Tori Ainsworth

From the rolling green hills to the quaint little pubs, there is a charm to Ireland unlike anywhere else in the world! I studied abroad at the University College Cork, and took classes on Irish history, politics, culture, and language. UCC really encourages international students to take full advantage of the entire study abroad experience by exploring all that Ireland has to offer. I went somewhere new almost every weekend and spent the entire "study" month of April traveling the rest of Europe; it was truly the trip of a lifetime! The best part of my time abroad was without a doubt the amazing friends that I made. The Irish have a reputation for being incredibly friendly and welcoming, and they sure lived up to it! I would recommend Ireland to anyone who is considering studying abroad, there is something there for everyone and I've never met a single person who has had anything bad to say about it. I only wish I could go back and do it all over again! Please feel free to contact me at victoria.ainsworth@umconnect.umt.edu if you have any questions!!

Alette Boogman

From the beginning, I always had my heart set on studying in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, one of the most international, breathtaking, creative, and unique cities in the world. In this metropolitan of canals and cobblestone, millions of bicycles, flower markets, and world famous cheese, studying for a year at the Universiteit van Amsterdam allowed me to truly be in the center of it all. The heart of the city and its history was our campus. As one of the top 15 universities in Europe, with origins dating back to 1632, I was nervous about how I would do in such a different academic environment. I learned that with openness and confidence, I can rise up to any challenge I’m faced with. But the most memorable experiences and sources of personal growth came from outside the classroom, learning to be self-sufficient through living in a foreign country and better understanding myself and others through the exploration of different cultures. As a hub of travel, Amsterdam also made taking trips to other countries easy. I had the opportunity to have adventures in Morocco, Greece, Italy, Portugal, and many more. But what I will miss most about my year abroad is simply riding my bike through the winding streets of Amsterdam and the Dutch countryside, picnicking in the oasis-like parks scattered around the city, and sitting at a terrace for hours with close friends – enjoying life the way the Dutch do. People always say studying abroad is a beneficial thing to try in college, but I can proudly say that that’s an definitely an understatement. I wouldn’t trade my year abroad for the world, and I bet you won’t either. alette.boogman@umontana.edu

Lindsay Combs

I studied at Philipps-Universität Marburg in Marburg, Germany as a sophomore for the school year of 2009-10. This experience was the biggest and most amazing adventure of my life! I learned so much about myself and about other people of the world. Though I studied in Germany and took all my classes in German, I also met many other exchange students from all over the world and was able to travel to other European countries and experience more than one culture during my exchange. Marburg is a beautiful university town, and in living there I learned how live on my own and became much more outgoing and confident as time went on. This was also due in part to the amazing family of friends I made over there, and because of this the hardest part of the exchange was having to come back! But now that I am back I have a more excited outlook on life and the world, and I feel very ready to take on any challenge thrown at me. Thanks to the classes I took and the experience as a whole, I also have a clearer view of what I want to pursue as a career and hope to end up in Europe again sometime soon. I encourage everyone to study abroad and travel, and if you have any questions at all please email me! linznicole7@hotmail.com

Lynn DiBenedetto

My name is Lynn DiBenedetto and I went to Osorno, Chile during the first semester of my junior year. I traveled extensively through the majority of Chile, including hitchhiking through both the Chilean and Argentinian sides of Patagonia. My major is in Spanish and my minor is in Biology. I can answer most questions you have about the country, especially on the indigenous societal cultures, as I lived in the more Southern area, in a considerably non-touristy area. Feel free to contact me at ldebo33@hotmail.com.

John Fitzgerald Dooley

I spent the last year studying at Thammasat University in Bangkok, Thailand. In attempts to achieve the proper mindset prior to my time abroad I decided to spend the preceding summer in Sri Lanka where I lived with a local family and taught English in the surrounding villages. My time abroad proved to be more incredible than I ever could have imagined. Every experience from the minute I landed was just constantly building this amazing journey. The good, the bad, the terrifying; it all just got chalked up to “incredible” at the end of the day.

