalan definitely gave her a leg up, but she still learned plenty while studying for six weeks this summer at the IFSA Program Center in Barcelona.
A business administration major from Puerto Rico, Nichole enrolled in a couple of courses with the IFSA program, including politics and food culture. Classes typically ran for a total of four hours: two hours in a lecture-based format and two hours of sightseeing or tours in the city. Her politics course took her to museums and historical sites around the city – something that perfectly complemented her history minor – and her food culture course introduced traditional Spanish dishes the students got to savor with one another.
“If we learned about the fishing culture of Barcelona in my food culture class, we would then go to local restaurants and try traditional food about the first dishes in Spain,” Nichole said. “I loved learning about the history of Catalonia and what sets them apart from the rest of Spain and how they appreciate maintaining their history in architecture, celebrations, and food. With my classes, that appreciation grew more and more by helping me see their culture in everything I saw around the city each day.”
Nichole was also able to experience the Feast of Saint Joan, a massive festival that takes place each June in Barcelona, marking the beginning of summer. She watched countless people jump over fires and into the water as fireworks erupted and illuminated the night sky.
“I got to jump in the water at 1 a.m. and watch the fireworks with thousands of people,” she added.
Nichole’s advice to students wanting to get the most out of their study abroad experience? Learn as much as you can.
“My program introduced me to locals whom I was able to hang out with and practice my Catalan with,” she said. “This program helped me find new ways to apply my knowledge on a daily basis and has strengthened my independence by helping me travel to a new country on my own.”
Start Your Study Abroad Journey at McKendree
Want to learn how you can spend a semester studying in another country while remaining enrolled at McKendree? Have questions about financial aid? Contact Larry Davis III, study abroad coordinator, at (618) 537-6938 or stop over in Clark Hall to find out how you can make your study abroad dreams come true!
