Jacob Bernstein, Staff Writer–
While spring semester is underway at Denison, several juniors are around the world enjoying their study abroad experiences. I had the chance to catch up with a few of my close friends at Denison and asked them about their experiences living abroad.
Weston Wharton is a Spanish and Language Science major from Tyler, Texas. He is studying abroad in Salamanca, Spain.
Molly Noga is a psychology major and organizational studies student from Cincinnati. She is studying abroad in Rome, Italy.
Q: What has been your favorite part of studying abroad so far?
Weston: My favorite part has been the people. In my program, there are people from universities and colleges from across the United States.
I have met people from California and the Northeast mainly, however. A lot of the participants are from similarly sized colleges and universities in Dension that don’t have their own in-house study abroad programs.
In addition to getting to know my fellow Americans in the program, I have gotten to know a lot of people from Spain as well through my classes at the University of Salamanca and cultural exchange events.
Last semester I went to one of my Spanish friend’s dorms and all of his friends were surprised when I said that I was from the States. These kinds of experiences have been my favorites by far. It makes me realize how big the world really is and what it feels like to be [a] “foreigner”.
Molly: The city of Rome itself is the best place I have ever been in my life—even just walking to class every day is the best, most beautiful thing I’ve ever experienced.
Q: Tell us about the coolest site or landmark you have seen.
Weston: I love all things medieval. I have loved being in Europe and having the opportunity to visit castles and other historical sites that simply have no comparison in the U.S.
As a part of one of my classes at the study abroad center, I had the opportunity to take a field trip to a small town south of Salamanca called La Alberca in the Sierra de Francia mountain range. It felt like I was stepping back in time. The town is filled with small streets and the quintessential medieval wooden and stone houses you think of when someone says “Medieval town.” The professor of the class has a cabin there and invited anyone in the class to come stay with her and go hiking one weekend.
My friend Sebastian Groom and I took her up on the opportunity. We went on a beautiful hike in the mountains and ate sunflower seeds. Who knew sunflower seeds were super popular in Spain? Our professor told us you haven’t been to Spain if you haven’t tried “Las pipas.”
Molly: The Colosseum was so breathtaking—you don’t realize how big it is until you’re standing right by it. Pictures of this and so many other monuments in Rome don’t do it justice—you’ve gotta stand right in front of it to really appreciate its beauty.
Q: How has your time at Denison prepared you for studying abroad?
Weston: Before arriving at Denison, I was already pretty proficient in Spanish but my classes at Denison have definitely helped me gain more proficiency. I am seeing all of the work I have put in over the years come to fruition and as of recently, I would call myself basically bilingual.
I am at the point where I can even read medieval Spanish texts from the 13th and 14th centuries and work out their meaning. One thing that I wasn’t prepared for, however, was sitting in classes with around 50 students in a large lecture hall.
It was definitely intimidating at first but I figured out if I sit in the first or second row, I can interact with the professor and ask questions just like I do at Denison.
Q: Weston, you elected to study abroad for an entire year. What led you to make this decision, and how has the experience been different having those extra months?
Weston: Studying abroad for a whole academic year has been game-changing for my Spanish.
In August, when I first arrived, my Spanish was OK but I definitely would not have been able to go to a dorm party in my Spanish friends dorm and understand everything that was being said to me.
Now that I am at that level where I can understand most everything, I am excited to hang out with my Spanish friends more and further improve my Spanish.
I am thankful that my advisor, Dr. Mary Beaton, recommended that I do a year if I could. She told me that she did something similar in college and that it was invaluable to her studies. I can now say the same!
Q: Molly, you just began your semester a few weeks ago. Describe one challenge that you have faced so far and how you overcame it.
Molly: I have struggled with a lack of familiarity and comfort with all the change of being in a new city. To overcome this, I’ve given myself time and space to get adjusted and have stayed connected with my friends and family at home.
Q: What is one piece of advice you would give to a student who is on the fence about studying abroad?
Weston: Do it! Especially if you want to improve your language skills. Go for a semester or even better, a year! Even in a semester, my Spanish improved un mónton.
Molly: I would tell them to do it because it might be one of the hardest things you’ve ever done, but it will also be one of the most rewarding experiences.
