Curious about life while interning abroad? Meet Chloe Sperling, an API alum and marketing graduate at San Diego State University who had an extraordinary journey participating in a project-based internship in Paris. Recently, Chloe shared her personal experiences, challenges, and triumphs during her time with API, providing a real-world glimpse into the life of an intern abroad. 

Read on to see an insider’s look at Chloe’s unique projects and responsibilities during her internship:

Cultural Immersion

Chloe’s internship took place at Wepicurien, a France based e-commerce business that sells natural French wines. She and three other U.S. interns developed positioning and content for the brand with the goal of increasing brand visibility and sales, representing 30% of their business. 

Marked by rich cultural immersion, Chloe interacted with colleagues from France, Sweden, Germany, and Portugal, learning about their languages, customs, and projects. This exposure broadened her understanding of international work cultures and helped her overcome initial apprehensions regarding the language barrier. Her travels across Europe, including attending Bastille Day in Paris and visiting wineries in Bordeaux and Champagne, further deepened her appreciation for diverse cultures and lifestyles.

Skills Gained

Throughout her internship, Chloe worked on Wepicurien’s bilingual website, enhancing her language proficiency in both French and English. This linguistic development was complemented by practical skills in international business and marketing. Engaging with the CEO of Krug champagne provided valuable insights into managing large-scale businesses. 

Her experiences contributed significantly to her professional growth, equipping her with unique competencies that later favored her career with Oak View Group, a global sports and entertainment company, and CG Hunter, a startup specializing in luxury faux greenery and home decor. Her internship also impacted her academic career allowing her to earn credits to graduate early!

API’s Support

API inquired about Chloe’s interests and career goals to ensure her internship placement allowed her to maximize learning and career growth. The project-based nature of the internship fostered collaboration and networking, not just with international peers, but also with fellow students from San Diego State University. API’s connections also facilitated unique learning opportunities, such as a personal tour of the St. Laurent museum, enriching Chloe’s understanding of luxury fashion marketing.

Advice for Future Interns

For those considering a similar journey, Chloe encourages future interns to embrace the challenges and opportunities of working in a diverse environment: 

“I think about the world in a new way and I gained a new sense of confidence and international knowledge that I can carry with me throughout my life.”

Chloe’s story underscores the importance of leveraging such international experiences for academic and career advancement: 

“I am so thankful for this experience because I gained so many opportunities both during the internship and after returning to the states. I benefitted from my experience abroad and expanded professional opportunities coming home.” 

Experience Paris with API

Dreaming of an internship in Paris or another exciting global location? If you’re ready to embark on your own journey, API offers a range of project-based internships tailored to your academic and professional goals. Start your journey and take the leap to discover how an international internship can enhance your resume, broaden your skill set, and change your perspective on the world!

The post Project-Based Internships: Chloe’s Experience appeared first on Academic Programs International.

As we reflect on 2022, we wanted to share some of the stories our API Alumni shared with our #TravelTuesdays series on social media. We hope their photos and experiences inspire you to explore your opportunities abroad this coming year and consider these locations for your 2023 plans!

API Alumni Experiences

Costa Rica

Meet student blogger, Savannah Stanley! She’s a University of Wisconsin – La Crosse and a Spring 2019 API student alumni. She enrolled in API’s Multidisciplinary & Environmental Studies program at Universidad Veritas in San Jose, Costa Rica. Savannah shared her first impressions of the gorgeous homestay where she lived!

“Every morning when I eat breakfast, my Mama Tica, (my Costa Rican host mother), and Tia, (Costa Rican host aunt), sit with me. Our chats range from how I am feeling to traditional Costa Rican food to the current economic crisis. My heart glows knowing that they truly care about my day, mood, sleep, health, ability to learn Spanish, and so on. In less than a week, I feel as though I am a part of this familia tica (Costa Rican family).”

Another student, Sara Oswalt, interned with API in Costa Rica! 

“Interning in Costa Rica has been a fantastic experience so far! While here I’ve been able to do a rotational internship with the company COAMESA. They are a company that assists with the marketing and distribution of products throughout Central America. So far, I have been able to learn from the Operations and Marketing Departments. I was able to visit production plants and try to make some of the products as well as visit the physical stores and check on the layouts. Walmart is also a large grocery store in Costa Rica, and it’s been crazy to see the influence that it has over the world when its headquarters are so close to campus!”

England

API Alum Hanna Murphy, a Criminology and Delinquency major at Emporia State University, studied abroad in London at Kingston University. We were lucky enough to ask her a few questions about her experience with API. 

