Hi, I'm Abby! I'm a fourth-year advertising student at the University of Oregon, a first-generation
college student, and the daughter of two immigrants. My mom is from Ukraine, and my dad is
from Ethiopia. Growing up, my parents always emphasized the importance of education and
taking advantage of opportunities they didn't necessarily have.
If I'm being honest, this program chose me. In December, while on a journalism trip in Colombia,
I caught the travel bug and immediately started researching where I could go next.
Unfortunately, none of the available programs fulfilled my remaining graduation requirements, so
I ended my search. Then, in January, the Food Media and Tourism program was on the GEO
website.
As a Christian, my faith plays a huge role in how I make decisions. I prayed that if this was an
opportunity I was supposed to pursue, everything would fall into place. Between figuring out my
housing, graduation requirements, and scholarships, there were quite a few things that needed
to work out. Sure enough, they did. Although I still had moments when I questioned whether I
should go, I decided to stick to my word and step on in faith to study abroad.
Fast-forward a few months, and here I am in Siena!
I remember my second day here. I was walking to a café near the GEO Center to meet some
friends when I suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of joy. I had one of those moments where I
thought, Wow, I'm actually here. Living, learning, and growing in Italy.
What's interesting is that despite being in a completely new country, I haven't felt particularly
different. I think a lot of that comes from my upbringing. My mom grew up in the Soviet Union,
and her experiences have shaped her relatively relaxed approach to life's unexpected
challenges. Growing up around that mentality, I've learned that not everything needs to go
according to plan.
I remember someone in our group commenting on how crazy the driving was during our first few
days in Siena. It immediately reminded me of my study abroad experience in Ghana just a
month earlier, where I would say a little prayer every time I got into a car because of how many
near-accidents I'd experienced on my commute to work. After that, I found myself surprisingly
unfazed by the taxis seemingly coming fast down the street in Siena. I guess you could say I've
learned to embrace the unexpected!
Of course, that doesn't mean everything has been easy. The hardest part of being here has
been leaving behind my family and my college ministry, Good Fight. While I'm used to being
away from my family during the school year, my ministry has become a second family to me.
Being away from both has been an adjustment, but it's also been an opportunity to lean into my
faith and trust that God has a purpose for me here.
One thing that has surprised me is how quickly Siena has started to feel familiar. The city is
incredibly walkable, and I can already find my way home from almost anywhere. Sometimes I
can't even manage that in Eugene.
Looking back on my first couple of weeks, I'm reminded of something my parents have always
encouraged me to do: take advantage of every opportunity. Being a first-generation student and
the daughter of immigrants has made me especially appreciative of the experiences I get to
have. I just need to trust God, embrace the unexpected, and enjoy where I am.
Abigail Shewaye, Diverse Ducks Ambassador