Spring Break 2025 Participant
I'm not quite sure if this applies to future KU students or future study-abroad students, so I will answer both! For future KU students, I strongly encourage looking into a study abroad experience. As someone coming from a background of poverty, this merely seemed to be a dream that I most likely could never achieve. Do not lose hope! KU offers a large variety of resources and financial aid to make these dreams become a reality, and while the application process is long and takes a lot of effort, it all becomes incredibly worth it once you set foot in the country you are set to study in. Simply expanding your horizons both academically and culturally is one of the best ways to become more knowledgeable and experienced in your field of choice, and in addition, it is so much fun! For future study abroad students, I cannot express enough how important it is to read into the culture and society you plan to visit and be aware of any shocks that may come. For Italy specifically, I definitely wish I had put even more effort into learning at least conversational phrases. While the people at your institutions may be forgiving, that does not always translate to the public. Additionally, Italians are very quiet people! If you speak at a normal American volume level, you absolutely will be stared at. That being said, just out of respect, read up on your country of choice and be prepared for even the smallest things! Oh! Definitely do not take it for granted either. While eating at McDonald's may be enticing, I strongly encourage challenging yourself to not eat anywhere or anything you can normally find in the States. Try shopping outside tourist traps, support local businesses, and visit as many museums and sites as possible, no matter how tired you are! Jet lag is rough, but you will regret taking that nap as soon as you step foot back into the States. I promise.
Spring Break 2025 Participant
This trip was truly liberating, educating, and an absolute blast! I thoroughly enjoyed exploring the nooks and crannies of Italy daily, interweaving both the academic review of Italy's healthcare system and the cultural appreciation of the arts, foods, and simple societal practices of the country. I am incredibly grateful for all the institutions that hosted us, especially Caritas Rome and Meyer Children's Hospital in Florence. Both sites were on the top of my list for this study abroad, each one presenting unique takes on the Italian healthcare system in ways that were appealing to my career aspirations. Caritas provided a look at immigrant healthcare and how their fully volunteer-based service provides help for those who are unable to find access to the national Italian healthcare system. Julia, the director of the establishment, demonstrated true selflessness and a genuine drive to improve the lives of those from underrepresented and impoverished backgrounds. Meyer Children's Hospital offered a look at pediatrics in Italy and how the entirety of their institute is dedicated to improving the healthcare quality for children through offering benefits such as laundry, meals, schooling, and even 24-hour parental accompaniment for inpatients. Knowing that practitioners in Italy are not being paid nearly as much as U.S. practitioners demonstrates that those who have taken their jobs have done so out of genuine motivation to help people, which was incredibly refreshing for me.
Spring Break 2025 Participant
My favorite part of this program was visiting so many once-in-a-lifetime sites in just a week's time, while still learning about the topics I find most interesting.