“When I traveled to London in January, I was a Creative Writing major. By the time I came home, I realized Creative Writing was not the direction I wanted to take my life. So I switched majors to Criminology and Delinquency, making Creative Writing my minor. We took an excursion to The London Dungeons where we learned about Jack the Ripper. 

I wrote a paper about him, and I realized this topic sparked a lot of interest in me; I enjoy solving problems and mysteries! I think that is something I could do with my life. 

As a result, I spoke to my advisor at Emporia, and she helped me make the switch. If I hadn’t gone on that excursion, I may have never discovered this passion. In this way, API made a large impact on my career trajectory.”

Italy

We also featured Brigid Loftus, a University of Massachusetts, Amherst student. Brigid studied abroad in 2019 with API in Rome, Italy! She wrote a helpful blog post on how to balance weekend trips and travel with your coursework. 

“Scheduling time out of my day to do homework greatly increased the freedom I had to explore both Rome and other countries on the weekend.”

Next, we heard from University of Alabama student and API Alumni, Anna Johnson, who studied abroad in Florence, Italy. She encouraged students to explore other cities while abroad! 

“Since it is so easy and fairly cheap to travel within Italy, I figured a quick trip to Milan, the fashion capital, was in order. It was absolutely worth it as the Duomo di Milano is breathtaking.”

Ava Giorgio, a Public Relations student at Harrington School, spent her junior year in Florence, Italy with API! She explored her interests in Italian culture, history, and traditions. 

“I got to see parts of the world in four months that have been on my bucket list since I was little. Embracing the culture’s customs, traditions, and social atmospheres made my experience much more enjoyable.”

Rachael, a Global Ambassador and Salve Regina student, also studied abroad with API in Florence! She emphasizes the strength of the friendships she made while abroad. 

“My friends and I met in Florence when studying abroad with API last spring in 2022. We connected immediately, did everything together in Florence, and traveled to other cities together. On our final night together, we all sat on the steps of Santa Croce, discussing when we would meet up again.  

Fast forward after our experience, and we decided to meet in Newport, Rhode Island, for my and Chloe’s birthday. We had friends travel from Alabama, Vermont, Connecticut, and so on! We ate at Italian restaurants reminiscing about our time in Italy, comparing the meals from the ones we shared together abroad.”

Spain

Finally, we had the chance to learn about Tamara Anderson’s experience studying abroad in Seville, Spain! Some of her favorite experiences included flamenco dancing in the streets and excursions to Granada with other API students. Her time in Spain also revealed her skills in adaptability and reinforced her values surrounding friends and community. 

“When studying abroad with API, I recommend taking advantage of the excursions! You can travel without worrying about organizing the little things–API takes care of it for you!”

Shoutout to Our API Alumni!

A big thank you to our API Alumni who shared their experiences with us! In sharing your stories, we spread the word about the benefits of studying and interning abroad. Your story may have a positive impact on other students, encouraging them to consider a life-changing experience abroad! 

If you studied or interned abroad with API, and wish to share your memories, experiences, travel tips, and more, please reach out! You can DM us through our Instagram account or email Hannah at hannah.olevson@apiexperience.com. We would love to feature you and share your story!

The post 2022 API Alumni #TravelTuesdays Roundup appeared first on Academic Programs International.

It’s hard to think of a typical day in Cuba.

I can tell you things that became routine, but even within those moments, sometimes were distinct. I quickly found the routine of going to breakfast in the morning, class, then doing something in between for free time and dinner in the evening. This brought a level of familiarity to me as I could use this mold to determine how my day was going to go. 

Instead of a typical day, what I will do is tell you about a particular day that stands out to me. One afternoon we had scheduled to go on an old fashion car tour. You guessed it! We road in a classic car that has been maintained since the ’50s, the icon of what many US citizens consider the pinnacle of Cuban culture. However, on multiple occasions, I grew to understand that this was only a minor accessory on the body of Cuban culture. Emily, our API advisor, arranged for two cars between five students. I would have fastened my seatbelt (metaphorically and literally), but they did not exist in the ’50s. Our driver Raul took us around the city.

While driving, he told us his car’s history.

It has been in his family for nearly three generations, a gift from his grandfather to his father and then to him. He told us how when he needed repairs for his engine he had ingenuity and luck to figure out the problem that otherwise could have put him in a bad financial situation. Raul made his living from driving tours like many other Cubans that have a car and can afford to do so. It is a very profitable business so much so that they are paid more than doctors are.

Our tour took us to the outskirts of Havana.

