#ipewinter25

[umichenginabroad]

Ireland: Initial Thoughts

Hi this is Piper and I’m a junior studying at the University College Dublin this semester! I’ve been in Dublin for four days now and so much has already happened!

I touched down Monday afternoon/evening and I have to say that the transition to study abroad has been significantly easier than the transition to freshman year of college. This could partially be because freshman year I was coming from out of states and along with the fact that Ireland is an English speaking country this honestly just felt like freshman move-in on steroids. 

I can immediately tell that this is going to be an amazing experience but here are two of my goals for this semester:

Go on one solo trip: I’ve gotten so used to moving in groups back home, whether thats going to the grocery store with my roommates, picking classes with people from my professional fraternity, and honestly everything in between. As much as I am loving the friends I’ve made here within the first couple days I really want to develop my independence so I’m committing to going on one solo trip this semester, whether that is within Ireland or not is still tbd but I will keep you guys updated.

Join one Irish club/society: I can already tell that it would be so so easy to stay within the international community at UCD as there is such a large study abroad program here with students from all over the world. But this semester I really want to meet the locals and I’ve heard the best way to do that is to join one of their clubs! Right now I’ve got my eye on the mountaineering club but we’ll see after we have their version of club rush.

I’ll be posting again soon about my first week (and unforeseen struggles with private and public transportation) but thats all for now!

[umichenginabroad]

Week 12: Hop Into Spring (Easter in Prague!)

After traveling through Morocco, this week in Prague felt slower, steadier, and one that I was very much looking forward to after the long international journey. I got back into a routine, spent more time at home, and quickly noticed how much lighter everything felt, from the weather to the general mood around the city.

Easter Markets

One of the highlights this week was our Czech class outing to the Easter markets. A while back, our teacher mentioned that if any of us managed to order something in Czech, she’d reward us. So when we arrived, I found a crepe stand and gave it a try: “jednu palačinku, prosím” with “jahoda” (strawberry) and “banán” (banana) toppings. After some trial and error, I ended up with a warm crepe and felt more confident ordering in Czech. Well worth it!

We weren’t just there to snack, though. She handed out a vocabulary worksheet with Easter-related words, and we were told to look out for them as we walked through the stalls. A surprising number showed up, including pomlázka (a traditional braided willow whip used on Easter Monday), mazanec (a round sweet bread with raisins), and velikonoční vejce (painted Easter eggs). The market was full of handmade crafts, decorated ribbons, vintage jewelry, and of course, food and beer. Most famously, green Easter beer appears this time of year and looks cool but tastes the same as regular beer in my opinion.

Easter in Prague, or Velikonoce, is celebrated with a mix of Christian and folk traditions. These markets pop up all over the city, especially in Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square, and they feel more like open-air galleries than typical street fairs. There’s a big emphasis on handmade goods and regional traditions, and even if you’re just passing through, it’s hard not to be pulled in.

What I loved most was how naturally it all blended into the city itself. The soft yellows, muted pinks, and pale greens of the pastel buildings I’d appreciated since arriving seemed to echo the colors of the market stalls, fitting into the scene like they belonged to the season. With the stalls full of Easter eggs and ribboned branches, the holiday and energy from locals made for a wonderful week.

Spring Days and Chill Nights

The weather this week was beautiful. It’s warm enough now that my walks to class usually involve a short detour, either through a nice park or with a stop at the ice cream truck that parks right outside the villa. There are always so many people outdoors, and we even had Comms class on the grass one day, with people passing by, dogs running around, and the occasional gust of wind trying to blow through the pages of The Culture Map.

Later in the week, a few of us went to Letná Park and ended up at its very popular beer garden. The view of the city from there never gets old, and it was a lovely place to just sit and catch up.

Most of the evenings this week were spent with my roommates, whether we were cooking together, sitting around in the kitchen, or sharing stories. Nothing major happened, but it was great, a good week to just be here.

Academics Check-In

In class, things are starting to pick up again. My group presented a new update on the travelog project, the social media side of it is coming together, the maps are working, and now it’s mostly down to design polish and final touches.

In Comms, we’re still reading The Culture Map, and this week’s focus was on workplace hierarchies and decision-making styles. It led to a good discussion about how different cultures approach leadership with some adopting top-down structures and others taking a more collaborative angle. Talking about it in an international classroom and having experience through our capstones with Czech companies added some handy real-life perspective.

