Teya Broyles
Class of 2025
Where did you go? For how long? What did you study? I went to both China and Spain in the summer of 2024. I was in China for 4 weeks and Spain for 2. In Spain, the class focused on Medieval History and Modern Culture. In China, the class focused on China's Environment and how it related to the world.
What was your biggest takeaway from the study away experience? My biggest takeaway from my study away experience was learning about different cultures as well as the friends and people I met during my trips. Some of them, I'm still friends with today.
What was something unexpected about your study away experience? Something unexpected about my study away experience is how kind and accepting people from these places were. It can be scary going to a new place with new people, but I was surprised that many of the people I encountered were extremely friendly and helpful.
What would you recommend to anyone considering studying away? I think if you are considering study away you should try and do it. It is something completely new and different and if it's something you're even considering, you should give it a chance. Some can be as short as two weeks, so I think you should definitely go for it!
Gloria Bajlozi
Class of 2026
Where did you go? For how long? What did you study? I studied abroad at Sungkyunkwan University in Seoul, South Korea, from August to December 2024. I continued my studies in Business Administration by taking Marketing Management, Organizational Behavior, and Business Communication. Fortunately, these classes were offered in person and in English, and the credits transferred back to UIS. I went with one of my best friends and together, we lived in an apartment with four other students.
What was your biggest takeaway from the study away experience? Studying abroad had always been something I was interested in since high school, but it never felt possible. Once I began the process of getting international courses approved, applying to the school, getting a passport and visa, I realized how much work it was. Despite all that, I’m grateful to have had the opportunity because the experience gave me some of my best memories.
What was something unexpected about your study away experience? Overall, I realized there was a lot more to the world than I had experienced before. My time in Korea made me want to travel more, learn about different cultures, and connect with people. I thought it might be difficult to get along with new people, but I was able to connect well with my roommates and classmates. Together, we explored historical and cultural landmarks, nature and scenic areas, theme parks, museums, and other various attractions. Two of my favorite memories were hiking on Inwangsan Mountain with my roommates and when I went on a short weekend trip to Gyeongju. We also got to try a lot of new food together - dakgalbi ended up being my favorite dish, and bingsu was my favorite dessert.
What would you recommend to anyone considering studying away? Studying abroad can be a big change, especially if you’re not an avid traveler, but the experience is irreplaceable. This time has been the best of my college career, and I’ll always look back on it fondly. I would recommend it to anyone who is considering studying away!
Kimberly Cuevas Martinez
Class of 2026
Where did you go? For how long? What did you study? I went to Ashikaga, Japan, for two weeks, where we studied Japanese language, history, and culture.
What was your biggest takeaway from the study away experience? My biggest takeaway was realizing how similar yet different our cultures are, from food, architecture, to language.
What was something unexpected about your study away experience? Something unexpected was the new connections and friendships we made with other students, many of whom I still keep in touch with.
What would you recommend to anyone considering studying away? I would recommend not being afraid to try a study away program. Whether short-term or long-term, you will walk away with lifelong experiences and memories
