Although I didn’t show it to my parents, I was really nervous about my study abroad program. I remember fidgeting anxiously in the car as they drove me to the airport. I wasn’t nervous about the material (I love neuroscience!) or the length of the study abroad (even though five weeks abroad would be my longest time out of the USA). What I was really worried about was making friends. I know it sounds silly but I couldn’t help it! Now that it is five weeks later, I can’t imagine going back to a life without the 23 goof-balls that I traveled with. There is something so incredibly special about traveling and exploring with a group of people who love the same things you do. 

On my program, we were all neuroscience majors, which means we LOVE the brain. This was made pretty obvious during our first week of classes in Florence. For two days in a row, we had a local professor, Dr. D, as a guest lecturer. On the second day, she stopped at a local market and bought a calf brain to dissect for us. I remember when she brought it out as a surprise; none of us knew what to do, but when Dr. D encouraged us to get closer, all 24 of us pushed and shoved to get the closest spot. During the dissection we were allowed to ask questions, and I remember after class that day a lot of my classmates and I got together at a local café to discuss what we had learned. 

We didn’t spend all of our time discussing neuroscience though; we also got to explore the wonderful countries that we visited! While we were in Italy we had a weekend off so a group of us took a trip to Cinque Terre, a national park with hiking trails and beaches. The weekend went smoothly until it was time for us to go home. When we got to the train station, we found out that our train was delayed for an hour! This would normally be the time where I would freak out, but I didn’t. I think the reason why I didn’t, was because when I was with my friends, my fellow travelers, my classmates, nothing was scary. Everything was just another adventure. We ended up getting on our train and then taking a bus back to Florence since we missed our connection in Pisa. 

The final story I’ll tell you involves our time in England; Oxford to be specific (although we spent the majority of our time in London). One day, after class we got to really experience English culture by trying our hand at punting! Punting is an English summer activity that involves pushing a flat boat down a river with a 10 ft. long pole. It is so hard! We all got to try our hand at punting (some of us were good, while others punted our boat in circles). It was one of the best afternoons and I don’t think I’ve ever laughed that hard (and I don’t think the workers at the punting shop had ever seen a group so collectively bad at punting!). 

My study abroad program was honestly one of the best experiences of my life! I learned so much, and I didn’t even realize it. Everyday my professors encouraged me to think outside of the box and be flexible to change. My classmates became close friends who inspired me to reach higher and be better, not just as a student, but as a person. And how could I forget all the wonderful people who welcomed me into their countries. All of the store clerks who patiently waited for me to figure out my new currency, the London deli owner who invited my friends and I inside for stories and sandwiches, and the Italian waiter who took it upon himself to “show us how to be Italian”. The experiences I had will stay with me for the rest of my life and they have made me more understanding of all cultures and traditions. They have made me a better person. If you have a chance to go on a study abroad, GO!

Name: Claire Mutch
Status: Senior
Major: Neuroscience
Hometown: Kalamazoo, Michigan
Program: Foundations of Neuroscience in Italy and the UK