From First Steps to Farewell: Tag Along With Whitman’s Study Abroad Students

Study abroad is a one-of-a-kind experience—from the excitement of your arrival in a new city to the surprises of adapting to local customs to the lessons that come from stepping outside your comfort zone. Through the Off-Campus Studies blog, Whitman College students offer a window into their time living and learning around the world. 

Whether you’re dreaming of future travels, supporting a student from afar or reminiscing about your own time abroad, enjoy these blog excerpts and insights from a dozen Whitties who studied abroad in one of Whitman’s 80+ partner programs during the 2024–2025 academic year.

Ready for Takeoff

Before the thrill of study abroad can begin, there’s the reality of getting there—visas, packing, paperwork and the creeping anxiety of leaving home. For some, preparation is a chaotic art; for others, it’s a logistical maze. But all these students found their own way through it.

Alexia Frederick ’26 (Dublin, Ireland)

“I am a staunch refuser of elaborate preparation. … I do not and have never truly found comfort in planning out a trip or even something as simple as a suitcase. So … I can admit I was irritable as my departure date rapidly approached, and I had little patience for another rendition of ‘Are you sure you have everything?’” Read Alexia’s blog.

Gunnar Woller ’26 (Dunedin, New Zealand)

“Something I find intriguing about New Zealand is that I will be past the international date line, which means that I will be in the future. I normally do quite well with jet lag, but this is 18 hours of difference, more than I’ve ever experienced, so I’m sure it will be a struggle.” Read Gunnar’s blog.

Emily Nichol ’26 (Rome, Italy)

“I made my first new friend before I even left the continent. Waiting for my flight in Montreal, the gate began to fill with people who looked to be about my age. After settling into my window seat, I waited to see who might sit next to me. The girl who walked up looked friendly, but we both sat in silence for a bit before I turned to her and asked if she was also studying abroad. It turned out that not only was she studying abroad through IES, but she’s an art history major who chose the program because of the conservation course that’s offered! We immediately bonded over this fact and our mutual goal of becoming art conservators.” Read Emily’s blog.

First Impressions

No matter how much you plan, nothing quite prepares you for the moment you land in a new country—alone, excited, jet-lagged and just a little overwhelmed. From long travel days and cultural surprises to the first taste of independence and connection, those first few days abroad are strange, exhilarating and totally unforgettable.

Pan Deines ’26 (Madrid, Spain)

“I was super nervous to study abroad. I mean, TERRIFIED. So I made a different plan. Instead of my dad coming to visit me later in the semester, he and I flew together to Madrid a week before my orientation started. My week in Madrid honestly reminded me of the Summer Fly-In at Whitman, in that I was able to have a leg up on my peers, in a place where I normally would be struggling behind.” Read Pan’s blog.

Natalie Weimholt ’26 (Galway, Ireland)

“I seem to be clocked as an American pretty much immediately, at least the second I open my mouth. People will then ask which state I’m from, and I’m always surprised how many people recognize Minnesota! … And why did I choose Galway? My usual answer is that Ireland seemed like a beautiful country with fun people (this tends to get an approving nod). The real answer is that a couple years ago I watched the movie ‘Leap Year,’ which is set in Ireland, and decided right then that I would end up studying abroad here. And so far, I think I made the right decision!” Read Natalie’s blog.

Angela Froming ’26 (Athens, Greece)

“I am an introvert at heart, so it is scary to talk to people I do not know, but the whole point of study abroad is that it is a bit scary to go to a new country and you get to grow past your fear. I still get nervous about being in Athens, but in the past week I feel as if I have already created the beginning of a support network through bonding activities during orientation, late night apartment talks, and hikes through ancient sites.” Read Angela’s blog.

Eating Like a Local

From Christmas dinners in Denmark to gelato in Rome, students had fun finding local flavors wherever they went.

