UWT Study Abroad Bloggers

Kayla Rosales

SOUTH KOREA: Global Media and Cross-Cultural Psychology 

Field of Study: Psychology

Expected Graduation: Spring 2024

My name is Kayla Rosales and I will be participating in the South Korea: Global Media and Cross-Cultural Psychology Study Abroad Program. I was raised in the Philippines for most of my life where I was able to experience first-hand the effects of cultural stigma against seeking help for mental health. As a Filipino American, my personal goal is to promote inclusivity, empathy, and diversity to cultures, especially my own, that are not represented enough in the field of psychology. I believe my experience with South East Asian culture will significantly help me better understand cross-cultural psychology in South Korea and further expand diversity in the field of psychology. 

• Sense of Belonging in Foreign Countries
• Making Friends and Changing Minds
• The Heart and Soul of Seoul
• Finding Myself in a Foreign Country 

Jasmine Kaur

ITALY: When in Rome: Intercultural Business Communications

Field of Study: Accounting

Expected Graduation: Spring 2024

Jasmine will be taking part in the When in Rome study abroad program this early fall. She is looking forward to learning more about the Italian culture and customs while making connections with the local businesses. As a first-generation student, Jasmine is excited to embark on this journey and share her experiences with other students that are considering taking part in study abroad programs at the University of Washington.

• 3...2..1.. ROME!
• The Italian Way
• Indian's Perspective in Italy
• Home Sweet Home...

Mattley Minor

CFHI: Global Health Experiential Learning Program  

Field of Study: Biomedical Sciences 

Expected Graduation: Spring 2025

My name is Mattley Minor and I will be attending CFHI- Global Health Experimental Learning Program in Uganda as a Biomedical Sciences major. I moved to Washington when I was 12 years old from my island Saipan and I’m the 2nd youngest out of 8 siblings. I’m also Palauan. I like to do lots of things, but my favorite thing to do is travel. I plan to take as much as I can from this program, immersing with the environment and its people. Lastly, I’m excited about seeing the newly built Maternal and Child Hospital, as well as visiting the HIV/AIDS clinic while shadowing health workers.

• (SEA)Seattle - (TJA)Tarija
• Lots of firsts, lots of feelings: Time for an adjustment period
• Making the Most of it
• Back and Better

Ashley Lowy

SPAIN: Intensive Spanish Language and Culture in Alicante, Spain 

Field of Study: Psychology 

Expected Graduation: Spring 2025

Hello, my name is Ashley and I am a current junior at the University of Washington Tacoma! Some things about me are that I love to read books, bake and dance. What interested me in attending the 2023 Summer Study Abroad Program in Alicante Spain is that I identify as bi-racial and being that my mom is from Nicaragua I was interested in strengthening my Spanish-speaking skills in order to converse better with both family and friends who also speak Spanish.  

• Should I Stay or Should I Go?
• Differences in Cultural Perspective on Nudity
• Learning to Manage Cultural Expectations
• Lessons Learned

Jovany Cardoza-Aguilar

Germany: Bielefeld University Exchange Program

Field of Study: Computer Science

Expected Graduation: Spring 2024

Jovany is studying abroad in Germany for the upcoming autumn and winter quarter. He holds great interest in German culture with their wide variety of music, artwork, and writings. He hopes to become proficient in speaking German during this time abroad, along with learning about and connecting with people that come from a different background. He plans on sharing these experiences in his blog to show the different aspects of everyday German life.

• Preconceived Notions and Thoughts
• First Contact in Germany
• My Days in Germany
• The Return

Lexy Luna

CFHI- Global Health Experiential Learning Program in India

Field of Study: Psychology and Biomedical Sciences

Expected Graduation: Spring 2023

Lexy will be participating in the CFHI Global Health study abroad program in New Delhi India to learn more about how culture and sociodynamics impact healthcare. She is looking forward to incorporating these experiences into her current patient care as an EMT and her future patient care as a physician. Lexy is thrilled to share her learning, insights, and adventures with other students.

