The Center promotes the study of language beyond the classroom by maintaining a wealth of up-to-date information on language and academic programs for study abroad during the academic year, winter study period and summer months.  This is displayed on the bookshelves of the lounge area on the second floor of NAB. Students should always consult with language faculty and, of course, the Dean’s Office that approves programs and provides the necessary guidelines and forms for study away.

Students tell us about their experiences abroad

Kaitlin Butler, ’11

I decided come to Williams in part because of its excellence stance on studying abroad, but when I finally entered the fall of junior year and saw a semester abroad on the horizon, I hesitated. Was this the right choice? I was heading off to an Irish university, but while this experience had always been a personal dream (Irish is in my blood), I found myself sorely tempted to stay at Williams. Things were going so well: New opportunities and challenges faced me on social, academic, and extracurricular fronts, and I wanted to stay to meet them.

Go abroad. Just do it. I thought Ireland would be sort of just like the U.S. (it wasn’t at all). I thought living in Europe would be fun but certainly not challenging (it was both and more). The experience was fresh and exciting and totally dynamic; I fell in love with the university, the city, and the people I found there. In a big way, I “clicked” more than I ever had before anywhere. I can’t say enough about how much I loved the experience or about how it was the best decision I’ve made here, so instead, I’ll ask you to take the chance yourself.

Noelia Guzman, ’11

Going to London to study abroad for a whole year was one of the most incredible and intense experiences I have ever had. They might have the same language, but that is about it. Cities, people, customs, words, food, everything has its special British touch. For me the hardest thing to do was to find balance. How to sit down and write an essay when there is an amazing buzzing city outside your window?! Work hard and enjoy. Get up early, run to the bus stop, see the Big Ben and the London Eye from the top of a double deck red bus (everyday!), go to class, grab sushi for lunch, sit down at a coffee shop to do some reading, meet a friend at a pub for fish&chips and a pint, see a musical, take the tube, hope it is not rush hour, make it home, drink a cup of tea, go to bed. London is a great international and cosmopolitan city. I met people from all over the world, in the classroom and outside. Being in a European city just puts the rest of Europe at your fingertips. If anything, you will never run out of things to do in London. I loved it and would do it all over again.

Sarah Dewey, ’11

Madrid, Spain is one of the most amazing contradictions that I have ever encountered. It is a huge, bustling city of over three million people, capital of Spain, part of the EU, and a world player in politics. However, the attitudes of the people who live there don’t necessarily reflect this modern, well-run city. My professors were almost always late for class, not out of disrespect but because they would be in the middle of an engaging conversation, and cutting it short because of a prior engagement was not a legitimate reason. My señor would come home from work every day at 2pm to eat a large lunch and then take a two-hour siesta, waking to return to work at 5pm. Getting coffee was the date of choice, and was often over an hour-long commitment. This languid, relaxed atmosphere completely differed from the driven environment at Williams, but I loved it.

Spaniards excel at enjoying life. Whether it was enjoying croquettas (delicious fried balls of queso y jamon) with their afternoon cerveza at El Tigre, paddling on the lake in the beautiful and popular Retiro Park, or viewing the extensive works of Goya at the Prado Museum, they fully lived every moment. Living in Spain really helped me gain much-needed perspective about the world outside of Williams and about the things that really matter in life.

Allison E. Deutsch, ’11

Spring semester 2010, Italy. I can’t really express how happy I am, how lucky I feel, and how much I have learned about myself and the world during the time I have spent in Rome. I never thought that I could love anywhere as much as Williams, or feel as at home anywhere, but living here has taught me that I can feel that way about somewhere as far away as Rome, and that has changed the way that I think about my life and my future.

I am studying art here in a way that I have never been able to before- straight from the works themselves. My classes are walking tours where we discuss art that is present before us. And this does not just happen in museums. The Italians live with their art in a way that amazes me every day. Seeing ancient temple foundations supporting medieval churches and streets winding around half-toppled columns never fails to make me stop and think about how great it is to wake up in Rome every morning.

One way that I have really gotten to practice my Italian, and learn about the culture, in through my internship in a traditional Roman trattoria. I work eight hours a week and those times are the highlights of my week! I help out in the kitchen- mostly preparing antipasti, desserts, and coffee; and I also help the waiters. The best part though is that I get to try all the Roman specialties! Carciofi alla romana, bucatini all’amatriciana, caprese… it is heaven! The people there have been wonderful to me and have welcomed me like one of the family. They treat each other like brothers and the kitchen as their home kitchen, and I have been invited to do the same, which has been such an unexpected, unique, and special gift.

I’ve done a lot of traveling throughout Italy visiting Florence, Venice, Calabria (Tropea), Sicily… and Naples, Capri, and Herculaneum. I have been amazed by the diversity of Italy’s regions – their specialties and different ways of speaking.

I count this decision (to study in Italy) as one of the best I have ever made.

Peter Huang ’11

Spring semester 2010, China. If I said “up” was last month, and “down” was next month, would that mess with your spatial representation of time a little? I’ve been enrolled in intensive-language classes in China for close to two semesters now, and that whole up/last down/next time-concept still throws me for loops. That one situation conveniently packages my entire Chinese learning experience; 一方面, I’ve learn how to laugh at myself. On the other hand, while learning the language provides me access to a people, a culture, and a lot of great food, the most fascinating gift is a peek into the the mind of the typical Chinese guy next to me. 而且，that “peek” has, literally, changed how I perceive the world around me (vertical calendars suddenly make sense).

So if you get the chance, take a trip to Cecelia Chang’s office (the Goddess/Mom of the Chinese department), and watch yourself go from a language snubbing, die-hard Eph with JA ambitions to a study-abroad Chinese addict. With luck, we’ll meet at a 胡同 tea house and chat about how dazzling living in one of the most wildly exciting, dynamic, and beautiful countries in the world is.