Abigail Dunagan, Campus Carrier features editor

Cammie Wilks, Campus Carrier asst. features editor

One of the many exciting opportunities that Berry offers is the chance for students to take academic courses in other countries around the world. These opportunities come in different forms, with some programs inviting students to travel abroad for an entire semester, while others allow students to take classes over the summer with Berry faculty. While the classes are an important part of the trip, students are encouraged to make the most of the opportunity by embracing the culture of a new city. Many who have studied abroad found it to be an enriching experience where they have created new friendships and learned more about the world. 

Berry’s summer study abroad programs differ from each other, as these trips are led by different professors depending on the courses that are taught. For two weeks during last summer, the psychology department led a group of students to Athens, Greece to take two courses, PSY 441: The Psychology of Vision and Art and PSY 445: The Psychology of Eating and Drinking. Since students would only be in Greece for two weeks, the classes were taught online for three weeks prior to the departure.  

Senior Claire Harrison is an Exercise Science major with a minor in Psychology, and this trip was her first time traveling out of the country. Prior to the trip, Greece was high up on her bucket list of places to visit. Although Harrison had never traveled overseas before, she found that Greece didn’t feel very different from the U.S. because many locals spoke English.  

After the nine-hour flight, there was little time for jetlag as each day of the trip was packed with tours and activities. The group had a tour guide that led them around the city, and they got to participate in food tours and museum visits. According to Harrison, one of her favorite activities was a trip to the island of Naxos, where they got to visit a local farm. 

“That was really cool because we got to see how cheese was made and how they age it,” Harrison said. “We got to feed goats and see pigs and chickens. The farmhouse family made us a picnic lunch at the very end and none of us knew about it. It was really special to be with them.”  

While she didn’t experience much jet lag upon arriving to Greece, Harrison said that the jet lag was much worse returning to the U.S. She found it difficult to adjust back to some aspects of normal life, such as needing a car to get to most places instead of being able to walk. 

This experience opened her world view, and Harrison said that she would love to visit more of Greece and to travel to other countries in Europe.  

“You never know unless you try,” Harrison said. “It was the best time of my life. I met so many people, and hopefully I’ll have them as friends for life.”  

Last summer, a group of Communication majors and minors went on a month-long trip to Vienna, Austria to take two courses: COM 308 and 309, International Multimedia Practicum I and II. These communication courses were centered around each of the students’ multimedia journalism projects. Students would create a news story about Vienna through a storytelling method of their choice, which could be video, photo or written.  

Senior Public Relations major Holly Jordan had a different project than her peers. She worked as a social media manager, where she created Instagram and Facebook accounts to document the trip to friends and family. She took photos and gathered information from students about their experiences during the trip. These photos are still available on the social media pages for students to look back on and reminisce about the trip.  

Not only did a study abroad experience impact Jordan’s academic journey, but it also affected her Berry journey. Her trip to Vienna allowed her to gain a different perspective on her professors and befriend more of her peers.  

“I was only really good friends with one other student on the trip before,” Jordan said. “Now I feel like I’m forever bonded with everyone else I went with on the trip, just from this one experience. I feel like it gave me more of a support system at Berry.” 

Sophomore Theatre major and Public Relations minor Ella Rambin experienced a lot of ‘firsts’ pursuing her study abroad experience. When she traveled to Vienna with Berry’s Communication department, it was her first time on a plane and traveling out of the country. Additionally, she didn’t know anyone attending the trip before they left, so she felt very anxious; however, she and other travelers formed a tight-knit circle very quickly. 

The group experienced many culture shocks during the Vienna trip, such as differences in transportation. Many residents of Vienna take the subway and tram system to get around the city. Rambin also found herself surprised at how she stood out as an American tourist. 

“Everyone is quiet and keeps to themselves,” Rambin said.  “You would quickly realize that if you got too loud, you would look over and someone would be staring at you with a mean look on their face.”  

Despite some of the cultural differences that they experienced, the students were able to adjust to life in Vienna. They made many fond memories together, from traveling to neighboring countries on the weekends to making hamburgers with hot dog buns on the Prater lawn.  

“It was really cool to get to know everyone as fellow travelers,” Jordan said. “Now I have all these friends to say hi to on campus next time I see them.” 

Summer study abroad trips are a popular choice for students, but some chose to adventure further into another culture by participating in semester-length programs. These trips typically involve a student traveling by themselves and taking a full course load at an overseas university. The length of these trips allows students to fully immerse themselves by living as locals, rather than  short-term tourists.       

Junior Kristina Clay studied at the University of Glasgow in Scotland during the Spring semester of 2024. As a Biochemistry major, Clay was able to take courses that would apply for her major and foundations. She took a total of three classes, which translated to 15 hours of Berry coursework. While this was not her first time traveling abroad, it was her first time flying by herself and being away from home for so long. Clay said that it was difficult to adjust in the first few days, but Glasgow eventually felt like a second home.  

“The first two days, everything went smoothly,” Clay said. “But by two months, you really adjust to the culture and you get attached.”  

According to Clay, one of the biggest cultural differences that she observed was the student social life. Students didn’t talk much in class, but many would meet during the nightlife. The classes were more rigorous, and there was a lot of independent study required. This helped Clay improve her time management skills, and this  transferred over to her classes at Berry. The experience also helped her get more comfortable doing things by herself and stepping out of her comfort zone.  

“I ate alone at a restaurant for the first time while I was abroad, so that was big for me,” Clay said.  “Also knowing that I can take time for myself, to take care of myself. Doing things that scared me weren’t that scary once I took that first step.”  

Even though studying abroad seems intimidating to some, many students who travel wish they could do it again once they return to campus. Studying abroad allows students to explore what’s outside the Berry bubble and offers a chance of trying something new. While it can be scary venturing into an entirely new country, many students find that the benefits far outweigh the initial challenges.  

“Right before you leave, you are going to get so scared,” Clay said. “But once you are there, give it a little bit of time. You have to push yourself to go out of your way to meet friends and try to talk to people first. Don’t be afraid of exploring places by yourself, too.”