CET Academic Programs

My journey in Taipei, Taiwan has been nothing short of extraordinary. From the moment I arrived, I felt embraced by the warmth and hospitality of both the local community and the CET staff who supported me throughout my stay. The transition to life as a student in Taiwan was a little difficult at first, but thanks to the guidance and assistance provided every step of the way I acclimated just fine. One of the most remarkable aspects of my time in Taipei has been the genuine welcome extended to me by the Taiwanese people. Despite the occasional curious glance, I've been met with nothing but kindness and generosity.
Enjoying Taiwanese cuisine has been a highlight of my experience. From mouthwatering street food to exquisite traditional dishes, the diverse and affordable options never cease to amaze me. Exploring the countless drink stores and sampling various teas and bubble milk drinks has been a delightful adventure in itself.
Navigating Taipei's public transportation system, particularly the MRT, has been a breeze. Despite being new to relying on public transportation, I found the MRT to be incredibly efficient and easy to navigate, allowing me to explore the city and beyond with ease.
In just short three months, I've had the opportunity to immerse myself in Taiwanese culture, both in Taipei and beyond. Exploring historic landmarks, savoring local delicacies, and venturing outside the city to experience the breathtaking landscapes have left me with memories that will last a lifetime.
Overall, my study abroad experience in Taipei, Taiwan has been extremely transformative. It has not only broadened my understanding of the Chinese language, but has also enriched my cultural understanding and personal growth in ways I never imagined possible. I am immensely grateful for the opportunity to have lived and learned in this captivating city. I would whole-heartedly recommend the program to anyone seeking an unforgettable adventure abroad.

Previous to studying abroad in Colombia, I had no history of learning Spanish, no Latin family background, let alone any real idea of what I was getting into. Still, what attracted me to this program was its extremely unique and interdisciplinary curriculum developed around race, ethnicity, and identity from the Afro-Colombian context. I doubt I will find another study abroad program that truly aims to center blackness and create a positive, communal space for black minds to flourish. As a black female international affairs major attending an HBCU, I just knew that this was an experience to jump into with open arms that would open my eyes to introspection and the expanding international conversations around race, sociopolitics, culture, and language.

Upon arrival to Colombia, I was a bundle of anxious excitement, but for a semester that was set to be 5+ months long, I was intent on making it an experience that I could survive and thrive in. I figured that there would be many seemingly insurmountable challenges to overcome, considering the language and culture barrier as well as balancing academic and personal life while abroad, of course. Yet for each new obstacle I faced, I would verbally and mentally reframe them as "humbling moments". In this way, I was able to manage the scale of the issues to mere moments that would be just a few of many good moments and great memories that were on the horizon. Studying abroad is a mental exercise of endurance, accepting your vulnerability, and finding a way through it all. You have to put the mental work in, and you need a community to support you.

Finding a community is vital and 100% essential to a student's transitions and overall experience while abroad. You're in a new country, with a new language, and you have to adapt to a new culture. It's abrupt, and even in terms of language, some describe the change as suddenly living as though you are deaf and mute. But you're not alone. For me, I was in a cohort of 16, each of whom I respect and had space to open up and connect with. And with CET Colombia's race-related academics, there were several Black Americans who were attracted to this program in the same way I was. We were all there for similar reasons, similar ambitions, going through similar emotions. Soon enough after going to classes together, grocery shopping together, living together, even clubbing together, it was crazy how quickly we paralleled a family dynamic. The friends I was able to make within CET attributed to what I would credit as my core community in Colombia. The CET staff were an extension of this, without a doubt. Being at the CET office house so often definitely helps, but they are truly a text or phone call away and are there to support you if you let them. On top of this, at the Colombian university, UAO, where we had a central class to the program, I would highly recommend joining clubs or getting involved on campus. I joined the university volleyball team, a sport I was already familiar with, and practices acted as a grounding point for me to learn Spanish. My teammates were also some of the most patient and kind people that I had ever met. They were extremely welcoming of an American learning Spanish, a stark contrast to the existing xenophobia within the US. Whether it was on or off the court, they were teaching me Spanish and instilling me with confidence to keep practicing little by little. Even beyond volleyball, they would take me to lunch, make plans to travel and recommendations for places to go in Cali, and take me to meet their friends and family back home, too. Quickly and surely, my team cemented their place as part of my community. With a community, those seemingly insurmountable challenges that come with the idea of studying abroad, have barriers that continuously lower with glass gates you can see the other side to.