We stopped in a park where there was a Santeria (which is a syncretized religion of traditional African beliefs and Catholicism) ceremony taking place. I heard the bells and singing, to remain respectful we observed from a distance then left after a few minutes. On our way back to the city, Raul played some hits by Bruno Mars, which speaks to his success doing driving tours. Many Cubans who can pour into their cars do so since it is their business. And I was fortunate enough to have that experience.

Emily taking us on that tour showed me that many people who travel to Cuba only gain one perspective: the tourist.

Most people neglect the day to day and the average life for most people there because they are swept away by nostalgia. While I had many experiences that were typical, those same experiences allowed me to appreciate the uniqueness of Cuban culture as I saw it day to day. The people, land, and culture have so much to teach and if we only choose to listen for what’s appealing we miss out on the wealth that lies beneath the surface. 

The post A Moment in Cuba appeared first on Academic Programs International.

Hey readers! Time for the sequel to my Omg-this-trip-changed-my-entire-outlook-on-what-is-normal Culture Shock Blog Entry! It’s nice to come full circle and comment on my experience coming back.

As I approached the end of my stay in Chile, I was excited to see how the United States would look different when I came back.

Would I notice myself having become more independent, would Spanish accidentally fall out of my mouth like the quintessential #bilingual student? I was eager to see how Chile had changed me!!

I liked being in a different country. I liked feeling a bit more at liberty to go out and explore, and I liked the connections I made with the people I met, and I didn’t want my time abroad to leave me unmarked. I was looking forward to culture shock because from my reckoning that would vindicate how deeply I engaged with the culture and how much my experience impacted me.

Well the time came, December 13th, when I was escorted to the airport to begin my trip back to the United States. It’s in the airport that I felt the first waves of my reverse culture shock (kind of).  As I was asking people for help with finding my airline, in Spanish, I encountering one woman whose face kind of shrunk back when I asked her a question. She told me, in English, that she didn’t speak Spanish.

This was the first time in months that I wasn’t in a purely Spanish-speaking environment–it’s the moment it really sunk in that I was leaving.  I tried to cling on to Chile as much as I could. I looked for any excuse to use Spanish and made every effort to signal to Spanish speakers that I was still a part of them.  My reasoning was that if I could hold on to even some social solidarity, if I could distinguish myself from the foreigners through language I could slow down the feeling of being ejected out of Chile so quickly.

In a stroke of luck (if luck is the right word) I ended up finding a very good reason to speak Spanish with one of the airline attendants. My bag was overweight by a full 20 kilograms.  In the rushed process of trying to redistribute my weight to other bags, I spoke with the attendants at the airport primarily in Spanish (which felt like an especial accomplishment since one woman tending a kiosk initially spoke to me in English).

All of this was resolved in the end. In all honesty I half hoped that my overweight bag might be some providence from God to keep me in Chile for a little bit longer.  Not so lucky.

As I made my way to my gate, I resumed my search for trying to “connect” other Spanish speakers, nudging a wee bit closer to people I heard speaking Spanish to show I could understand, or maybe position myself to be engaged, all while not actually jumping into conversations that didn’t involve me. It was a weird tension to navigate. 

I boarded the plane and began the long…long…trip to the United States.

When I finally arrived back in my state, I felt dissatisfied.  I missed Valparaiso-the beach, los cerros, the friends, the college, and in one fell swoop, all of it was gone.

So how did I respond to this missing? I acted like an expat in my own city, particularly by looking for opportunities to use Spanish in any way that I could.  On one hand I was genuinely excited to apply my Spanish skills, but I was also fearful of losing my new-found skills in the language (and, by association, losing the influence Chile had on me).  I started to listen to more music in Spanish actively and looked for ways to speak Spanish–to anyone both especially friends in the States and that I had left in Valparaiso (or who had gone back to their respective countries)–to still feel “in” the Latin community. I wanted to make my life in the states feel less familiar, but, just like when I f irst arrived in Chile, everything felt too close. 

That’s not to say that I didn’t notice some differences. My state felt slower (such is the south) and more structured.  On the drive back home from the airport I saw a handful of new construction projects that made me feel just slightly alienated from the landscape, it was less like what I remembered of my state.  As I got back into my routine and reconnected with old friends, I noticed that many looked …older. These changes made it seem just a little less like “coming back home.” but not in the way I really wanted.

Even trying to find a place in the Latin community I had to realize may not be all I had made it out to be.

An opportunity arose for me to test my Spanish at church.  My church has a bilingual Campus to serve members of the community who speak Spanish and so, naturally, we have gotten more people who do Speak Spanish. In December, I had signed up to sing in the choir for two Christmas Services. As I stood with the choir, waiting to take the stage, I heard a group of people speaking…..something. I only caught syllables but the inflection, the pace…it sounded like Spanish. It was Spanish!

