During her four-month stay in Spain, Zoee Turrill was approached by tourists for directions. The DU student was thrilled when they asked what part of Spain she was from.
“They didn’t know I was an American,” says Turrill, a senior international studies and Spanish major. It was an unforgettable moment in her study-abroad experience.
Turrill is just one of many DU students at the study-abroad fair who say their study-abroad experiences were invaluable and encourage younger students to look into the option of traveling abroad.
The fair is Wednesday, Sept. 24, from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on the Campus Green in front of Sturm Hall.
“This is a time when students can see the study abroad options all in one area and can talk to representatives of the programs at tables on the Campus Green,” says Carol Fairweather, DU director of study abroad. “Students can also meet the representatives of the programs or universities. Many of them come from universities overseas.”
“Studying abroad is a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” says Rachel Coughlin, a senior international studies and French major. “You learn so much in a small time frame. You not only learn about the culture, but you learn about yourself.”
Coughlin studied abroad in France and Austria, Turrill in Spain and Bosnia. They both offer these suggestions to students attending the fair.
• Ask study-abroad advisers what programs will best fit with your planned major
• Ask students who have returned what their experiences were like
• Ask the different program representatives detailed questions about their particular programs
“When else will you have this kind of opportunity?” Coughlin says. “I’ve made great relationships abroad; I’ve made friends for life.”