Natalie Koopman '23

When planning my study abroad experience, I was primarily driven by my passion for language and desire to become more fluent in the languages I am learning than I could in the classroom alone. Some of my favorite activities included heading to the Farmers Market Saturday mornings and trying out new recipes, exploring public gardens and parks, and heading to my favorite café for the best sandwich that I’ve ever had. During my time abroad, I was able to travel to various regions in the south of France. Some of the highlights included one of the world’s largest wine museums in Bordeaux followed by a vineyard tour and tasting, many different medieval castles, and time in nature hiking and swimming in the Mediterranean. I really enjoyed taking classes about the region I was living in. I learned a lot about the history of Montpellier and the south of France in general that gave me fascinating insight into the way the region is today. Overall, this experience has been incredibly impactful and has allowed me to grow academically and personally.  

After graduation, I plan on joining the Peace Corps as an opportunity to work and live ideally in South America. I am currently pursuing an honors thesis through a seminar focused on narrative nonfiction writing and will be creating a portfolio that reflects my time at UMass. I hope to pursue a career working with languages and the different opportunities that they provide. My experience as an ISP Fellow has particularly helped me make the most of my study abroad experience and will hopefully provide a strong foundation for cross-cultural work in the future.