I introduced myself to the people speaking Spanish–they were from Bolivia. In the moment, it felt like a knot in my stomach came undone: I had the chance to feel right back in the Chilean swing of things. In my mind, I could signal to the other Americans there that i was different enough to be distinguished from them, and to the Bolivians that I was similar enough (lingually) to be accepted by them. I wanted to be a part of the group, and so I would try to stay close to them and engage myself in their conversations. 

As the excitement wore down, I was left feeling awkward. They didn’t seem necessarily happy that I was talking to them. Still hospitable, they gave me confused glances and uncomfortable smiles and as an acknowledgement to the things that I said..Maybe I’m reading too much into body language–they did just meet me after all–but my discomfort did at least lead me to consider that speaking Spanish in a Spanish-speaking country does not  have the social meaning as speaking Spanish in an English-speaking country.

Here, the Bolivians felt comfortable with each other precisely because of a common language, culture, and background. Sharing one of these things, language, was not an invitation to speak Spanish with them.  Maybe, instead, I was actually intruding. That thought left me feeling embarrassed: my attempt to become “one” with the Latin people around me started to take on a tone that’s a lot more boisterous than what I intended.  Seeking out connectivity wouldn’t be just like it was in Chile.

Therein lies my culture shock: not a host of cultural idiosyncrasies that I would apply out of context.

Like “forgetting” English or new Chilean mannerisms, I found myself adjusting the very preconceived notions of how I would live my life returning to the United States. It was more subtle. More like refining the lessons that I learned while abroad–not simply using them as an absolute critique on my lifestyle here. My continued use of Spanish was neither marked by involuntary relapses to Spanish nor an automatic “solidarity” with the Latin community.  I still feared I would lose my Spanish, losing something that made me feel special and still connected to Chile. I expressed this fear to a friend back in Chile who was moving out the guest home that I had stayed in, she simply said, “no piérdelo, entonces” (then, don’t lose it).

No piérdelo, entonces

The simplicity of this statement is what struck me and encouraged me. There was a choice in whether my Spanish continued to develop. She wasn’t hung up over losing her Spanish: she was confident in her ability to regularly apply it, and to do so in appropriate social circumstances. Retaining Spanish wasn’t a Herculean fight against some predetermined English encroachment.

That simple change in perspective took away a lot of pressure because it recentered me around something I already knew: Spanish isn’t elusive–it’s communication.  Therefore, my drive for using Spanish should not be reduced to a last ditch effort towards retaining some Je ne sai quois that I feel Chile gave me. The more that I was stressed about performing Spanish rather than using it, I noticed I would stumble. When I focused less on how my comprehension in Spanish sounds or looks, II communicated more smoothly because my goal shifted.

I realized I didn’t need to look for opportunities to show my Spanish knowledge, like I had with Bolivians at church. I already had Chilean friends,: there was no reason to force myself into relationship on lingual terms.  Not only do I have friends but now I have even greater access to and a greater ability to comprehend to all sorts of entertainment and informative media. I have the tools I need to retain my practice–I can slip into that world of Spanish whenever I want. I don’t have to fight for it or use it to cling to my time abroad. 

In all of this readjusting, the biggest thing I’ve taken away is that I didn’t have to force my culture shock experience to look or feel a certain way.  The biggest impact I have noticed is a desire to engage affairs specifically relating to Chile and to Latin America more through the lens of Spanish in particular.  Instead of leaving me something “spectacularly permanent” to store in the attic of my mind, my reverse culture shock has helped me more fully embrace my feelings that I didn’t learn enough and go back in whatever ways I can. Thanks for reading!

The post The Reentry appeared first on Academic Programs International.

It is 08:06 as I depart Kraków and heads towards northwestern Szczecin, around six hours away.

With finals around the corner, a couple scattered hours of studying are completed amidst staring out the bus window at a pale sky underlain with green and brown patchwork. Beyond the fields there are hillside castles and churches that stick out from the middle of towns and small cities. Passing through Wrocław, I am reminded of one of my flat mates who had visited a week or two earlier.

We were exiting route 98 and from afar, this beautiful gothic church (St. Henry church on Ul. Gliniana) caught my eye. I rushed (disrupting my peace) as most tourists would to get a decent photo. At the time, I was upset with the image––an unfavorable angle, reflections covering a fifth of the church, electric wires running through the towers––but I appreciate it now as a memory of a peaceful time even as the bus rushed through the city.

