Mikaela Dunn

Mikaela Dunn is an Ambassador who studied abroad in Greece and Italy.

Briefly describe a specific cultural experience you had on your trip that made a lasting impression.

One thing that sticks out is the neighborhood we lived at in Rome. It was right outside of the toursity part of the city, and I made friends with some of the store owners on the block. The fruit stand man across the street, the coffee shop man next door, and the pizza man down the street talked to me a lot about Italian culture, and had many questions about America. Just mingling with the locals was something that was priceless.

Why did you choose the program in which you participated? 

I chose the Greco-Roman program because of the focuses of the trip; art, art history, and theology. Being a psych major, this was a new array of classes. It was amazing to take these classes in places where civilization goes back thousands of years.

Describe your overall study abroad experience.

This may sound cliche, but my study abroad experience was everything I thought it would be and more. The beauty of the language, culture, and people in both Greece and Italy is what made the trip such a wonderful experience. I learned that the best way to learn is outside of the classroom, and I feel I am a much better student and person because of it.

How has the trip affected you? How are you different for having completed the experience?

The trip has taught me to embrace differences in cultures around the world. The rest of the world has so much to teach us all. I am different in the fact that I now have the "travel bug". I want to experience more cultures. I also understand cultural differences, and want to teach others the importance and significance of being exposed to other cultures.

With know these traits about the average American I know myself better and understand how to deal with other cultures traits better than before.

What advice do you have for future Study Abroad Students?

One piece of advice is to spend money on experiences. They are priceless. Also, explore areas that are not touristy; this is how you will learn about the real culture of a country. When you have a day off, go do something you normally wouldn't do. Take advantage of everything you can while there, because the time will fly by.