Mental adaptability and community. Those were the categories of my major takeaways, outside of academics. (I could write whole think-pieces on what we learned in class, but I highly suggest taking electives taught by Professor Diego and Spanish class with Professor Andrés.) I know there is so much more, so please reach out and chat about any questions, comments, or concerns you may have about studying abroad with CET alumni and staff who are truly just 1 phone call away. Regardless, before CET in Cali, Colombia, I only spoke English, struggled with anxiety, and had a desire to learn more about international affairs and the opportunities that may yield. And studying abroad is what you make of it, so because of my efforts in CET Colombia, I came out of the whole experience with conversational proficiency in Spanish, the confidence to do anything I put my mind to, platforms to share my experiences, opportunities to facilitate dialogues with Black Expats, and the space to spread the word about the good of studying abroad. Overall, as cliche as it sounds, studying abroad is a rollercoaster. You jump into it excited and anxious, and once the ride starts it may throw you for a loop, dip you low only to bring you up high, but you get off the ride smiling and laughing asking when you can do it all over again.

I highly recommend this program! This was such a fun semester and I can't believe it's over. The apartments are all in the center of Florence, walking distance to everything - classes, restaurants, bars, and even the train station was only 15-20 minute walk away. The quality of your apartment really depends on luck.

The classes were engaging and the perfect difficulty level for a semester abroad. We had lots of fun site visits for each class, and the program sponsored many activities (chocolate tasting, hiking, etc) around Florence/Tuscany that we could sign up for. It was great having no classes on Friday to let us travel on weekends, plus we had two four-day weekends and a week-long spring break in March. Florence is also just such a wonderful city - it's small, walkable, and friendly. It was a great place to call home these last 4 months.

During my time abroad in Taiwan, I experienced significant personal growth, learning to live independently and become more self-sufficient. I studied at National Taiwan University where my Chinese classes were rigorous but rewarding. Although the classes were relatively fast paced, my teacher was patient and understanding so I managed to keep up with the curriculum effectively. Additionally, CET was amazing and provided so many on campus resources as well as opportunities for off campus activities. I was particularly impressed with the reimbursement system that allowed students to be reimbursed for cultural activities and language partner meetings. I also appreciated how secure I felt in Taiwan, thanks to its navigable cityscape and extensive public transportation options. Overall, my time in Taiwan was enriching, marked by fulfilling language classes and newfound independence.

I loved my experience in Siena with CET. I think that Siena is the perfect city/program for people who are looking to really connect with the local community and experience Italian culture. My classes were all really enjoyable, not as difficult as my classes at my school, but I also am not a CS major. My favorite class was Sienese art history where we did tours around the city or went to museums almost every class. The staff are all lovely and were very supportive. Siena is a small but gorgeous city and there always seem to be new things to explore despite its size- you really start to feel like you are more than just a tourist here.

My homestay was one of the highlights of my time here, I was able to really feel immersed in the local culture, improve my Italian a ton (I did already speak some Italian though), and have the support of a family. I will say that it seems like not every homestay family made people feel like a real member of their family as much as mine did, but overall my friends' homestay experiences seem to have been positive. Would definitely recommend for those who want to practice their Italian. I also got to go to events at my host family's contrada which was a super cool experience most visitors don't have access to.

I genuinely do not have anything bad to say about my own experience in Siena- I met lots of wonderful people, learned a lot, and overall had a really incredible time abroad.