To all the students who once doubted the possibility of studying abroad, I can relate. The idea of immersing myself in a new culture, pursuing my passions, and exploring one of my dream cities, Amsterdam, felt like an unattainable dream. The pandemic created uncertainty around international travel during my college years, causing me to question whether studying abroad was even possible. However, as the world slowly recovers from the pandemic, I refuse to let fear dictate my journey.

When I first decided to study abroad in Granada, I thought I had it in the bag. I took three years of Spanish in high school, I traveled outside of the US before, and I went to all of my school’s study abroad orientations. But the first week I lived in Granada I realized how wrong I was and how far I had to go.

Greetings everyone! I am Whitney Rigodon (She/Her), a rising senior at Bryn Mawr College. I am excited to participate in the IES Abroad Summer Internship Vienna Program 2023. As I prepare to go abroad, I understand that there may be a lot of anxious feelings, not only for me but also for my loved ones. If you are in a similar situation where you are the first in your family to go abroad, whether for summer or a semester, you may be venturing into unknown territory. This can be a cause for worry for both you and your family.