Aside from the unhealthy amount of time I spent traveling to surrounding countries, my day-to-day life in Thailand was actually as unpredictable as my time spent traveling. The most consistent aspect of my day was waking up at 4:30 am to assist a monk I had met at one the local monasteries in my area with his morning collection of alms or offerings from the people in the neighborhood. At the university I attended a vast array of classes in both Thai and English all of which were intellectually stimulating regardless of what my transcript may have reflected. After class I would head up the river on one of the express boats to one of my many jobs typically located in the downtown area of Bangkok. My role, regardless of the organization, was to basically be white. Apparently it’s quite rare to find a foreigner with skills (mediocre, if anything) in Thai language. The money was of course appreciated but the real reason I chose to work was to simply see another aspect of Thai culture and to get even more involved in the life I was living. I met incredible people everywhere I went and with everything I did. It’s a beautiful culture in Thailand and really has a lot to offer the world in the ways of serenity and cultural continuity. I feel fortunate to have been able to experience such a different view of the world and will continue to carry everything I’ve learned with me in my life wherever I may end up. I concluded my time abroad with yet another mind bowing journey through India. I left from Thailand with two of my friends from Japan for Kolkata with the intention of simply heading north into the Himalayan mountain range. We ended up heading east to the coast and then finally vaguely north through Bangladesh. Once again the trip was brought to another level by placing out trust in the hands of the local people. We were fortunate enough to see aspects of the country rarely seen by foreigners and made lifelong friends in the process. We finally did make it to Darjeeling and were absolutely blown away by the Tibetan culture in which we’d stumbled upon. It was a great way to end my time abroad and once again reconfirm my love and curiosity of different cultures throughout this world we all live on. jackfdooley@gmail.com

Erika Foster

I studied abroad Spring 2011 in Pointe à Pitre, Guadeloupe, France in the Caribbean. This small territory has so much to offer, with a blend of African, Creole and French culture all coming together on one tiny island. I lived in the dorms at the Universte des Antilles et de la Guyane close to the city on the island of Grande Terre, though I spent much of my time exploring the forested, more mountainous island of Basse-Terre. I found the island mentality, the glorious sunshine and beaches and the laid back lifestyle of the Caribbean extremely agreeable. I enjoyed the diversity of the area, with most Guadeloupian’s African ancestry, the large Indian population and the French vacationers. With classes like Caribbean history, geology of France and of the Caribbean, French conversation and scuba diving, I met a wide variety of students. I learned to love the French language, and even a bit of Creole. Traveling around to the surrounding islands of Marie Galante, Les Saintes and Dominica gave me a good glimpse into the other cultures in the area. Living in an entirely different culture as the only American student definitely presented challenges, but I would do it all over again in a heartbeat. There is a certain passion for life in the Caribbean music, food, dancing and people that would made anyone fall in love with the islands. Feel free to email me with any questions at Erika.foster@umontana.edu.

Michelle Gibson

My study abroad experience was truly life changing. I spent the 2010-11 academic year in Aix-en-Provence, France which is about 20 minutes from Marseille, the second largest city in France. I attended Université Paul Cézanne Aix-Marseille III which has campuses in both Aix and Marseille, and passed my first semester in a language program school built for foreign students and the second in the real business faculty. Through the ISEP program, I was able to live in CROUS, which is French national housing for students across the country. I had the most amazing year of my life, until this point that is, and have truly been changed for the better in my outlook and attitude. I honestly believe that a study abroad experience is a vital part of an education because of the real world, hands-on experience it provides in any subject. In France, I learned French, politics, business, interpersonal communication, advocacy for myself, and overall tolerance. I experienced French and a lot of other western European cultures, in addition to the unique opportunity which living next to Marseille offered. Marseille is a political hot spot in France, filled with a largely northern African population, and the culture that I experienced was not one I would ever have had the chance to see or understand in Montana. The picture above is of me standing in the Mediterranean Sea in November and looking back over the large, somewhat dirty, and extremely charming city of Marseille. We often took the bus there on the weekends for a toll of only 1 euro and went to the Arabic markets and strolled the streets looking at art and listening to music, ending with taking a stroll along one of the many city beaches before heading back. After a year in France, I have a quiet confidence in myself and my ability to chase my dreams, wherever they may lie, in the future. I want to share my experience so that I can help someone else to have the same invaluable experience I had. Merci! michelle2.gibson@umconnect.umt.edu

Dee Gollah

I am a Japanese Major and French Minor student at the University of Montana. During the Spring Semester of 2009 I had the wonderful opportunity of studying abroad at Kansai Gaidai University in Hirakata, Osaka Japan. Studying in Japan was an amazing experience, and being able to exchange in Kansai Region allowed me to visit many of the beautiful historical sites that Japan is known for. I truly believe that doing a student-exchange is a great experience that all students should try if given the chance. dekontee.gollah@umconnect.umt.edu

Breann Griffin

Hi everyone! I studied at the University of Sunderland in north east England for the 2010 and 2011 school year. In addition to attending classes at Sir Tom Cowie business campus, I travelled around as much of England and Scotland as I could. I also spent time in Germany, France, Italy, Hungary and Turkey, among other places. I loved my year abroad, and now that it's been nearly a year since I left I would give anything to be doing it all over again! Please contact me if you are headed to Sunderland, or England for that matter. I would love to answer any questions and share any experiences that I can! Contact me at breann.griffin@gmail.com