Looking Ahead

Easter break is coming up, and I’m heading to Croatia with a good group of twelve. We’re starting the trip with a 17-hour FlixBus ride (overnight, with a stop in Zagreb) before eventually making it to Split. It’s definitely not the most ideal way to get there, but I’m thinking it’ll be worth it once we see the water.

It’ll be my first warm-weather trip of the semester, and I’m so excited to slow down, spend time on the beach, and explore a new country! After a quieter week in Prague, the timing is perfect.

[umichenginabroad]

Week 16: KAIST - Finals Week and beyond

Hi all!

The semester has been wrapped up.

I finished all of my exams and moved out of my dorm. I moved in with a friend living in an apartment before I leave to the Philippines and America.

The moving-out process was relatively simple. I bought so many things in Korea. I wish I had more space in my luggage to buy and carry more before I leave. To move out, I had to pack up all of my things and take photos similar to when I moved in. There were some forms online to complete. I had to clean and scrub the place to make the dorm look cleaner than when I got here. It was a slight bother, but I felt relieved to move out. I had plans the day I moved out, but I needed to get my stuff out asap.

After my exams, I felt relief and joy. I was excited to finish the semester and spend the rest of my time travelling, spending time with friends, and spending nights out.

I recently bought a ticket from Daejeon to Incheon Terminal 2 using the Tmoney GO app. I needed some help, so I asked a friend to help me out. I used a Korean bank card to pay for the ticket. I don't have to worry about spending the day taking trains.

I was able to attend a baseball game in Daejeon for the Hanwha Eagles. It was the most fun baseball game I've ever been to. I loved it and would highly recommend anyone interested in Korean culture to watch and attend baseball games. I am currently following up with more of the baseball teams and seasons.

To wrap up my time in Korea, I am contacting my professors and friends and preparing to return home.

I can't wait to get home, but I love my time here.

- Anton

[umichenginabroad]

Post-Travel Reflection -- Me Encanta Madrid <3

It’s been a week since I got back from Madrid and it’s the weirdest feeling ever. I walked into my house and it felt like I never left and the last five months were just a fever dream. The drive from the airport was such a culture shock, seeing plain roads and green road signs instead of the beautiful balconies and architecture of Madrid. I’m excited to be back, but I’m stressed that life will never be that fun and carefree again. I just started my summer internship and the switch to corporate life is rather… depressing. I can always go back to Madrid, but I’ll probably never live there again which is heartbreaking. 

Adjusting:

I wouldn’t say the adjustment back was very difficult, since I was looking forward to coming back and having my favorite things. However, I’ve had a few slip ups like dropping my water bottle cap since it’s no longer connected, saying “gracias” instead of “thank you”, and thinking I need to walk places when I live in suburbia with a car. Driving was also kind of scary, but the muscle memory kicked in. 

Personal Growth:

Studying abroad was honestly such an amazing experience. I wouldn’t say it was life changing and I’m a whole different person, but I definitely gained new skills, experiences, and perspectives. Before, I was extremely shy, very anxious about basically everything, and feared doing things alone. While abroad I met tons of new people from all over the world, solo traveled to three cities, clubbed alone, ate alone, and loved every second of it. I was really scared of navigating new cities and airports, but now I can do it confidently with no prior planning. I learned a lot about languages, cultural differences and respect, and have a new love for learning about the world. 

Rereading my pre-departure post, I’m happy to say I accomplished many of my goals!

Make new friends - I got super close with my roommates from UMich and other US universities and some people throughout Europe!

Solo travel - Went on three trips to Munich, Amsterdam, and Berlin!

Upgrade wardrobe - Did LOTS of shopping and got the most unique pieces

New foods - Tried what I could for being vegetarian (tapas in Spain, tagine in Morocco, crepes in Paris, strudel in Germany, stroopwafel in the Netherlands, etc.)

Improve Spanish skills - I’m nowhere near fluent but I’ve definitely improved! I picked up certain sentence structures (more formal language), dialect differences (perdona, porfa, vale, etc.), and even some slang

Lots of travel - Went to 11 countries (Spain, Portugal, Germany, UK, Morocco, France, Croatia, Hungary, Austria, Czechia, Netherlands) and TONS of cities

Career Development

While I wasn’t really focused on career development abroad, I’m now certain I want to work for a company with global opportunities that allow me to travel and/or work with international partners. Going abroad has definitely equipped me to communicate and conform to different cultures, which will be a very useful skill in my future career. 

