Students from the 2022 summer programs share their study abroad experiences.
ISU Music in the UK
Two weeks in London, England and one week in Edinburgh, Scotland, the ISU Music in the UK summer program explores Great Britain allowing students to discover music in the home, learn about musical instruments as primary cultural indicators, and experience great live music in the place where it was created. We asked trip participant Lucas Dahmn about their experience.
Describe your experience on the trip.
Studying abroad in the United Kingdom was the experience of a lifetime. Through this trip, I was able to have experiences entirely new and different from the rest of my time at ISU. Everywhere we went, we were walking in the footsteps of such rich histories—both musical and non-musical.
What is something you learned through the trip?
I learned what it is like to be transplanted into another culture, as even without a language barrier, the experience of feeling the differences between life in London and Edinburgh in contrast to Central Illinois was disorienting but exciting. Noticing all these differences, from changes in vocabulary to best practices for using the escalator, reminds you that just because we do some things one way, that way is not universal—it’s all dependent on where you are.
What would you say to students considering studying abroad?
You should go for it! This is a unique experience that is not available for students at many universities. Studying abroad can be a life-changing experience.
ISU in Orvieto
Students participating in the Illinois State University in Orvieto program travel to Italy, where they are able to view Italian art and architecture, participate on an archeological dig site, and completely absorb the Italian experience.
Describe your experience on the trip.
“My trip to Italy over the 2022 summer with Valle Gianni Field School was an amazing and, at the risk of sounding cliche, life-changing experience. Led by an excellent group of professors and directors, I was introduced to the art and architecture of Pompeii and Rome. Then, I spent three weeks in the small town of Gradoli learning about and taking part in excavation and archaeology, something I had no prior experience with but gained a passion for over the trip. I also had the opportunity to practice my Latin paleography skills with ancient texts regarding the areas we stayed in, and I was able to fully immerse myself in the culture of the different places we visited. With an intelligent, supportive, and fun group of students, my study abroad trip was more valuable than I could have hoped for.”—Brooke Lindell
What is something you learned through the trip?
“I definitely learned how to be okay with being uncomfortable and more confident in myself while participating in this study abroad. I had never left the country before and going to a new place where everything feels different and you don’t know the language was really nerve-wracking for me, but it was so worth it. Even though being in that situation could be uncomfortable at times, I learned to adapt to these new situations and that I could handle them.”—Lillian Ridinger
What would you say to students considering studying abroad?
“If you’re considering studying abroad, I would recommend jumping on every opportunity. You never know when you’ll get this chance again!”—Anna Tulley
