Study abroad is a one-of-a-kind experience—from the excitement of your arrival in a new city to the surprises of adapting to local customs to the lessons that come from stepping outside your comfort zone. Through the Off-Campus Studies blog, Whitman College students offer a window into their time living and learning around the world.
Whether you’re dreaming of future travels, supporting a student from afar or reminiscing about your own time abroad, enjoy these blog excerpts and insights from a dozen Whitties who studied abroad in one of Whitman’s 80+ partner programs during the 2024–2025 academic year.
Ready for Takeoff
Before the thrill of study abroad can begin, there’s the reality of getting there—visas, packing, paperwork and the creeping anxiety of leaving home. For some, preparation is a chaotic art; for others, it’s a logistical maze. But all these students found their own way through it.
Alexia Frederick ’26 (Dublin, Ireland)
“I am a staunch refuser of elaborate preparation. … I do not and have never truly found comfort in planning out a trip or even something as simple as a suitcase. So … I can admit I was irritable as my departure date rapidly approached, and I had little patience for another rendition of ‘Are you sure you have everything?’” Read Alexia’s blog.
Gunnar Woller ’26 (Dunedin, New Zealand)
“Something I find intriguing about New Zealand is that I will be past the international date line, which means that I will be in the future. I normally do quite well with jet lag, but this is 18 hours of difference, more than I’ve ever experienced, so I’m sure it will be a struggle.” Read Gunnar’s blog.
Emily Nichol ’26 (Rome, Italy)
“I made my first new friend before I even left the continent. Waiting for my flight in Montreal, the gate began to fill with people who looked to be about my age. After settling into my window seat, I waited to see who might sit next to me. The girl who walked up looked friendly, but we both sat in silence for a bit before I turned to her and asked if she was also studying abroad. It turned out that not only was she studying abroad through IES, but she’s an art history major who chose the program because of the conservation course that’s offered! We immediately bonded over this fact and our mutual goal of becoming art conservators.” Read Emily’s blog.
First Impressions
No matter how much you plan, nothing quite prepares you for the moment you land in a new country—alone, excited, jet-lagged and just a little overwhelmed. From long travel days and cultural surprises to the first taste of independence and connection, those first few days abroad are strange, exhilarating and totally unforgettable.
Pan Deines ’26 (Madrid, Spain)
“I was super nervous to study abroad. I mean, TERRIFIED. So I made a different plan. Instead of my dad coming to visit me later in the semester, he and I flew together to Madrid a week before my orientation started. My week in Madrid honestly reminded me of the Summer Fly-In at Whitman, in that I was able to have a leg up on my peers, in a place where I normally would be struggling behind.” Read Pan’s blog.
Natalie Weimholt ’26 (Galway, Ireland)
“I seem to be clocked as an American pretty much immediately, at least the second I open my mouth. People will then ask which state I’m from, and I’m always surprised how many people recognize Minnesota! … And why did I choose Galway? My usual answer is that Ireland seemed like a beautiful country with fun people (this tends to get an approving nod). The real answer is that a couple years ago I watched the movie ‘Leap Year,’ which is set in Ireland, and decided right then that I would end up studying abroad here. And so far, I think I made the right decision!” Read Natalie’s blog.
Angela Froming ’26 (Athens, Greece)
“I am an introvert at heart, so it is scary to talk to people I do not know, but the whole point of study abroad is that it is a bit scary to go to a new country and you get to grow past your fear. I still get nervous about being in Athens, but in the past week I feel as if I have already created the beginning of a support network through bonding activities during orientation, late night apartment talks, and hikes through ancient sites.” Read Angela’s blog.
Eating Like a Local
From Christmas dinners in Denmark to gelato in Rome, students had fun finding local flavors wherever they went.
MinhThu Tran ’26 (Copenhagen, Denmark)
“What is the best part about going to a European country during your fall semester? Everything Christmas! … We had the pleasure of enjoying a traditional Danish Christmas Eve dinner. The meal consisted of pork with crispy skin, caramelized and boiled potatoes, red cabbage salad, and, of course, a delicious gravy. Additionally, we have red wine and champagne because that is totally a part of the culture. To finish off the meal, we have rice pudding with cherry sauce.” Read MinhThu’s blog.
Emily Nichol ’26 (Rome, Italy)
“I took a gelato-making class! We trekked across the city to a little gelato shop called Gelateria del Teatro. We took turns measuring ingredients, blending, and operating the pasteurizing/processing machine and voilà! We had fresh nocciola (hazelnut) gelato. The teacher also gave us tips and tricks for how to spot authentic gelato shops in Rome, and he let us sample as many flavors as we wanted! My favorite was the Honey, Lemon, and Rosemary flavor. Not to be dramatic, but the whole experience was life-changing.” Read Emily’s blog.
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