–

If anyone reading this post is on the fence about going abroad, DO IT. It’s genuinely the best experience and I don’t regret it one bit. The idea of moving to a new country and not knowing anyone can be scary, but it’ll all work out. 

I also can’t believe this is my last blog post. I’m not big on writing, but this position forced me to track my journeys which I really appreciate now. If anyone has been reading or following along, thank you so much and I really hope it was helpful. 

Lastly, if anyone has further questions about Madrid, going abroad, course planning, travel, or you just want to chat, I’m more than happy to help! Reach out at [email protected]

¡Muchas gracias y estudiar en un nuevo país!

Nitya Chellury

Industrial and Operations Engineering

Universidad Carlos III de Madrid

Madrid, Spain

[umichenginabroad]

Week 15: KAIST - Embracing Connections and Finals

Hi all!

I am done with classes and focused on studying. I enjoyed my last moments in classes and prepared for finals. Among this, I have found more friends to connect with.

Studying the material at KAIST has been a struggle. Some of the courses slides aren't as useful as UMICH. There is definitely an importance for students to find material to practice in some of my classes. Some of the expectations in my semiconductors course are unclear. There are very few assignments for me, but they do cover some exam material. Comparatively, I have received more resources to learn and understand material better at UMICH. KAIST does okay, but the feedback is minimal.

(KAIST Munji Campus courts and fields)

To rest, I have been enjoying playing volleyball for some time. I am even connecting with others and bringing them to enjoy Korean restaurants. I have been to these restaurants with other foreigners and Korean students, so I feel honored to share other people's first experience in this part of the city.

As the season changes and more good weather comes, I look forward to learning about summer events I will miss. I was interested in the sports entertainment of Korean culture. I look forward to seeing soccer or baseball games and having those genuine experiences. There is so much more that only 5 months of this study abroad can offer. I cannot yet fully understand Korean life after a full year. I plan to study the Korean language more and come back to experience more Korean life.

[umichenginabroad]

Week 19: My Last Week in Madrid :(

I’m down to my last couple days in Madrid and it’s rather bittersweet. I’ve been here for like 5 months and I think I’m ready to go home and get back to my usual routine, but I’ve made so many memories here and it’s sad to leave them behind. In between packing I’m trying to experience everything Madrid, so it’s a pretty jam packed schedule. 

Shopping

I’m not ready to leave the amazing shopping in Madrid. My entire wardrobe is now from Zara and various Spanish boutiques, and I don’t want to go back to boring expensive American clothes. I’ve been soaking it all in one last time, and maybe spent a little more money than I should’ve…

I did finally buy the Adidas Spezials I’ve been wanting for like a year though, so that’s a plus. 

Sightseeing

I’ve been here all semester and still haven’t seen all the major sights. 

I finally made my way to the palace and cathedral, and they were stunning. I waited in line for like two hours because I thought I could get in free, but it’s only for EU passport holders so I did have to pay 7 euro. 

I also went to the Temple of Debod for sunset, and the views were stunning. People were singing and dancing and it was such a great experience. 

I also explored Retiro one last time, exploring the rose gardens and just enjoying nature. 

Going Out + Roommates

Most of my roommates have already left and there’s only 4 of us here, but we’re trying to make the most of it. We’ve been to one last F***ing Mondays, 100 Montaditos, and other various bars we love. I finally closed out a club in Spain, which was a bucket list item.

We also went to Istar for our last night, which is probably one of my favorite clubs I’ve ever been to. The music was great, but it was just way too expensive. 

We also had our last round of tapas, enjoying tortilla, patatas bravas, tinto, etc, one last time.

Packing

Packing has been an absolute nightmare. I don’t remember doing this much shopping and don’t know how I’ve acquired so much stuff. I already have two checked bags, a carry on, and a backpack, and refuse to get anything more. I’m so scared my bags will be overweight, but this is an issue for the airport on Wednesday. I also have a layover in Atlanta before I get back to Michigan, and I have no idea how I plan on self transferring so many bags. 

Madrid is such an amazing city and I’m not ready to say goodbye. I spent so much of college looking forward to studying abroad and it's crazy that it's actually over. I know I’ll be back someday, but it’s so sad and scary that it’ll never be the same and I’m almost done with college. 

