Learn + Intern Abroad: Semester in Startups/Tech

Did YOU study or intern abroad?! If so, where and what inspired you to go?

I was fortunate enough to study abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark during the fall of my junior year. I have always enjoyed traveling with my family, to see and experience the world, so I was very excited to get the opportunity to spend an entire semester in another country.

I was inspired to go to Copenhagen to be able to add a unique element to my educational experience at Tulane by taking different types of classes with undergraduates from all over the world while adapting to a new lifestyle and traditions.

Studying abroad is an amazing experience that I feel all students should try to take advantage of because it opens your horizons to different ways of learning and living. I loved being able to absorb as much as I could of Copenhagen’s surroundings and form connections with the Danish people.

What is your favorite study or intern abroad memory?

I have so many wonderful memories from studying abroad that it is really hard to choose a favorite, however if I did have to pick just one it would be the day I spent with a Danish family at their house. It was a great opportunity for me to practice the Danish I had been learning and see what a typical family’s life is like in Copenhagen.

They made a traditional Danish meal of steak with potatoes and talked for hours, comparing my life in the United States to theirs. It was such a cool experience because I was not doing a home stay, but got to see what that would have been like for a day.

What country have you always wanted to visit?

I have always wanted to go to Australia and hope one day I get the chance to. I think it would be really cool to be able to see kangaroos and the beautiful scenery there. I am a very adventurous and love doing a lot of activities when I travel and there is so much to do in Australia.

It is a dream of mine to scuba dive on the Great Barrier Reef and learn how to surf on the amazing beaches there. I also love extreme sports like skydiving and bungee jumping and have heard that Australia is the best place to do it.

What's your favorite ethnic dish?

My favorite ethnic dish is paella. I tried it for the first time when I visited Spain and could not stop eating it for the rest of the trip. I love rice, seafood, and chicken so the combination with all of the
flavors and spices was delicious!

I even ended up taking a cooking class in Spain where they described how to make the perfect paella with only 6 ingredients! This seemed easy enough, but I have tried to cook it since taking that class and it is not the same as it was when I had it in Spain.

What was your favorite traveling experience?

My favorite traveling experience was when I went with my family to Africa. We visited a shantytown, which was an incredibly moving experience that inspired me to want to make community service a bigger part of my life. Learning about the culture in Cape Town was extremely educational and moving because there have been so many struggles throughout the years but it is still a thriving city in a for the most part poorer country.

My family and I also got to see amazing animals on a safari such as lions, giraffe, elephants, tigers, and leopards. We were so close to them that you could really tell how big and beautiful these animals are. The trip was a life changing one that I will never forget.