This study abroad trip was an amazing experience that I’ll never forget. I chose the Psychology Study Abroad program, because I am a psychology major and wanted to view different aspects of psychology around the world. It was a two week program, which was enough time to do everything, without a longer time commitment. My favorite country we visited was England, because of our hotel’s prime location. It was a very fast paced city with public transportation being very prominent which was a fun, new experience for me. I also really enjoyed the self-tour of Freud’s house, and seeing his original furniture and learning more about his life’s work. There was a chronological timeline of all of Freud’s theories, including descriptions of all of them. I’m really glad we had the opportunity to learn more about him, since he is the founder of psychoanalysis. Another one of my favorite days in England was our day-trip to Birmingham. The guest presentations at Birmingham University were very fascinating, and I enjoyed learning about language iconicity, which wasn’t a topic of interest to me before.
Although we weren’t able to tour the Center for History of Psychology in Germany, we decided to walk through the Wurzburg Residence. The architecture and interior design was breathtaking, and I haven’t seen anything like it before. Our group discussion that day was engaging while we talked about psychology’s relation to philosophy, and how Munsterberg paved the way for applied psychology. It was great taking a day trip to see more of Germany’s history and culture. We toured the Dachau Concentration Camp in Munich, which was a very emotional experience. It was important to be informed of this unfortunate history of the Nazi Era. It was interesting noting the cultural similarities and differences between England and Germany.
Although we spent little time in Austria, the Frankl Museum was one of my favorite places we toured. The interactive exhibits were very engaging, and I liked learning about his positive outlook on life and incorporation of logotherapy. Our brains are wired to think negatively, and a lot of the time we only focus on the issues we are facing, rather than being grateful for what we have. I really admire his perspective, and it influenced me to incorporate this into my own life. I prefered the self-tours over the guided tours, because we went at our own pace.
I was sad for the trip to end, but I was satisfied with how much we were able to complete within the two weeks. I was nervous about going on the trip without knowing anyone, but everyone was amazing and I had an unforgettable experience! The trip included both educational experiences and free time to explore the countries. Our professors couldn’t have been better. Prior to the trip, I kept receiving emails about this study abroad opportunity, and I figured it wouldn’t hurt to apply. When I got accepted, I knew it was an experience I couldn’t pass on. Even if you are doubtful that you would be able to attend the trip, there is no harm in applying. If someone is contemplating studying abroad, I would definitely recommend it.
Dina Alayli (BS Psychology) spent Summer 2022 in England, Germany, and Austria as part of a faculty-led trip linked with a UTC course. Dina had the following to say about study abroad, “Studying abroad was a life changing experience that I would certainly recommend. I was nervous about not knowing anyone beforehand, but everyone was very kind and inviting, and I came out of the trip with new friends. Studying abroad is a once in a a lifetime experience, and if you have the opportunity to attend a program, you won’t regret it.”
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