Cat Harrington

Japan was an eye opener not only to another culture in another country, but to the individual cultures in America. I had the great opportunity to go to an amazing school in Tokyo with so many opportunities for experiencing not only traditional culture, but modern culture in Japan. I took classes in Japanese with students from around the world, and not only gained countless friends but numerous experiences that I'll never forget. After volunteering, working as an English conversation partner and teacher, and participating in school-run and student-run events, I realized how much I wanted to share my experiences and encourage others to take the steps to go abroad. It doesn't matter where it is or what country it is, you can gain so much knowledge outside your cultural comfort and gain so much introspection if you just go. buki.chan@hotmaill.com

Danielle Horton

Salut! Je m'appelle Danielle Horton. (Hello! My name is Danielle Horton.) I believe that studying abroad is an experience which cannot be described but must be lived. You won’t know all of what a culture has to offer until you actually live in it. I see the world with an entirely new perspective, and I wouldn't trade my time studying in France for anything. I got to visit Europe, and make great friends from all over the world. It was by far the most amazing experience of my life. Bisous!danielle.horton@umontana.edu

Michelle Kato

My study abroad experience was excellent. I took a variety of classes on two of the three campuses of Kumamoto University. I played soccer for the university with their women’s football club. I traveled all over the prefecture as well as other prefectures, both on and off of the Kiyushu Island. I met amazing people of academia as well as public relations. I also worked while I was there as a part-time English Instructor. kato_bear@yahoo.com

Heidi Kunkel

I studied my first semester of junior year at Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez in Viña del Mar, Chile. Living in Chile was the best decision I have ever made in my life, and I learned a lot about myself and grew into a more independent person. I got to take classes with local students in Spanish, lived in an apartment overlooking the beach, and experienced Chilean culture in one of their most popular cities. Viña is very close to Valparaíso, another popular city, and I often took the very cheap bus there to spend the day. I got the chance to travel within Chile and South America; I made it to Argentina, Peru and Bolivia. I am majoring in Spanish, and my time spent in Chile drastically improved my skills in the language; it didn’t take long for me to catch on and speak confidently. Viña is a central city in Chile, and it’s big enough that major bus companies go through, so it’s easy to catch a bus going anywhere in Chile and South America. If you have any questions about living, traveling and studying in Chile, feel free to email me at heidikunk@gmail.com.

Roxanne Madler

I am a double major in Dance and Business Management at UM. I spent last year studying at the University of Central Lancashire in Preston, England. It was a great way to experience something new and exciting without having to worry about the language barrier. I was able to take many of my lower core business classes there as well as a couple of dance classes. I joined the Dance Club there and made many new friends from all different countries. I still keep in touch with many of them and hope to visit again sometime in the future. Travel is extremely accessible in the United Kingdom and I took advantage of that. I traveled across England as well as to Scotland and spent spring break in Spain, where I got to practice my rusty Spanish skills. Living in a foreign country was an amazing experience that I would recommend to every student. Being immersed in a different culture taught me so much about myself and my own culture. If you are at all interested in studying abroad make sure to check out the amazing opportunities available to you at UM. Feel free to contact me with any questions: roxanne.madler@umconnect.umt.edu. I am more than happy to help!

Leah McIlhenny

I studied at La Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso in Chile. I am a double major in Exercise Science and Spanish here at UM. During my spring 2010 semester stay in Chile, I focused only on Spanish courses. Everything was conducted in Spanish. I lived with an amazing host family. We are still in contact and are happy to say we will continue to communicate far into the future. Being completely immersed in the culture and language was both a challenging and life enriching experience that I will forever cherish. I fell in love with South America, Chile, and the bustling port city of Valparaíso. Chile is a gorgeous country with extremely diverse geography. Within three days I spent the day at the beach, snowboarded in the Andes, and traveled to one of the driest deserts in the world. Living in Chile I further confirmed my love of traveling, meeting new friends, speaking/learning Spanish, and discovering new cultures. Studying abroad was one of the best experiences and I would go back in a heartbeat. I strongly encourage anyone interested in going abroad! Please don't hesitate to contact me with any type if questions you may have at leah.mcilhenny@umconnect.umt.edu