Nitya Chellury

Industrial and Operations Engineering

Universidad Carlos III de Madrid

Madrid, Spain

[umichenginabroad]

Week 13: KAIST - Weekend in Seoul

Hi all!

I will tell you about my time in Seoul with my international friends!!

Hongdae (홍대):

This week was a great and productive week, followed by a celebration in Seoul.

This weekend I stayed mostly in Seoul. I went to celebrate with friends from the neighboring university. We celebrated a friend's last days in Korea.

At night, we went to Hongdae clubbing, dancing, singing, and having a good time. We stayed in a hotel for the night. We walked 10 minutes from Hongdae to get to our hotel. The corner stores are open late, so we grabbed ramen and cleaned up for some well-needed rest. In the morning, we got food at a Japanese restaurant. We went shopping again near Hongdae and visited a popular tea house called Osulloc.

We had planned to visit the Hangang River, so we grabbed some treats from Osulloc to eat by the River. There are stores where people can borrow picnic blankets from. So we didn't have to lug around blankets all day.

Han River (한강):

Popular boy group "Seventeen" held their outdoor concert for their 10th-anniversary celebration.

Sitting by the river after a night of clubbing was a beautiful and calming experience. The riverside is full of families, friends, and coworkers sharing a meal or enjoying the good weather.

Itaewon (이태원):

For the last place in Seoul, I visited Itaewon. It was a great and quite popular place for foreigners. I have been trying to look for places to shop for a cleaner style. Here in Itaewon, I found little luck. There were many name-brand clothing stores here. I think the best clothing shops I've visited are still in Myeongdong, Hongdae, and Daejeon. I spent most of the time in Itaewon walking and talking with my friends.

As for my friends, we are starting to feel the weight of the beginning of the end of our abroad experience, but are still making plans to enjoy every moment. There are still many more places I need to visit. I often ask foreigners and Korean natives for more recommendations for places to visit. It seems like some Koreans haven't visited all of Korea. Similar to how it seems quite a task to travel all over the United States. I have found that traveling with Koreans to places they haven't visited is a pleasing time for all people involved. Finding new things to experience in Korea is always better with company.

I'll talk to you all soon!

- Anton

[umichenginabroad]

Week 14: KAIST - Jeju Island and Studying for Finals

Hi All!

For this week, final classes and review sessions started. My last few days of volleyball are concluding. My chances and Korean life are now changing into traveling and studying. I have only a few more chances to travel around Korea while finals approach.

This week, I began to prepare for finals. The dates and review sessions are coming out for each class. I have most of my final homework and quizzes coming up next week before Finals week. I have begun to prepare, but also spent time with some friends in Jeju Island. I had high expectations and was also very stressed for finals week. My mentality was to rest for the following week. I wanted to take the stress off of learning and wanted to enjoy the abroad experience as well.

This trip was my first time planning and organizing my schedule to travel by train and plane during the school season. I never planned a flight during the semesters in Michigan. After all the planning was done, I finally got to enjoy myself. The trip, flight, and road to the hotel were all special moments for me. I got to see different landscapes. Even if it's not the "traditional" tourist route of experiencing "everything" there is in Jeju, I enjoyed every part of the journey.

(If you come to Jeju, plan to take a taxi, bus, or rental car)

Taxis are pretty expensive if you are travelling across the entire island. Buses often take double the time to get to a destination. There are a lot of places to visit here. Mountains, cafes, beaches, hotels, museums, arboretums, and amusement parks.

I mostly had grilled meat and fish, Korean barbeque, and sushi. Cafes have been wonderful there. They were the best places to rest and relax after walking so much.

The opportunities to speak Korean and explore Korea have helped me grow in a way I never expected from myself. I am learning about how much I need to prepare for myself on these trips. I didn't bring a lot, because I planned on shopping.

At the beach, I spent a lot of time observing the landscape. The beaches in Jeju are simple and relaxing. The water is clear, the sand is clean, and there’s usually a nice breeze. It’s a good place for a walk, to sit for a while, or just to get away from everything for a bit. It was a comfortable spot to be. I wish I had more time to spend there. It seems like there is more to do year-round, but I didn't have the time to try everything.

I definitely enjoyed my stay.

Thank you, Jeju.

- Anton