Studying abroad was a transformative experience that pushed me out of my comfort zone and broadened my perspective on both the world and myself. Immersing myself in a new culture helped me develop adaptability, independence, and a deeper appreciation for different ways of thinking and communicating. It also reinforced my love for storytelling and observing how media, advertising, and journalism vary across cultures. What I loved most was the opportunity to connect with people from diverse backgrounds and gain insight into their perspectives.

Image

I found myself in a country on the precipice o

Image

My time in J

Image

Returning to

During my internship, I had the opportunity to work across multiple departments, taking on a variety of responsibilities that honed my skills in education and student affairs. My primary role was as a Teaching Assistant (TA) for three English for Academic Purposes (EAP) classes. In this capacity, I supported students during in-class activities, especially in improving their writing skills as a native English speaker. Additionally, I assisted the teachers in designing, administering, and grading various assignments and tests.

Before signing up to travel to Zanzibar, Zoey Blechschmidt knew a few things about the East African country. But most importantly, she had a foundation in Swahili, the language commonly spoken there, and cultural knowledge of the geographic area, thanks to her coursework in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Blechschmidt, a CAS and Clark Honors College student graduating winter term of 2025, was interested in Swahili as a first-year student. The interest blossomed into a double major in linguistics and anthropology. 

Studying abroad has been a huge reminder of the importance of expanding my worldview. There were 900 other exchange students from around the world with me at Sciences Po, and every day I learned something new from them. My journalism classes had students from the UK, Singapore, Peru, Ukraine, Lebanon, Japan, Korea, Canada, Sweden, Spain, Germany, and many others. With such an international roster, I’ve been able to hear about their first-hand experiences with events and circumstances that I wouldn’t have known to ask questions about before coming here.

Living in Singapore and traveling in South East Asia changed my life. I was catapulted out of my comfort zone, as I was the only University of Oregon student in the program. I never thought I would find a chosen family with people from across the world. I still talk to the friends I made at least once a month! It opened my eyes to new ways of life and made me realize how lucky I am to live in the United States. Words cannot describe how grateful I am for the opportunity!

Grace Van Hoomissen