I never thought I would….
Traveling to a new country for a study abroad experience can be both exciting and scary. There are so many new adventures awaiting you, and experiences you never imagined you would have. We asked our 2012-2013 UGRADS to reflect on some of the opportunities they took advantage of while studying in the U.S., and finish the sentence “Before coming here I never thought I would…” Here are some of the wonderful answers we received, we hope you’ll add a few more in the comments.
“Before coming here, I never thought I would… ever be able to watch a musical on Broadway!”
– Carolyn Cheong, Malaysia, University of New Hampshire
“Before coming here, I never thought I would meet so many wonderful people”
– Scarleth Subillaga, Honduras, Juniata College
“Before coming here, I never thought I would… plunge into one of the 10,000 frozen lakes of Minnesota! I survived!” [Read about it in this month’s UGRAD Post]
– Ian Jan Dalisay, Philippines, North Dakota State University
“Before coming here, I never thought I would have discovered the magic of multiculturalism all together in one place, and how the amazing people I have met make this experience so great.”
– Elizabeth Filippi, Guatemala, University of Evansville
“Before coming here, I never thought I would be squished into a car for a Denny’s run at three in the morning to eat a big amount of spaghetti and go to classes at 8 a.m. the same day. How crazy?!”
– Issis Castro, Honduras, Snow College
“Before coming here, I never thought I would shoot an arrow!” (Taking Archery classes!)
– Andrea Ferrer, Venezuela, Barnard College
“Before coming here, I never thought I would have a chance to experience cultural diversity and culture shock which are worth a life-time of experience.”
– Rachana Nget, Cambodia, Florida Gulf Coast University
“Before coming here, I never thought I would stay up the whole night to do an assignment!”
– Kai Shen Ee, Malaysia, Illinois State University
“Before coming here, I never thought I would be able to do ice skating. I am terrible at rollerblading, and ice skating would even be worse. In my first 15 minutes of trying, I fell more than 10 times. Even though my jeans (including underwear) were all wet, we wouldn’t know how great success is unless we fall. And I was finally able to ice skate. ”
– Hafiz Arahman, Indonesia, University of Southern Indiana
“Before coming here I never thought I would have such wonderful friends and experience double culture shock.”
– Eston Zera Ronsumbre, Indonesia, Nazareth College
“Before coming here, I never thought I would gain 15 lbs in two months!”
– Cristopher Eduardo Zelaya Nun᷉ez, Honduras, University of Missouri- Columbia
“Before coming here, I never thought I would have to actually check the weather forecast to see what the day was going to be like, because normally in my country they are never accurate…Lol! And have friends from so many different parts of the world!”
– Elena Mercedes Haro Lima, Guatemala, Marymount University
We’re glad everyone is having such interesting experiences, and meeting so many new people. Make sure to take advantage of your time while abroad and keep pursuing these once in a lifetime adventures!
– Mallory Orme