"I was put into this new environment with a different culture and I loved it. It was so interesting to be able to live there and see the culture of the people both physically represented and through the surroundings in terms of architecture and deliberate choices for academics and such."

"I learned how to communicate better, make new friends, problem solve, plan and organize my days better, try new things and overall it increased my love of travel and adventure. Professionally I worked in my first internship at a Public Relations firm in the city and learned so much about the industry from a global perspective."

"What I came to learn is that when you want to control every element of your experience, you can't be flexible in the face of problems."

"I gained a new confidence in my ability to complete what I want in life, even when it is difficult."

"I navigated two new cities/towns and a whole new culture, while taking two classes and living with strangers."

"Try to balance your background with understanding cultural differences and being flexible."