Third Time’s The Charm! My Three Global Experiences

Three different countries, three years. When applying to college as an International Business major, I knew I wanted to study abroad as much as possible. Northeastern was the perfect place for me to do this, with many flexible global experience programs to choose from. I wound up being able to do three in three years, which were full of unforgettable memories and new friends! Each program was incredibly different, yet enriching. 

NUin Germany 

I participated in the NUin Program my freshmen year, where I got the opportunity to spend my first semester of college abroad before heading to Boston for the spring semester. Berlin, Germany became my home for the first half of my freshmen year, and I could not have imagined it any other way. I got to take really cool classes, like German Food Cultures: Sustainability, Innovation, and Multiethnic Traditions. I spent my fall break in France and England while exploring other countries on the weekend. We all took advantage of Berlin as much as possible, from shopping at famous flea markets to eating at incredible food halls. I’m still close friends with many of the people I met in Berlin! The NUin Program truly taught me how to be independent and helped me grow as a person. 

Marketing in Emerging Markets Dialogue of Civilizations in Vietnam

A Dialogue of Civilizations is a unique Northeastern program where you spend four to six weeks with a Northeastern professor and cohort of students in another country exploring a specific topic to receive eight credits for two classes. I took Marketing in Asia, which counted for my Marketing concentration and Dialogue of Civilizations: Regional Engagement, which was a general elective. In my case, we spent five weeks exploring three cities in Vietnam and the way marketing is specialized there. We got to explore the local sights of Hanoi, take a cruise along Ha Long Bay, take a cooking class in Hoi An, visit companies in Ho Chi Minh city, and so much more! An action-packed itinerary that truly allowed my class to see everything. A Dialogue of Civilizations is the perfect program for anyone who wants to study abroad, but for a shorter time period. 

Traditional Semester Abroad at Yonsei University 

Right after my time in Vietnam, I spent two weeks traveling around Asia and headed straight to my third and final study abroad. Applying to both my Dialogue and traditional semester abroad was simple. I filled out an application for both, answering light essay questions to explain why I wanted to study abroad. My Dialogue application included a brief fit interview, while my application to Yonsei required a professor recommendation. The turnaround for both applications was quick, and I knew the results almost immediately. I spent the fall of my junior year doing a traditional semester abroad at Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea. I lived in a dorm with other exchange students and had a great time on Yonsei’s famous campus. I visited other parts of South Korea, like Busan and Jeju. On campus, I got involved in some different exciting organizations to immerse myself in my new environment. One was a “Seoulmate” mentor program, where I was assigned a local student who took our group to meals and activities throughout the semester. Another was a volunteer program where I tutored local elementary school students in conversational-level English weekly. My favorite part about studying at Yonsei was meeting new friends from across the world, who I still keep in touch with. The full semester was a great length of time to fully experience Seoul and do everything the vibrant city had to offer. 

I would not trade any of my experiences for the world. They all differed vastly in the best ways possible. There really is something for everyone, whether you want to spend a few weeks or months abroad. Even with all the time I’ve spent abroad, I’ve always felt home at the Boston campus and I’ve maintained all my friendships. Through campus events and clubs, the adjustment back to Boston has always been easy. Take this as your sign to take a leap of faith and study abroad!