Beautiful landscapes, cherished memories, soul-searching and of course, delicious food. These are just a few words that describe the unforgettable study abroad experiences students at St. Joseph’s University, New York have shared at the 8th annual Study Away Conference.
“Though studying abroad may seem scary, it is worth it and is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made,” said Sofia Presutti ’24, one of the presenters from the conference who studied abroad in Florence, Italy.
St. Joseph’s has had many students participate in study abroad programs, in 30 different countries to date. The students and alumni who presented at this year’s Study Away Conference have studied in England, Ireland, Greece, Italy and the Disney College Program.
This year’s keynote speaker was Rachel Sullivan ’20, who had the opportunity to study in both Ireland and Oxford during her time at St. Joseph’s. Sullivan is now currently teaching world religions at St. Joseph’s as she continues to explore what she believes makes a well-lived life.
“In discovering different perspectives, new ways of living, unique ways of finding beauty in this world, travel invites us to reevaluate the paradigms through which we understand the world and our role within it,” Sullivan said, as she reflected on her study abroad experiences.
A New Way of Life
When traveling to all of these different countries, students quickly learned just how important it was to adapt to those countries’ different cultures, lifestyles and ways of life.
“Americans, especially New Yorkers, typically adopt a fast-paced lifestyle,” said Sofia Presutti ’24, who studied abroad in Florence, Italy. “The Italian way of life is the opposite.”
In Sofia’s presentation, she went on to explain how the food and lifestyle choices of Italian natives is vastly different from most United States citizens. “All the food is locally sourced and organic,” said Sofia, “No preservatives or chemicals are added, and they also walk everywhere.”
Tanitha Prinsloo is an international student from South Africa who has been living and studying abroad in the U.S. for three years now. She is currently studying psychology at St. Joseph’s.
In making this big move to the U.S., Tanitha experienced many different culture shocks which have molded her as a person.
One of the things Tanitha struggled with when first moving to the U.S. was learning how to interact with other students in a way that is vastly different from what she is used to. She opened up about how it was challenging at first for her to create close relationships with other students.
“I felt out of place, I struggled to grasp the nuances of humor and the subtleties of conversation,” said Tanitha. “What was once a natural flow of small talk back home became a complex dance, often met with puzzled looks.”
Tanitha discovered that in order to thrive in this new environment, she would have to learn how to adapt to a new type of culture socially, while also being her true self.
“Ultimately, this journey represents a beautiful balance: honoring my roots while embracing the independence that comes with exploring a new culture and forging my own identity,” said Tanitha.
Charting Their Own Courses
One of the biggest life lessons students learned through their study abroad experiences is the importance of learning how to be independent.
When making the decision to study away in Oxford and Ireland, Sullivan took this experience as an opportunity to grow and learn on her own. She viewed studying away as a chance to get out of her comfort zone and experience life in a brand new way.
“By the time I got back, I felt like I had rediscovered parts of myself that were long-buried,” said Sullivan. “The independence finally gave me the strength to make changes that were hard, but necessary nonetheless.”
Prinsloo had also experienced what it was like to be newly independent.
“Through this I have been given the opportunity to learn more about myself as an individual and not just my place in my community,” said Prinsloo. “I learned how to rely on myself, making decisions and foraging my own path to success.”
Also presenting at the conference were Victoria Corcoran, Cameron Martocci, Molly McLean, Brandon Ronquillo, Isabella Fitzgerald, Emma Sasso, Anthony Flaccomi, Megan Farrell and Bryant Wong.
To learn more about opportunities to travel abroad, contact the Office of Global Studies at globalstudies@sjny.edu.