• Ahoj Czech Republic, Namaste India
• Welcome to India
• Returning Home

Kecia Johnson

Prague: The Psychology of Culture, Food and Human Development

Field of Study: Politics, Philosophy, and Economics: International Studies Major

Expected Graduation: Spring 2023

Hi everyone! I am a Politics, Philosophy, and Economics: International Studies major. I will be studying abroad in Prague, Czechia. The study abroad program is a great fit for someone studying foreign politics because understanding culture and how people think in different regions will help with my understanding of foreign policy. I hope to one day advance to a graduate school that will allow me to work overseas when I'm finished. This is an amazing opportunity for a single mother like me. 

• Almost the End
• Last Day Before Departing
• First Week in Prague
• A Goodbye

Melanie Jacob-Castillo

Spanish Language and Culture in Cusco, Peru

Field of Study: Business Administration

Expected Graduation: Spring 2025

Hi everyone! I’m Melanie Jacob, studying business at UWT and studying abroad in Cusco, Peru for the Spanish and Language Culture program. Studying abroad is something that I’ve always wanted to do because it’s a way to expand on what education really is. Studying abroad in Cusco will hopefully help me improve my Spanish and help me learn more about other Latin cultures. As a Mexican American, I hope to be able to understand Peruvian history and appreciate their culture in person to then learn more about the Latinx immigrant experience in the U.S. and have a better understanding of our Latinx community here. As a business major, I hope to be able to build strong cross-cultural communication skills while expanding my worldview and learning more about the world.

• What's the deal with nervousness and newness?
• Looking for the positive in different experiences
• Preparing to say goodbye
• Study abroad ends but the memories last forever

Rachel Millington

European Summer School

Field of Study: Management

Expected Graduation: Spring 2022

My name is Rachel Millington, and I will be studying abroad in Germany. I will be taking European politics and European management. My major is management, and my minor is in politics. I am excited to be abroad and learn about politics and management from a European perspective. I can't wait to share my experience with people and show them the possibilities of studying abroad!

• Arrived in Germany!
• Two Weeks in Germany
• My Final Days in Germany
• My Last Blog

Alexis Wilhelm

The Gambia: Study Abroad Internship Program 

Field of Study: Biomedical Sciences

Expected Graduation: Spring 2021

Alexis loves the medical field and is looking forward to sharing her talents and compassion throughout her internship in the Gambia. Alexis is hoping to make an impact on someone's life and create unforgettable memories.

• Greetings from The Gambia!
• Updates from The Gambia!
• Week 5 Gambia Update
• See you Later Gambia!

Amari Davis

Netherlands: Comparative Criminal Justice

Field of Study: Criminal Justice

Expected Graduation: Spring 2020

Amari is a  22 years old UW Tacoma transfer student. She will be studying abroad in the Netherlands on the Comparative Criminal Justice program. While abroad, she will explore the Dutch justice system and analyze crime reduction techniques and receive education in regards to methods of interaction with high-risk, vulnerable, and minority groups. She is very excited to be blogging this experience and can’t wait to show you all the attractions she encounters, along with the beautiful architecture and other unique aspects of Dutch culture!

• Final Countdown to Europe!
• Welcome to the Netherlands
• Adventures in Amsterdam
• The Last Hurrah!

Georgia Riffle

Spain: Intensive Spanish in Alicante

Field of Study: Business Management

Expected Graduation: Spring 2019

Georgia, in addition to her interest in people and their function within an organization, has a strong passion for traveling and learning the Spanish language. She will be studying at the University of Alicante in Spain this summer in hopes of strengthening her fluency and learning a new perspective from the Spanish people she's living with. Outside of school, Georgia enjoys lifting weights, reading books about psychology and nutrition, going to church, and being in the sunshine (hence why she's moving to Arizona)! Ultimately, her goal is to implement what she's learned in business school combined with international insight as she pursues a business operations role after graduation.

• Pre-Departure Expectations
• Greetings from Alicante, Spain!
• Living in the Spanish Culture
• Leaving a Piece of My Heart in Alicante

Jessy Wolff

Brazil: Movements and Intersections

Field of Study: Psychology, Global Engagement and Sociology

Expected Graduation: Spring 2020

Jessy is studying abroad in Campo Grande, Brazil this summer. She believes this study abroad program will enhance her understanding of other cultures and ethnicities, as well as the effects of postcolonialism on South Americans. She looks forward to learning more about the sociopolitical and ecological issues that Brazilians currently face as well.

