Temple University prides itself on the diverse community that is found on campus. Even with the diverse Philadelphia community, the world holds many more opportunities and experiences for anyone to explore. To help open this opportunity to students, Temple University created many study abroad programs to help promote global learning and the development of individuals in different countries around the world.
Eva Kiely, a senior communication studies major, took the opportunity to go abroad not just for one semester, but for a whole year at Temple University Rome and a winter break excursion in London with KleinGo. She spoke fondly of both of the trips, which held different opportunities for her to dig into.
Her first adventure beyond Philadelphia was to Rome, Italy, where she studied for two semesters. There, she took many different classes, with one most notable being “The Wonder of Rome,” where she would learn about the Baroque period (an art style widely popular in the 17th and 18th centuries) that is present everywhere in Rome. The course featured field trips where students had the opportunity to see what they were studying in class right in front of them.
“It was a really great experience because I got to learn in the setting. After I’d absorbed information, I could apply it directly in the field after. I was able to see all these beautiful, amazing places that I wouldn’t have seen on my own and wouldn’t have known about,” Kiely said. “I just felt like I got a far better understanding of the art culture in Rome, which is a city that’s just known for art and architecture.”
The relaxed environment of Temple Rome’s community allowed Kiely to go on her own trips to explore more of Europe, where she had the opportunity to choose her own adventures.
In another trip with KleinGo, Eva went to London to meet with businessmen and fellow students to help fuel her certificate in sports media. This program took place over the Thanksgiving break, where she had the opportunity to meet with MLB Europe and NFL Europe. There, she went to a few business meetings per day during the eight-day program.
Before going on the excursion, Kiely had classes with her peers who joined her on the trip; she was able to have friendly faces in the program while abroad. Many who go abroad fear that they will not have a familiar face around them in a new place. However, soon you will be able to make friends who share the same interests and goals as you, and build a new community.
“You have to really go out of your way to be an extrovert and get to know people and find like-minded people, as well as adjusting to different cultural norms,” Kiely said.
Despite the pressure to put herself out there, Kiely’s experience studying abroad created great memories and opportunities that allowed her to enjoy a new culture that she would not have found the same if she stayed in Philadelphia for the entirety of her undergrad.
“I think everyone should do it. You get a much more global perspective and a greater understanding of the outside context of the world. Especially when you’re not just staying in one place,” Kiely said.
Going somewhere new is never easy, especially when travelling to a new country. Temple University’s study abroad programs allow students to explore new opportunities as stress-free as possible and help them explore the world at large. The world is too vast to stay in one place; go ahead and explore it!