My study abroad experience started way before I ever even left the United States for my actual study aboard. Living and learning abroad is always something that I have wanted to do but never thought I would be able to because I had the idea that they were so expensive. After meeting with UTC’s study abroad office and going to study abroad sessions and learning more about the programs I learned that this was not the case at all and they are very possible to do with finical aid and other scholarships. When deciding the study abroad I wanted to do, I researched everything I could about different areas that I always wanted to travel to and decided on Prague, Czech Republic. The main reason I chose Prague was because 1. it is absolutely beautiful and full of history and 2. because it’s one of the least expensive places in Europe when it comes to cost of living.
Once I actually made it to Europe I was a bit overwhelmed being in a new place by myself, but that goes away very fast once you meet all the other students and faculty who really try to make you feel at home. The classes themselves were very fun and interesting because it’s a different type of teaching system, they don’t really teach out of a book its more real world leaning. I also loved the class schedule; I took 2 classes that were 5 days each and then I was done which makes traveling very easy and why the classes are set up that way.
When it came to traveling, my program set up a lot of group traveling trips within Prague that were included in our fee for the program. When it came to traveling on my own I went everywhere I could, mostly by bus because it was the cheapest. I found it easy to just google the safest places to go and stay and never had a problem. I was lucky enough to go to Rome, Munich, Budapest, Vienna, and Salzburg; I stayed in hostels for each one and I recommend that because you meet so many other travelers that you can do things with.
All in all my study abroad changed my life because I did something that many other people wouldn’t even dream of and it made me grow so much more as a person. I was able to learn how to be independent and find myself. I will preach to do a study abroad and find new worlds for the rest of my life.
Joseph Enos is majoring in Entrepreneurship. He spent Summer, 2018 studying abroad in Prague, Czech Republic through CISabroad.
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