By midafternoon, Szczecin welcomed me with the faint smell of fish from the city seaport.

Although I spent the first day gallivanting around trying not to get lost, the next day, I would have an encounter at Pasztecik that would leave me with a deep connection to this city. By the 2^nd, I had been to two other dine-in franchises in the city (Ziemnaki i Spolka and Alternatywnie) and each had very kind servers who could speak English or, if they could not, tried to communicate with me and my broken Polish.

Pasztecik’s cashier was different. I entered and greeted her cheerfully “Dzien dobry.” After viewing the menu, I asked, “Czy pani mowisz po angielsku?” To which she sourly answered “Nie” and looked away from me as if I would not get service. I hesitated for a second because this was my first time being rejected in this manner. I disliked asking if a person spoke English especially upfront, but it was a way to know who I was talking to language-wise and for them to know my capabilities.

Not discouraged, I read through the menu as well as I could and then spoke, “Okay, czy mogę mieć grzybek? Poproszę, jeden.” It was good enough for her. When picking up my croquette at the kitchen window the chief asked me if I had ordered one or two, and I did not understand. I should have said that I did not understand, but I figured it was a fifty-fifty question so I answered “Tak” (yes). She checked with the cashier and confirmed that I had only ordered one. I apologized then went to the center table with my SOS Grzybowy (mushroom croquette). It was the best fast food I have ever had: very rich from the butter, very crunchy from the fryer, and very savory from the mushrooms (possibly had some kapusta (cabbage). The food was not the best part of this encounter though.

When I was about to leave I glanced back at the both cashier and chef by the kitchen window who had been watching me eat, and gave them a “Dziekuję, do widzenia!” To which the priorly stubborn cashier replied, “Goodbye” in English and smiled delightfully at me.

Although the air outside was brisk, I was warmed by her farewell. It is a wonderful lesson: our languages may be split and confusing to comprehend perfectly, but that gives us more the reason to keep communicating as best as we are able to at the time. Be brave in the unknown, be kind in the uncivil, be optimistic in the unpropitious.

The post Szczecin: A Friendly Interaction appeared first on Academic Programs International.

During your study abroad journey you learned and experienced so much. Not only did you learn about another culture but you also gaining a deeper understanding of your own identity and where you fit in the world. You grew as an individual and gained some key life skills. You feel cultured and invigorated to share your experiences with everyone! However, it’s already been a few weeks since your return and no one seems to want to hear about your stories anymore. So, what now? How can you keep your study abroad experience and passion for other cultures going?

Birds of a Feather Flock Together

• Attend a re-entry event at your school or the Lessons From Abroad Conference.
  This is a great opportunity to share and exchange study abroad experiences with your peers; but also, to unpack your experiences and to learn how they can be transferred to the workforce. It’s also a great opportunity to spoof up a resume or cover letter. The API toolbox is a great resource to get you started. In today’s Globalized market employers are in search of young applicants with international experience, problem solving and cross-cultural communication skills. Your travel stories can be a great way to explain how you learned key skills that can help you to stand out. Some examples being how you took into consideration exchange rates and created a budgeting plan and or took the initiative to travel on your own, put in the research and planned all the logistics from travel, itinerary, lodging and etc.
• Reach out and utilize API!
  API has an alumni network – Returning students have the opportunity to continue to be engaged with API through a variety of alumni programming opportunities.  Whether you are connected through the API Alumni Network, keeping up to date with current job postings and items of interest in the API Alumni Facebook and LinkedIn groups, API continues to support participants post-experience.
• Additionally, API’s Global Leadership Academy offers student leaders the opportunity to build core competencies of global leadership in a dynamic and creative atmosphere. 
  The program helps participants develop skills to share their experience in their community, on campus and in job interviews. Students host collaborative events to share their international story and learn to integrate their international experience into their chosen career path.
• Don’t be afraid to go back to your study abroad office often and to ask your advisors for options on what you can do to help either international and or national students.
  After my study abroad experience, I practically lived at the study abroad office, not just because it was comfortable and because I liked the people but because I wanted to do more. You may be surprised by how much help you can provide and what opportunities (some of them paid) maybe available. Some possibilities include:
  • Becoming a global student mentor & helping international students to assimilate
  • Becoming a peer mentor & helping your fellow peers find the best program
  • Volunteer by tabling & promoting the program you went abroad with at study abroad fairs, events & orientations
• Join a language club (and/or become its leader) to continue practicing your foreign language skills and to have the ability to create events that would allow you to further share this language with your peers and community.

