Julianna Wong ’28 in Berlin, Germany
I’m majoring in German and Religion with a minor in Public Policy, but that wasn’t always the case. Veronica Feuchtner’s contagious enthusiasm and the German Studies program’s focus on theater and the arts convinced me to study German in Berlin this fall. Seeing and discussing so many plays and texts as part of the curriculum helped me grow as both a student and an artist. It opened my eyes to the way that contemporary art can elevate historical works and even place a magnifying glass on them.
Outside of my classes and cultural policy research, I also thought and spoke in the language with my host mother. She is an art curator who primarily deals with the themes of democracy and human rights in her exhibitions, which allowed me to see how different mediums of art could amplify and reframe the law in cultural contexts. When I think of my study abroad term, I think of her plum marmalade, Berlin’s limitless and accessible culture scene and a country that frequently revisits its past to create a brighter future.
As for the social scene, I knew from the start that this cohort would be tight-knit because the department was clearly committed to creating a meaningful student experience. We had a great mix of class years, ranging from ’28s to ’26s, with all different interests and backgrounds, from fashion and technology to soccer — “football” — and economics. We even supported one of the girls at the finish line under the Brandenburg Gate when she ran the Berlin marathon.
Julia Allos ’27 in Edinburgh, Scotland and Marrakesh, Morocco
When I arrived in Edinburgh, Scotland, for my study abroad through the Religion department, I was most excited about the Harry Potter landmarks. But I quickly learned that Edinburgh has far more to offer than its inspiration for Diagon Alley. I am already nostalgic for nights walking home from cozy coffee shops at sunset, laughing over dinner with my flatmates and heading to a pub for some live music. It is those simple memories that made my study abroad experience so special.
During the study abroad, I also got a chance to travel internationally. My favorite new city was Marrakesh, Morocco. I was only there for 48 hours, yet the trip was incredibly culturally enlightening. Though my parents both immigrated from the Middle East, I had never been to an Arabic-speaking country before. I was so excited to be immersed in my family’s culture. We explored the colorful Souks — traditional marketplaces — and went on a desert camel tour.
Maria Proulx ’26 in Swakopmund, Namibia
I've always been curious about the continent of Africa. When I was in middle school, I memorized a song which listed all 55 member states of the African Union. When I had the opportunity to travel to southern Africa on the Environmental Studies Namibia FSP, I was ecstatic! ENVS 40, 42 and 84 were rich, tactile, immersive experiences.
However, my favorite memories could not be captured by looking at a course syllabus. I learned the most by talking to the people. At Mondesa, an informal settlement outside of Swakopmund, in Namibia, I played a game of pickup soccer and spoke with a group of neighborhood kids. Nathan,12, and Trevor,11, shared their favorite things about themselves with me — their self-discipline in school, obedience to their parents and faith. I also met Jasmine, a little girl, at Khodi Hoas traditional village. We didn’t speak the same language, but she shyly smiled at me from behind her mother’s skirt. When I crouched down and waved, she plucked up the courage to walk over and hold my hand. Jasmine showed me around her home and I was, again, reminded that I can learn as much from a child who speaks a different language than me as I can from a professor with a PhD.
Brendan Brophy ’27 in Seoul, South Korea
My biggest takeaway from my trip abroad were the new relationships I made. From scaling the highest peaks in Seoul to having picnics on the Han River to studying almost daily in one of the numerous 24 hour cafes around Yonsei, the people made the place. After getting booted from our dorms at the end of the term, I spent every night in a different friend’s towering apartment complex wondering where the time went. Though I will reminisce about eating kimchi jjigae weekly or the fact that the Seoul-Boston timezone difference is ingrained in my brain, I will most remember my time at Yonsei because of the people that I shared it with.
