When confronted with the idea of traveling overseas, I immediately jumped at the opportunity. I often wonder what my place is in this world, and I wanted some clarity—this was an amazing outlet for that curiosity.

Jake Anderson

  • Student
Study Abroad
Related Department
Study Abroad

Jake participated in the 2022 Study Abroad program in Germany and France.

A Conversation with Jake Anderson

Why did you choose to go on this program?

I wanted to experience something outside of the norm. I feel like I give this answer every time, but it was a large factor in pursuing this. I've never been outside of the states, and besides a week-long school trip to New York and Washington, D.C., I haven't had the opportunity to travel and experience diverse cultures and peoples. When confronted with the idea of traveling overseas, I immediately jumped at the opportunity. I often wonder what my place is in this world, and I wanted some clarity—this was an amazing outlet for that curiosity.

What surprised you the most about your experience?

Just how different nearly everything was. I mean, I knew going into this that foreign countries would be vastly different, but I guess I hadn't prepared myself enough. I don't want to sound like I was unprepared for this because it wasn't something that really affected me. I guess the better word to use would be “shocked.” The diverse ways German and French people shocked me move about the world. It was so quiet there—not overwhelmingly quiet, but different from public areas of Texas. Or, maybe, I'm just loud. And weirdly, I feel like I barely saw any children. I'm not sure why, but I guess they just didn't bring younger kids out? I'm sure I saw a few, and the ones I did see were also incredibly quiet and well behaved.

What was your favorite part of your time overseas?

I'm glad the instructors allowed us free time to explore and discover the cities on our own. While I enjoyed the scheduled trips and tours, my group's personal adventures were some of the highlights. It took some time to adjust to the environment—public transportation is your best friend—but once we got the hang of it, we could go anywhere. Specifically, when we were in Berlin, my group went to Museumsinsel (Museum Island) and spent the entire day there. Museum-hopping was ridiculously cheap, especially for students if you're willing to show the workers some sort of university identification. I just wish we had more time in each city to encounter more, but that'll be saved for the next time I make a trip overseas.

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

As I've stated previously, this program allowed for new experiences and innovative ideas about the world and myself. Since coming to college, I've struggled with figuring out what's next for me—what I'm going to do career-wise and where that's going to take me. The arts have been a large factor in my contemplation. I'm not sure what I want to do exactly, but I'm sure it involves art and literature. After going on this trip, which could not be truer. Seeing these unfamiliar places and people—and the art they've produced—has opened my eyes to a whole new world of possibility. Stagnant jobs are of no interest to me. I can't sit in an office all day for the rest of my life, completing the repetitive tasks presented to me. I want something that is in constant evolution, always new and always surprising. Those characteristics nearly define the experience of this trip. I'm still in the process of identifying what that means for my future and career path, but I'm sure this trip will open new ventures in my mind.

What is your advice on students who want to study abroad and go on this program in the future?

BRING A REUSABLE WATER BOTTLE. Specifically, one with a filtration system if you're able. I'm not sure if it was the heat and constant movement, but I was always in need of water. That sounds way more dramatic than it was, but, seriously, you'll probably need one at some point. Thankfully, my friends had brought theirs, so I was never without. Otherwise, buying water from stores and vendors would add-up very quickly. Even though we were there at a time when it was unusually warm, be prepared for the heat and bring sunscreen. But I feel like the most important thing to remember is to have fun. This was an amazing experience, and I wouldn't trade it for anything. Yes, there were times when I was exhausted from running around the city all day and was semi-sunburned and just ready to go to sleep, but it was also the most fun I've ever had!

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