MinhThu Tran ’26 (Copenhagen, Denmark)

“What is the best part about going to a European country during your fall semester? Everything Christmas! … We had the pleasure of enjoying a traditional Danish Christmas Eve dinner. The meal consisted of pork with crispy skin, caramelized and boiled potatoes, red cabbage salad, and, of course, a delicious gravy. Additionally, we have red wine and champagne because that is totally a part of the culture. To finish off the meal, we have rice pudding with cherry sauce.” Read MinhThu’s blog.

Emily Nichol ’26 (Rome, Italy)

“I took a gelato-making class! We trekked across the city to a little gelato shop called Gelateria del Teatro. We took turns measuring ingredients, blending, and operating the pasteurizing/processing machine and voilà! We had fresh nocciola (hazelnut) gelato. The teacher also gave us tips and tricks for how to spot authentic gelato shops in Rome, and he let us sample as many flavors as we wanted! My favorite was the Honey, Lemon, and Rosemary flavor. Not to be dramatic, but the whole experience was life-changing.” Read Emily’s blog.

Alice O’Brien ’26 (Belgrade, Serbia)

“Serbian food is hearty, delicious and comforting. My favorite meal made by my host mom is a bean stew cooked with spices and smoked meat. My host family makes fun of me for a few ‘strange’ habits of mine, one of which is putting lemon on everything (fair). Another is enjoying the apparently shocking combination of frozen berries, cream and honey.” Read Alice’s blog.

Hitting the Books

Studying abroad often means adjusting to larger lecture halls, diverse teaching styles and immersive learning experiences. From engaging with local experts and hands-on fieldwork to balancing rigorous coursework with cultural exploration, academic life abroad challenges and enriches in equal measure.

Gunnar Woller ’26 (Dunedin, New Zealand)

“I officially had my first day of school yesterday. … There are very large groups of people moving from class to class in between periods, but that is to be expected with a school that has a population of 22,000, roughly 12x that of Whitman. … my smallest class has 50 people, my largest, 310. The lecture halls are some of the largest rooms I have ever been in. It feels very cool; it’s like being at the theater.” Read Gunnar’s blog.

Kayla Eisler ’26 (Dublin, Ireland)

“The English department here is really passionate and approachable, which is really great and reminds me a lot of the English department at Whitman. In my Contemporary Irish Writing class, the professor set up specific lectures where the authors of the books we’re reading come in to read a little of their work and answer questions from the class. That will be something that really sticks with me from my class time abroad.” Read Kayla’s blog.

Emily Nichol ’26 (Rome, Italy)

“Two weeks ago, I had my first field studies. … My Rome as a Living Museum class visited the Roman Forum and the Church of Santa Maria in Aracoeli (which means “altar of the sky”), a church on the hill where Emperor Augustus supposedly had a vision of Mary. Later in the week, my class on the Baroque period visited three churches that were built following the new rules for architecture established at the Council of Trent, the event that almost single-handedly triggered the Baroque movement.” Read Emily’s blog.

Finding a Sense of Belonging

Building connections abroad often happens in unexpected ways—through shared traditions, spontaneous trips, or joining local groups. These moments of belonging help transform a foreign place into a new kind of home.

MinhThu Tran ’26 (Copenhagen, Denmark)

“‘Can I give you a hug?’ That was the first thing my host mom said to me. Usually, the Danes prefer handshakes rather than hugs when you guys first meet each other. If they ask to give you a hug or feel comfortable hugging you, then you know that you belong to their close circle.” Read MinhThu’s blog.

Ruth Iiyambo ’26 (Cape Town, South Africa)

“I joined the UCT Netball Social Team. I play Goal Keeper or Goal Defense, and practices are something I’ve looked forward to every week. Our team is a mix of students from different faculties and years, and there’s something really fun about seeing everyone bring their own energy to the court. Some days we talk about assignments, other days we just play and laugh. Being part of the team added a social layer to my experience that I really appreciated.” Read Ruth’s blog.

Sweet Surprises

Study abroad is full of unexpected joys—moments that catch you off guard in the best way. Whether it’s a hidden park, a sunset hike or a close encounter with cultural touchstones, these students found delight where they least expected it.