William Meginley

My name is Will Meginley and I’m a Forestry/Resource Conservation double major at UM. I spent the spring 2010 semester studying abroad at the Itä-Suomen Yliopisto (University of Eastern Finland) in Joensuu, Finland. The University offers a wide range of classes taught in English for international students. Most of my classes were taught as part of the international environmental science and forestry program, but I was also able to take some Finnish and Russian history classes, an environmental law class, and a Finnish language class through other departments of the university. I had a great time living in Finland. Eastern and Northern Finland are winter sports paradises, with plenty of opportunities to ski/snowboard, ice skate, go dog-sledding, go ice fishing, etc. An extensive network of cross country ski trails started literally right across the street from my student apartment in Joensuu. There were a lot of interesting cultural things to see as well. Because of its position between Scandinavia and Russia, Finland has always been a unique combination of both cultural traditions, and you can see this just about everywhere in the architecture, food, customs, and even the language. I was fortunate enough to have plenty of free time during the semester for travel. I was able to get to most of the major cities in Finland and spent almost a month traveling in Russia as well. Since most of the students in my classes were fellow international students I was able to learn a lot about the rest of the world, too. I really think everyone should spend at least a semester abroad as part of their university studies. The things you learn about yourself and your ability to adapt to new circumstances, as well as the things you learn about the world outside America’s borders make it an experience not to be missed. My only regret is that I went for just one semester! If you have any questions about UEF or Finland in general please ask me: wm174823@umconnect.umt.edu .

Elizabeth Reynolds

I studied at Griffith University in Queensland, Australia, during the Spring of 2010. I would not take back my experience for anything. I met some amazing people, I was able to travel throughout Australia, and get a real appreciation for Australian culture. While abroad, I was able to swim in the ocean, relax on the beach, snorkel at the Great Barrier Reef, kayak, and so much more. I learned so much about the world and myself while I was abroad. I would encourage everyone to go abroad. It’s an experience that you will never regret. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at elizabeth.reynolds@umontana.edu

Anamarie Shober

My name is Anamarie Shober and I spent the Spring 2010 Semester at Griffith University on the Gold Coast of Queensland, Australia. To say that my time spent studying abroad was fantastic would be putting it lightly. In addition to having an amazing time I also learned more about the world and myself than I have at any other time in college. Being away from friends and family and adjusting to a new way of life was challenging at first but highly rewarding in the end. As a Political Science major with a minor in International Development I found that my classes gave me a new perspective on international relations both in content and in my interactions with students from around the globe. In addition to my studies I was able to take advantage of Australia’s incredible natural beauty and warm climate. I was fortunate enough to live on the beach while there and was able to spend a lot of my free time swimming and (attempting to) surf on the Pacific Ocean. Australia offers a large diversity of landscape from rainforest to desert to the Great Barrier Reef and I feel so lucky to have been able to enjoy these. Although the U.S. and Australia have many similarities, they vary greatly culturally and it was challenging and entertaining to adjust to the Australian lifestyle. The school that I attended was very international which exposed me to many different customs as well, which was amazing. Studying abroad was also an incredible bonding experience and I met many friends from around the globe who I still keep in contact with. I came home from the experience with a new appreciation for Montana and a large desire to explore more of the world. I would highly recommend this program to anyone who’s considering studying abroad. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me at anamarie.shober@umontana.edu

Alec Short

Hello everyone, I am a Russian major here at the university and I went to study Russian at the University of Tromsø in Norway. Many of you are probably thinking "how much sense does that make??". Well when I got there it actually made a lot of sense because there was a huge Russian population where I was studying and many of the Norwegian students spoke Russian as well. I wouldn't ever take back this experience! It is one of the best opportunities to learn more about yourself and the world we share with many other people. Speaking Norwegian also wasn't a problem because most people in Norway speak English, but classes are offered at the University and are very important to take to get the full experience of being in a foreign country. I am a huge supporter of studying abroad, especially while you're in college! Any area of study can be studied abroad just as easily as it can be in your home country and it also gives you a more international advantage! The University of Montana has many great programs and a very dedicated staff to helping students! If you have any questions please feel free to contact me at alec.short@umconnect.umt.edu I check my email frequently so getting back to you should be pretty quick!

Roxy Steinberg

The school year of 2010 to 2011 took me from maté and extensive bus rides to jandals and zorbing. As a major in Spanish, International Business, and Management, I spent the Fall in Córdoba, Argentina at La Universidad Católica de Córdoba, and the Spring in Aotearoa, beautiful New Zealand at The University of Waikato in Hamilton. These experiences are almost entirely incomparable, but both were invaluable to me. In Argentina I did a homestay and took classes through the exchange program and for international business. I had the privilege of travelling extensively around Argentina, Peru and Patagonia and my experiences were incredible. I got to jet boat around Iguazú Falls, sandboard in the desserts of Peru, hike Huayna Picchu, and walk with the penguins in Ushuaia. In New Zealand I lived in off campus University accommodation and took International Business and Management classes. I saw wild kangaroos and koalas in Australia, went Zorbing in Rotorua, and did the Nevis bungee jump in Queenstown. I made some of the most incredible friends, did things that I will never again get the opportunity to do, and made memories to last me a lifetime. I would be happy to talk with you about any questions or concerns you have about your related interests. roxy.steinberg@gmail.com