Getting involved outside of the school setting

• Cook a meal from your study abroad location and share it with friends and or family. Not a cook? Not a problem! Find a local restaurant which serves that ethnic cuisine & take your friends.
• Look up your study abroad country’s consulate website. Sometimes they post local events and or activities, as well as some other useful resources.
• Google and see if there are any local groups and or events linked to the country you studied abroad in; you may be surprised by what you find.
• Stay in touch with the friends that you made abroad and become digital pen pals.
• Create a scrap book or video montage of your experience.
• Follow a news channel from that country and listen to it once a week to stay up to date and practice your language comprehension skills.
• Watch and listen to media in that language whether it be in the form of music, movies or shows. Many streaming websites usually have a good library of foreign films and you can even change the language and or watch with subtitles.

This is just a general list of all the options that are easily available to you to continue your study abroad experience and to share your passion of travel and other cultures with those around you after re-entry.

Even if you don’t utilize any of these options just know that wherever you go, you unintentionally end up taking a piece of that place back with you whether it is a new expression, recipe, outlook, etc.  For me, my study abroad experience and re-entry completely re-routed my life trajectory. It led me to pursue a career in the international higher education field so that I may share my passion for other cultures and help future youths to have an impactful international educational experience.

The post Continuing the Study Abroad Experience at Home appeared first on Academic Programs International.

In today’s social media driven world it isn’t difficult to get distracted for long periods of time by our screens.

We vow to only check if we got a new message and before we know it three hours have already gone by. For students studying abroad the buzzing and glowing siren’s call of our phones and computers tends to grow stronger after the initial novelty of being in another country starts to wear off. Our thoughts start drifting back towards friends, family and the everyday happenings of back home. Sometimes this happens because we are homesick, bored, or just plain tired out by all the new stimuli and attempts to adapt and assimilate into our new environment. We just crave a sense of familiarity.

Having social media and technology while being abroad isn’t necessarily a bad thing.  Rather in many ways it can be useful in helping students to find inspiration, keep track of/ document their experiences, find directions, do homework, research places to explore and new foods to try, etc. It also allows one to stay connected to their friends and families. However, it does become a problem when a student spends all their time focused on social media (getting fomo), taking the perfect picture to document each and every little thing, talking to friends and family and or watching Netflix. 

Moderation is key as such it is important to make a practice of setting social media time limits and or of using a program that blocks your social media access during certain times of the day.

After all, you didn’t travel hundreds of miles to a foreign country just to do the same things that you would back home. It is important to be present in the moment and to take full advantage of the study abroad experience. 

While I was studying abroad in Madrid Spain, I had the misfortune of having my phone pickpocketed. I had no other option than to buy myself a cheap lo- tech phone with a very basic pay as you go plan which didn’t include many gigs of internet. Although upsetting at the time, getting my phone pickpocketed may have been one of the best things to happen to me. Since the phone was so basic with such limited social media functions and the sight of it was a constant reminder of my carelessness, I lost the need to use and or look at my phone as often. For the first time I felt that I was off the grid and it dawned on me how much time I spent on my phone and how much I had relied on it.

Unfortunately, the same could not be said for some of my fellow expat friends that I had made who were also living in my residencia.

I am naturally one of those people who gets restless when they stay inside for too long and I enjoy company.

As such whenever I had free time, I would go knock on my friends’ doors to ask if they wanted to join me in going to an event, exploring the city, or even just to go visit our neighborhood coffeeshop. I had one friend who every time without fail would be in his room watching Netflix or surfing the web. He only ever left his room to go to class and or program led outings! Every time I knocked on his door I would either have to physically drag him out of the room and or find different ways to guilt ….oops! I meant convince him to join me. 

Almost on the opposite side of the spectrum personality wise, I had another friend who would always be down to join me no matter what. However, she was really into the influencer culture and instead of living in the moment it was as if she viewed the world through her I-phones camera lens. This girl’s pictures were amazing! She also had a lot of followers, but what her followers didn’t see was all the work that she put into manipulating “the moment” outside of the frame. I will never forget how one day she invited me to go to the local coffee shop with her. She ordered the specialty coffee, took a few pictures and promptly dumped the whole thing in a nearby garbage. It turns out that she disliked coffee and that it was just “all for the gram.”

While abroad, we sometimes tend to forget how privileged we are to have the opportunity to study abroad and to travel to another country at all.

We tend to carry and or retreat into the safety of the “home grown bubble of our Western life styles” (A. Ogden) habits and norms. It is our responsibility to make the most of our time, to search out new experiences and to be present in the moment not glued to a screen.

