Study Off-Campus Blog

I Learned: Studying abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark helped me grow academically and personally. I learned so much about what makes a city revolve around the people rather than cars, which makes for a lively, sustainable, and meaningful place. It was interesting to compare the development of city planning and policy from the U.S. to modern Copenhagen. Further, studying abroad challenged me to step out of my comfort zone and to meet people who enabled me to experience so much. 

Best Part: I think it is tough to say what the best part of studying abroad is because I feel that my experience was full of “best” parts. However, I would say one of the best parts of my experience was my core course. The course that I took was “Prostitution and the Sex Trade” where we were able to look at sex work through a sociological and policy perspective which I found incredibly eye-opening and informative. This is often a topic that is not talked about in-depth considering it has so many angles to look at it from.

Housing: I lived in a Kollegium, which is similar to a dorm building setup. Each Kollegium has a different arrangement; however, I shared a room with a roommate and a kitchen and common space with the 14 other people on my floor. That sounds like a lot to share a kitchen, but our floor was very communal which made it easy to clean everything. Both locals and people in the program were living in the building. I met some of my best friends abroad on my floor (including my roommate), so I am happy with my decision. 

I also was able to participate in the visiting host program which basically meant I had a local who I could meet up with whenever worked for us both. This was not a homestay, but an opportunity to meet someone who lives there without actually living with them, which I found to be an amazing experience. She was the sweetest person, and I would even call her my “host mom.”

The Classes: Classes were located at different building locations that were all close to each other. The program was not through a university campus, but I actually preferred being able to go to different buildings throughout the city and go on field trips every week to supplement what I was learning. Classes were similar to the U.S.; however, I many teachers did a flipped classroom where the classes were not filled with taking notes or lectures. Instead, I read material prior to class and had a conversation about the topic during class. I preferred this method of teaching as it allowed me to gain new perspectives from my peers while being able to make sense of the material. 

My Tips: If someone else was going abroad to Copenhagen, I would say to fully immerse yourself in the place and be fully present. I liked to believe that I was truly living there while studying, meaning I made an effort to meet new people and make lasting connections. However, I would also remind someone to take time for themselves, too. Living in a different country may feel overwhelming at times, but that is part of the process of being somewhere new. So, it's important to surround yourself with supportive people and do things that align with your goals. 

P.s. You have to try the pastries! 

I Learned: Going to SITC helped me confirm that I am pursuing the right major and career path. I got paired with one of Boston’s largest homeless services organizations, Pine Street Inn. My passion for ending homelessness and solving social inequities flourished at Pine Street Inn because I was able to leverage that passion into my work and projects. During the internship, I realized that I am the type of person who thrives in a work environment that requires me to wear many hats. Learning from a job that you’re passionate about is such a rewarding experience. Being in Boston with an internship gave me a glimpse into the future that I’d love to have after graduation. I now know what it’s like to work a job I love, how to live independently and cook all of my meals, and that I thrive in city environments. 

Best Part: Living in a new city that I wasn’t really familiar with was amazing. I grew up in NYC and only moved into Boston with a small idea of how cool the city truly is. The independence to hop on the T and do whatever I wanted was liberating. I also got to live in a really sweet apartment in Allston with randomly selected students that were also in the internship program. My roommates and I really hit it off, and we often went to the Boston Commons, did karaoke nights, went to farmers markets to get fresh produce for our meals, explored 30+ cafes in Boston, and hosted gatherings with other interns in the SITC program. 

The Program Structure: The balance between taking two classes and working a full-time internship was very manageable. The workload from the professors was doable, and they were very conscious not to overburden us students with too much work. There were two classes a week where I met with other members of my internship cohort. The classes were  great opportunities to learn about social impact and to socialize with other students. 

The housing situation was one of my favorite aspects of the program. The apartments were in the heart of Allston. I was less than 10 minutes from BU’s campus, around tons of amazing food spots, and a 5-minute walk from the Green Line. The apartment had four big bedrooms, tons of windows and natural light, a full kitchen with tons of cabinet space, and a balcony. My roommates and I managed to decorate the apartment really well in the short months we were there; it was honestly really sad to say goodbye to the apartment. 

Words of Wisdom for Future Students:  You’ll professionally and personally grow during this program. If you want to get some real-life experience working in an organization, (especially if you are interested in social impact work) you should go for it! Make sure you advocate for a field of your interest, be as specific as possible for what you want to get out of the internship, and your internship pairing should be great. The SITC experience felt like I was playing the role of an adult after graduation. It can help you realize what you do and don’t like. You might realize you hate the corporate 9-5 structure or that you want to pivot your job focus. You’ll learn so much about yourself!

Studying abroad was one of the best experiences I have had so far in my life. Not only was it amazing getting the opportunity to live in a new city and explore so many different places, but I also learned a lot about myself. I learned to be independent as I had to live by myself and to do my own research while planning my trips. I also got to experience living in a different culture which allowed my perspective to change in many ways while expanding my views in the world. 

I Learned: My experience studying in Asia taught me more about my personal strengths than anything else.  I left for the semester not knowing anyone else in the program, which was nerve wracking.  Those nerves quickly eased as within days I had made a handful of friends from all over the world.  I learned that no matter where I go, I will always be able to make connections with others, and that taking the first big step to try something new will always teach you something about yourself. 

Best Part: The best part was experiencing the everyday life of a college student in a foreign country! I wore a uniform to class, enjoyed Tom kha kai soup in over 100 degree weather, rode on the back of a motorbike to class, and frequented karaoke bars on the weekends.  Mahidol University was so different from UMass, and being able to experience Thai culture through my classmates was my favorite part. 

My Advice to Others Considering This Program: I would encourage you to give it a shot. I had never originally expected to study in Asia, but after researching the program and Thai culture, I decided to go for it. I couldn’t be happier that I did.  I would try to not say "no" when it comes to food, even if it seems foreign to you. You never know… it might become your new favorite food.  Also, I’d say to be prepared for the heat; it's sunny and hot.