This week, we spoke with Sabrina Straessle, a sophomore with the travel bug!
HC: Hi Sabrina! Thank you so much for meeting with us. Do you want to start by telling us what you did for Winter Term this year?
Sabrina Straessle: Of course! I went to Spain to study at the University of Malága.
HC: What did you do while you were there?
SS: I started in Madrid to learn about the history, visit some museums and see the royal palace. I also traveled to Toledo to see the old city and took walking tours of Granade, Sevilla and Córdoba. I got the chance to try a lot of different types of food and experience their lifestyle. I stayed with a host family who taught me a lot more about the Spanish language than I could have imagined. I grew very close to them, and I miss them dearly. Also, the university was very different from DePauw; we had five hours of straight learning with a few ten minute breaks in between. It was so interesting learning new Spanish tenses without speaking any English in between. It was definitely an experience of a lifetime.
HC: It sounds like you were very immersed! Did you know before coming to DePauw that you would want opportunities to study abroad?
SS: Yes, studying abroad was a big part of my college decision. I have always wanted to travel around the world, and it is my goal to see as much as I can before I die.
HC: That is very ambitious of you! Do you have any other study abroad experiences?
SS: I have already been to Amsterdam to study the art, culture and politics, and I will be going to Ireland in May to work with children concerning the current Catholic-Protestant conflict.
HC: It really sounds like you’re making an impact. Is there anything that studying abroad has taught you that you would like to share?
SS: Studying abroad has taught me a lot about the world. I never knew how different someone’s life could be from my own. I think it is important to discover what other cultures are like other than your own and to stay connected with other parts of the world as well.
HC: Beautifully said. Thank you again for telling us about your amazing times overseas, and bon voyage in May!