Looking back, I sometimes wish that I had a better camera or made the time to blog extensively about my experiences, but I have no regrets because the time I could have been typing and documenting everything on my computer and or phone I was usually off exploring, making new friends and memories.

SOURCE: Ogden, A. (2008) “The View from the Veranda: Understanding Today’s Colonial Student.” Frontiers: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Study Abroad

The post Beware the Media Rabbit Hole appeared first on Academic Programs International.

What I’ll remember from study abroad

Cachai, bacán and palta. These are just three of the many words I have learned during my time here. Before a trip it can be fun to add a few of these words to your vocabulary. While so many new words and accents can be difficult to understand (especially when you first arrive) I believe it improves your experience, allowing you to better experience the culture and how it differs from any other country in South America.

I can’t talk about Chile without mentioning its breathtaking landscape.

Whether gazing at the Andes or watching a sunset on the beach, you are in constant awe of nature and the grandness of every geographic formation here in Chile. Adorning this landscape is a wide variety of diverse and colorful architecture. In Valparaíso alone, historical architecture from England, Germany and France adorn the streets. A port city built on rolling hills by the ocean, these colorful buildings decorate the hills of Valparaíso and (sometimes) even seem to defy gravity like this house here!

 After the first few temblors (small earthquakes) I no longer thought it was out of the ordinary to feel small shakes and better appreciate the architecture around me even more — knowing most of it had withstood a magnitude 8.8 earthquake in 2010!

Every trip to the hills is sure to end with a new discovery and some colorful pics!

Cerro Alegre, Concepcion and Mariposa are some of the most famous, although interesting sights can be seen all over the hills. Local artists sell paintings of the ocean and houses that can make great souvenirs as well. When adventuring around the city, be prepared to walk, but if you’re feeling like taking a short cut, pay a small fee to ride an ascensor up to your hill.

For more souvenirs venture to one of the many ferias (local street vendors) in Valparaíso’s Plaza Sotomayor. Jewelry, books, antiques and sweets sold by locals these ferias can make some fun trips after class.

Chile’s history is also intriguing.

Hearing my friends, host parents and professors’ outlook on the Chilean identity taught me things about the country that I could never learn from a textbook. From the nation’s native past, to its complicated colonization, all the way to Chile’s vote to end a dictatorship in the 80s, the nation is made up of strong and resilient people. Even today the country continues to adapt as the nation experiences continued growth and development. 

Chile is an excellent option for students in search of a culturally rich experience with some challenges and great rewards.

Chile offers an opportunity to learn about ancient native history, witness the artistic diversity of Valparaíso street art and learn the cultural slang.

The post Looking Back on Studying Abroad appeared first on Academic Programs International.

We welcomed incoming participants of the API Global Leadership Academy to our headquarters for a weekend of training and professional development before their tenure began!

The Global Leaders were able to explore the unique city of Austin, Texas, reflect on their experiences abroad, build professional competencies, and meet members of API staff.

This academic year, they will be building core competencies in global leadership, reflecting on the impact of their international experiences, and engaging with their campuses and communities to promote international education. API Global Leaders leave the program with an edge in the global marketplace and a strong contribution to their résumés.

From the first meal shared by the Global Leaders and the alumni team, there were moments of reflection on their API study abroad experience and its meaningful impact on them.

Opportunities to recognize skills developed during their time abroad and how to discuss them with others were a core part of their weekend training. The Global Leaders were also able to speak with many of our staff members who made their experiences possible, and who were thrilled to meet them!

There was also some time to enjoy the eclectic neighborhoods, fantastic local culinary spots, and famous landmarks that make Austin like no other city!

While the Academic Year Global Leaders’ training has passed, there is still time to apply to be part of the fall and spring semester of the Global Leadership Academy!

If you are an API alumna/us and wish to learn more about the program, feel free to contact alumni@apiabroad.com or click here to apply!

The post API Global Leaders Visit Austin appeared first on Academic Programs International.

One of the big pieces of advice we give to new alumni is to keep in touch! Stay in contact with not only API, but the friends you make during your study abroad journey. Nurture those enriching relationships that you make and you’ll see your study abroad experience continue to be rewarding, even years down the road.

Today we’re interviewing Noelle Willecke. She currently works as the Assistant Director for International Student Services at Columbia University’s International Students & Scholars Office. She’s also a 2004 alumni of our Florence Semester Program. Recently, she and her roommate Toni were able to reconnect over a 14-year-old bottle of wine!

API: Tell us a little more about how this came about. Where did the wine bottle come from?

