BYU students share experiences studying abroad this summer

According to BYU’s latest Open Doors report, BYU leads the nation in student participation in study abroad. Institute for International Education.

In the summer of 2024, BYU students spread across the globe, from the streets of Tokyo to the landscapes of southern Africa.

Through the programs that the David M. Kennedy Center for International StudiesThese students deepened their academic knowledge, but also gained cultural experiences.

Discover the travels and global learning opportunities these BYU students have experienced first-hand.

Study Art Abroad in Japan

Rylee Nelson, a senior visual arts student at BYU, found her time in Japan to complete her bachelor’s degree in the perfect way.

“I think it was a really good way to just do what I want without the pressure of a set class schedule,” Nelson said. “There was a lot more time to work on the art that I wanted to make.”

Nelson’s daily routine consisted of getting breakfast at 7-Eleven, making plans for the day (such as visiting Tokyo Tower, exploring a five-story art store, or visiting a museum), and finding different places to eat.

“We always went to different places for lunch and dinner and were able to try a lot of different things,” she said.

In the evening, she went to the movies with her housemates. According to Nelson, they became good friends, despite only knowing each other from studying abroad.

Nelson appreciated the flexibility of her classes, which were held only three days a week.

“The freedom to create the art I wanted while I was there was really helpful in fueling my creativity,” she said.

Although the language barrier posed a challenge, she found support from her peers.

“There were definitely times when I wished I had learned a little more Japanese, just for everyday conversations like ordering food or asking for directions,” Nelson said. “It was really great to have that atmosphere of fellow BYU students that you could lean on when you needed it.”

A special experience was a visit to a Buddhist temple on a rainy day.

“It was just so beautiful,” she said. “Something about that day just stood out to me because it was so peaceful. I felt comfortable in that space with people I knew, but still in a new place, and I was learning about this culture. It was really eye-opening.”

Now that she is nearing graduation, Nelson plans to enroll in graduate school in the fall and hopes to pursue a career in a creative field, such as floral design or as an assistant curator.

Europe Public Health Study Abroad

Sydney Giles, a senior majoring in exercise and wellness at BYU, completed a study abroad program where she traveled through several European countries, including London, Amsterdam, Geneva and Paris.

“I was literally so happy that I did it. It definitely lived up to expectations,” she said.

Although the program’s focus on public health was outside of her major, Giles felt it would be a valuable experience. During the program, Giles was able to take two courses and earn six credits, with one course counting toward her major and the other as an elective.

“We looked at different chronic conditions, like heart disease and obesity, and saw how these problems differ by country,” she said.

According to Giles, everything in the program could be traced back to public health issues, whether physical or mental.

“In the Netherlands, cycling is so widespread that cyclists even have priority over pedestrians. We also had the opportunity to do bike rides as part of our physical health studies,” she said.

Special aspects of the program, Giles said, were the daily devotionals and attending Sunday church services. Giles also appreciated the group meals and reflections on daily learning experiences with her study abroad group.

“They’ve done a great job of connecting gospel principles to public health,” she said. “When we had devotionals on mental health, they were very spiritually based, which was great.”

Looking back on her experience, Giles said she learned valuable information that she hopes to take with her during her education and future career.

“It’s really satisfying to see how small changes in health impact people’s lives in the long run,” she said.

As she approaches graduation in April 2025, Giles is considering a career in occupational therapy.

African Expedition Study Abroad

BYU junior Elise Evans is studying political science and participated in a study abroad program to South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Zambia. program focused on plant and animal sciences.

According to Evans, students in the program prepared for their stay abroad by writing a paper on a topic related to the places they would visit and giving a presentation about it.

“I wrote about a desert rain frog. I just chose it because I had never heard of it before and it was out of my comfort zone and it was just a funny little creature,” she said.

Evans said the program included four days of game drives, for which we had to get up early in the morning at 5:30 am.

“We visited national parks, gardens, went hiking, saw waterfalls and historical sites,” she said.

Evans said she also appreciated the cultural experiences she gained, such as meeting people who spoke other languages.

“We encountered a lot of people who spoke click languages, which was just exciting, but also very strange and beautiful,” she said.

Evans said it was a very special moment for her when she saw Victoria Falls, on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe.

“I’m not a huge fan of waterfalls because I feel like if you’ve seen one you’ve seen them all, but Victoria Falls is bigger than Niagara Falls and a lot bigger and it’s one of the seven natural wonders of the world and pictures don’t do it justice,” she said. “You get to the edge and there’s water spraying everywhere and it’s misty and you get soaked.”

Evans said she noticed things during her trip and mentally linked them back to political science. Most importantly, South Africa happened to be holding elections the day before Evans’ group left.

“It was an important election this year because they were trying to figure out whether it would be more dangerous to change parties at the national level than to stick with what they already knew,” she said.

Although Evans did not experience much of the election process, the trip did provide her with the opportunity to interact with indigenous tribes and local people and ask them questions about their lives and cultures.

“Understanding the world from different perspectives is crucial to understanding ourselves and our place in it,” Evans said.

Evans highly recommends studying abroad. It can broaden your worldview and provide you with valuable learning experiences.

Students interested in participating in upcoming study abroad programs can find more information on the Kennedy Center website. website.