Sydney Aandal, Dec. ’24

Programs: South Africa Semester & Chile Semester

Major: Peace Studies

Minors: Hispanic Studies & Communication

Why did you choose to study abroad and how did you decide on this program?

I have wanted to study abroad since high school. I wanted to gain more cultural and global experience and have self-growth. I chose Chile for the culture and to help with my Hispanic Studies minor, and I chose South Africa because it looked amazing and to help with my Peace Studies major.

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

In Chile, I lived with a host family and got really close with them. I still call them frequently and am planning to visit them again soon! In South Africa, I volunteered at a need-based school and learned a lot about their education system and the resources that they were in need of. My South Africa study abroad group helped raised money for the school to get a playground, which was super impactful to see.

Based on your experiences abroad, what are some of the benefits of spending a semester abroad? How has studying abroad contributed to your personal, academic, and professional development?

I think there are SO many benefits to studying abroad. For me, I grew a lot spending a semester in both Chile and South Africa because I was immersed in completely different cultures and political atmospheres. My perspective on the world changed due to spending time with people who had different life experiences than me, and I was able to use their perspectives to have introspect reflections on my life. I was able to gain fluency in Spanish in Chile, and gain political/conflict mediation knowledge for my Peace Studies degree in both countries. I am much more open to working internationally and will take these experiences with me into a professional career.

What advice can you offer for CSB+SJU students who are considering or planning to study abroad?

I would choose a program that you think will push you outside of your comfort zone and will offer you a new perspective. I think all of the programs will do that, but make sure you read about all of the programs to find what suits your interests. I would recommend not choosing a program based on your friends because you will meet/get close to so many people while studying abroad.