Noelle: We were at a wine tasting that API actually set up for us. This was the third wine that we tried and we both really liked it… Honestly, I don’t remember whose idea it was. I’m assuming it was mine because I was taking a wine tasting class and we were learning about vintages, saving wine, and storing it until it reached its peak. So I think we just came up with this idea of “We should buy the bottle now, wait until it reaches its peak, which would be 14 years from that year, and then we should get together and drink it.”

We made that agreement and we pinky swore on it; we have that picture of us pinky swearing about it, and no one believed us! They were saying “Oh, there’s no way you guys are going to keep in touch; there’s no way you’ll get together in 14 years!” But we did stay in touch! We visited each other a couple times and then we did do it 14 years later!

API: What was Florence like in 2004 for you and Toni?

Noelle: I felt like I was in this amazing little snow globe, as if there was a bubble around us because the city is so historic. It just felt like all that mattered was Florence and everything else was separate. It was a wonderful feeling.

I think I was very fortunate in that when I studied abroad, social media was not a big thing. I still used a Discman; iPods had just come out! We really spent so much time connecting with people face to face, and that was wonderful. When I went back two years later, it was cool to go back because I knew a lot about Florence so I felt a bit like a “local”.

API: It’s pretty interesting to think about not having a smartphone abroad!

Noelle: We walked around with maps! We would try to not look like a tourist. Whenever we would open a map, we’d go to a corner of a building or church and try to open up the map so people wouldn’t spot us as tourists.

Toni is the one who taught me how to text message; no one I knew was texting back then. It was huge in Europe though. It was cheaper to text, so that’s what a lot of us did. We got phones when we were there that we would use to text each other. It was a totally different experience back then.

API: How would you say studying abroad has helped you in your adult life, career and friendships?

Noelle: Studying abroad completely changed my life. Toni was the one who taught me how to create a community around me. We explored a lot but once we found like a cappuccino place that we liked, we went to the same cappuccino place. We found a lunch spot we liked so we went to the same lunch spot. We really created this community around us.

When I finished my study abroad experience, I wanted to do that again. I initially thought after college, I would go back to Italy. But I just had this feeling that it would be “too easy”; I knew the city, I knew Italian decently by then, I knew the people, and I just wanted to have that experience again of trying to connect with the community and culture on my own. After college, I moved to Barcelona, Spain and I did a teaching/training certificate to teach English as a second language. I lived there for a year.

At the end, I decided I wanted to make a career out of this. I had to, in some way, live in this world of international education. I went to grad school for it and taught English for another two years. Then I moved into working with international student services. My entire career trajectory was based on that study abroad experience.

API: What advice do you have for incoming study abroad students who might be a bit nervous about meeting their roommate?

Noelle: I think that’s a normal feeling to be nervous about who you end up living with. When you study abroad you’re kind of at that age where you sort of already have a group of friends and you know who you like. But these study abroad experiences… the whole thing is such a learning experience. I went into it thinking whoever my roommates are, I’m just going to try to learn from them too. I lived with three other girls; we were all from different parts of the U.S. with different backgrounds, religions, and families.

A good example: I came from a place where nobody did sororities; in my college it was not a thing. One of my roommates was going to school in the south where everyone was in a sorority, that was how you had a social life. Instead of thinking “okay, we’re just different, we’re not going to get along,” I just tried to learn from it. I asked her to teach me about it, show me pictures and tell me about life there.

Even if you may not leave with them being one of your best or lifelong friends, it’s still an opportunity to learn and grow. You’re not just learning about the language and culture of where you are, but from your roommates themselves. I would say go in with an open mind and bring pictures from back home! It’s fun to share your background with everyone.

API: Anything else you’d like to add?

Noelle: Another piece of advice I give to anyone studying abroad is the thing that Toni taught me about creating a community around you. I’ve carried that with me my whole life. I’ve moved a ton through Europe and the East Coast, and everywhere I go, I try to create that community around me. Try those coffee shops and lunch spots and settle in on one you really like. You end up making a friend there and it will really connect you to where you are and makes you feel comfortable and like you’re a part of the community around you.

Even in Manhattan, I’ve done this as I’ve moved to three different areas in the past nine years. Every time I move to a new area, I think “I don’t know anyone; I don’t connect with this neighborhood!” Then I remember, “Oh! Do that thing Toni taught you!” Soon I go to the same pilates studios, farmer’s market vendors that I see every weekend, and soon it feels like my community, and my neighborhood that I’m a part of!

Thank you Noelle for sharing your experience!

The post Roommate Reunion [14 Years after studying abroad in Florence] appeared first on Academic Programs International.