Angela Froming ’26 (Athens, Greece)

“I do not consider myself to be a part of any one religion, but it felt close to a religious experience to be at the temple where the Oracle of Delphi would utter prophecies and Apollo slew the monstrous Python.” Read Angela’s blog.

Ruth Iiyambo ’26 (Cape Town, South Africa)

“Hiking Lion’s Head is something almost everyone recommends when you get to Cape Town. It’s one of the city’s iconic scenic hikes, and a good mix of fun and challenge. A few friends and I finally decided to do it, and we went for the sunset. If you ever get the chance to hike it while the sun’s going down, take it. The view from the top is amazing. The sun setting over the Atlantic Ocean, the city stretching out below us, and Table Mountain off to the side.” Read Ruth’s blog.

MinhThu Tran ‘26 (Copenhagen, Denmark)

“One of the most interesting things in this neighborhood, in my opinion, is the Superkilen park. … Every single object placed, whether it be a set of swings or even benches, are all sourced from numerous countries and are meant to give representation of the nationalities of the local residents.” Read MinhThu’s blog.

Out & About

Some of the most memorable moments abroad happen far from lecture halls. Whether wandering through vibrant neighborhoods, joining citywide celebrations or taking spontaneous excursions, these students discovered that cultural immersion often begins the moment you step outside.

Ruth Iiyambo ’26 (Cape Town, South Africa)

“A few friends and I went to watch the DHL Stormers play against Connacht Rugby at DHL Stadium. Watching a live rugby match is a big part of the Cape Town experience, and it gave us a chance to see the energy and passion that the city has for the sport. ” Read Ruth’s blog.

Kayla Eisler ’26 (Dublin, Ireland)

“Traveling was definitely one of the best parts of studying abroad so far and an experience I’ll never forget, but it definitely has a lot to do with your mindset. Things can go wrong, the flight might be delayed or the gate shown too late, or crazy people in the hostel, so it’s important to remember that this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and those little mishaps will fade into the background.” Read Kayla’s blog.

Alice O’Brien ’26 (Belgrade, Serbia)

“A friend and I spontaneously went to a music festival about four hours South of Belgrade near a town called Kraljevo. The festival was in the mountains near the ruins of a 13th century castle (tvrđava Maglič). We didn’t have a tent, so we had to stay up all night. The mountains in early summer were gorgeous, and it was fun to see part of Serbia outside of the capital.” Read Alice’s blog.

Lessons Learned

From the practical to the personal, studying abroad teaches far more than what’s in the syllabus. Students walk away with insights that stick—about themselves, others and the world around them.

Sayora Idibekova ’26 (Melbourne, Australia)

“Creating a budget from the start is essential when living abroad. Even if you think you’re managing your money well, it’s easy to lose track when you’re paying for groceries, rent and fun outings. Keeping a budget helps you see where your money goes and ensures you stay on track.” Read Sayora’s blog.

Kalani Buchl ’26 (Prague, Czech Republic)

“I decided, while being abroad, I wanted to work on myself. … I wanted to be more honest with myself and what I wanted. So I went out and did things by myself, expanded my comfort zones and honestly had a lot of fun doing it. I wanted to try and explore why I think the way I do. So I went to counseling online and journaled. I wanted to put as much love into myself as possible before I was busy with everything else. … I think I’m better off overall because of it.” Read Kalani’s blog.

Farewell … For Now

Leaving a place that felt like home—even if only for a semester—brings a bittersweet mix of gratitude, nostalgia and unexpected challenges. The goodbyes are hard, but the memories and growth from abroad stay with you long after the journey ends.

Angela Froming ’26 (Athens, Greece)

“Leaving Athens did not feel real. All of the friends I had made, the experiences I had, suddenly narrowed down into a single semester that was now behind me. There is a strange homesickness you get for a home that was only ever temporary, and I felt that when my plane leaving Athens took off. … It is the curse of study abroad, that you learn and love so much while abroad but your time has to come to an end.” Read Angela’s blog.