Why did you choose this program? I liked the fact that the program split its time between two great cities, allowing me to see and compare two distinct places. I also have always been interested in film, but had never had a chance to study it at the college level. This program allowed me to watch and appreciate fantastic films in the very places they were created.

Describe your favorite classes abroad. I took only one class in each place, French cinema in Paris and Czech cinema in Prague. I loved both classes because they illuminated two wildly different aspects of European cinema. And although the countries are not very far from each other, the cinema that originated in these two places each created their own styles, methods, and legacies.

What was the housing like on your study abroad program? In Paris the student apartments were in the 13th arrondissement. The neighborhood was great, but the apartments were (understandably) very small. In Prague, student apartments were huge, and each group that lived in an apartment lived with a "Czech buddy," a university student from the Czech Republic who was available to us to ask questions etc.

What advice would you like to give to future study abroad students? Pack lightly, be flexible with your plans, go on adventures, and have an open mind about all kinds of cultural differences!

What’s your best memory from your time abroad? So many, but probably my best memory was when I and a few other girls from my trip decided last minute to spend the weekend in Ireland. The best part was that we had no idea what Ireland would have in store, and we didn't have any expectations because the trip was so last minute. But Dublin was amazing, the people were welcoming and fun and the city was exciting but not overwhelming.

What was your biggest surprise about the location, culture or other aspects of your program? Prague offered up a lot of surprises, I had known a lot about Paris from films, books, and people I had known who had been there, but I didn't really know what to expect in Prague. But it surprised me with its tremendous beauty.

What do you know now that you didn’t know before you went abroad? That human beings have an uncanny ability to adapt to different situations. That I'm less scared of things than I think I am.