Chloe Lawless

Why did you choose to go on a study abroad program?

“I chose to go on this program because growing up I had barely left the state that I was born in, let alone the country. It was a fantastic opportunity for me to be able to go and physically experience the world out there instead of just seeing movies or reading about it. Additionally, my older sister had gone on a study abroad program and always talks about how she had such an amazing time and made lifetime friends from it. I wanted to be able to experience the same thing. Of course, every college student hears about how life-changing and how fun study abroad trips are, so that also played a part because I wanted to have memories of my friends and myself in other countries to reminisce about later in life. Finally, it was an opportunity for me to get to see my fiancé in the military, who is stationed in Germany. Without this opportunity, I would see him twice a year for about ten days at a time.”

What surprised you the most about your experience?

What surprised me the most about this experience was how much more public transportation is used as compared to the U.S. I knew going in that we would be taking trains and buses regularly. Going there and seeing how integral it is as a regular part of living there was interesting for me. U.S. public transportation is at times looked down upon, whereas overseas, people of all classes and occupations rely on public transport to get where they need to be. Many of the bigger train stations were not how I imagined them to be. They were more like airports in the fact that they have so many shops, like the U.S. malls.

What was your favorite part of your time overseas?

My favorite part of our trip was going to Berlin. I was able to explore the city with my friends and fiancé. The city itself was amazing because it integrated the old architecture with the new modern buildings. Additionally, Berlin is a bigger city, yet, everything is still spaced out nicely, and I felt safe. Nothing felt so cramped that you worried about people being in your space. This is different from some of the bigger cities in the U.S. We explored and found some great authentic German restaurants where we got to sit down, eat and drink and laugh with each other. Then, we went to see cool historical sites like the Berlin wall and take pictures along the river in the city. Overall, the experience of just being in Berlin was amazing.

How do you intend to use this experience in the future?

I intend to use my experience with this trip in the future because I will be moving to Germany, where my fiancé is stationed, once I graduate. Being able to physically be in the country and develop an understanding of the culture and the people will help me feel more comfortable once I am there permanently. Using public transportation during my time here has given me the basics and confidence that I will use when I move to Germany after graduation.

What is your advice on students who want to study abroad in the future?

Some advice I would give to future study abroad students is to make sure you are used to walking great distances so that when you get there it won't be as difficult. Also, if you are going to a European country during the summer, it is likely where you are staying may not have AC, so it would be beneficial to bring a tiny USB fan to help you sleep if you aren't used to the heat. Finally, it would be good to bring a water bottle with a filter on it because restaurants don't give free water like they do in the U.S. Having a water bottle with a filter that you can just fill with tap water is nice and helps you can stay hydrated while you walk around.