• Ten Days Until Takeoff!
• Greetings from Brazil!
• What I’ve Learned in Campo Grande, Brazil
• Reflections from Brazil

Kazuaki Suhama

China: Past and Present

Field of Study: Global History and Asian Studies  

Expected Graduation: Winter 2020

An international student from Japan and Singapore, Kazuaki will be going to Guangzhou and Hong Kong in the China: Past and Present program for summer 2019. He is looking forward to learning about the history and culture of China.

• Kazuaki’s Preparation for His Journey to China
• Current Experiences in Guangzhou
• Approaching the End of My Stay in China
• Program Conclusions

Adrianna Zan  

CFHI: Doing More With Less- Healthcare in Southern Bolivia

Field of Study: Biomedical Sciences

Expected Graduation: Spring 2020

Adrianna will be going to Bolivia to study healthcare in a remote location this summer before entering her fourth and final year at UW Tacoma. In Spring 2020 she will be graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences and a minor certificate in Asian Studies. Throughout her time at UW Tacoma she has been involved on campus by working in Housing and Residence Life and being a member and officer of the Filipino-American Student Association (FASA sa UWT). These experiences have shaped her as a person, have helped her discover her identity and she hopes that this study abroad experience will have a similar effect. Adrianna is excited to fully immerse herself in the culture of Bolivia and in the study of global health as she begins her applications for medical schools.

• Pre Departure Preparations
• Biomedical Sciences in Bolivia
• Surgery and Salt Flats: Preparing for Home
• Coming Home, Anew

Urshula Dunn

From Sea to Shining Sea: Exploration of Corporate Social Responsibility Initiatives at the Ports of Washington and the Netherlands

Field of Study: Marketing and Economics

Expected Graduation: Spring 2020

Urshula is a UW Tacoma student participating in The Netherlands: From Sea to Shining Sea program in early fall. As someone soon to be entering the business world, she expects the corporate social responsibility focus of this particular program to serve as a valuable insight of the direction large industries should be moving in. This will also be her first time studying abroad or traveling any farther than Canada. Besides the academic aspect, her interests in art, history and culture will make this an exciting and memorable experience.

• The Amateur Travelers Guide to Preparing for Your First Trip Abroad

Vanessa Emanuel

Ecuador: Spanish Language and Culture

Field of Study: Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences

Expected Graduation: Spring 2019

Vanessa will be participating in the study abroad program in Quito, Ecuador during Summer A Term. She has a love and fascination for Latino and Hispanic culture and is excited to learn and share her experiences with her peers. She is a very fun loving as outgoing person and is looking forward to meeting new friends and soaking up everything Ecuadorian culture has to offer.

An Nguyen

Mainland China and Taiwan: Crossing the Strait

Field of study: Global Studies with a focus on East Asian studies, and minor in Criminal Justice

Expected graduation: Spring 2019

I was born in Vietnam and had moved to the United States nine years ago. My passion for traveling and learning about the world stems from my past of being an immigrant from a third-world country to a first-world country. And when I am talking about third, second and first world countries, it is their ideologies that I am talking about. The differences in the societies that I lived in opened my eyes. It made me more perceptible to the diverse world. Hence, my goal of becoming a world traveler.

With my passion and dream of world traveling, I am majoring in Global Studies and learning Chinese. Even though I do not know what I want my career to be, all I know is that I will be traveling for whatever job I will take on. In order to quench my traveling thirst, I will be attending a study abroad program called Mainland and China: Crossing the Strait.

Molica Chau

JSIS/Hellenic Studies Greece: Greece and Europe- Travelers, Migrants, and Tourists

Field of study: Global Studies

Expected graduation: Winter 2019

Molica is senior at UW Tacoma. She is also a local artist in Tacoma, WA. She enjoys taking photos of street art and occasionally writes poetry. She will be attending the UW Seattle summer 2018 JSIS Greece Study Abroad Program.

Kaylen Vine

Central Europe: Themes of Psychology in Culture, Heros, and Food

Field of Study: Psychology

Expected Graduation: Spring 2018

Kaylen is looking forward to exploring the novel cultural experiences afforded by the Central Europe: Themes of Psychology in Culture, Heroes, and Food study abroad program. She finds cultural competency and immersive interaction to be essential character building-blocks to an individual and anticipates expanding on her personal growth. This will be her first study abroad program and her last undergraduate courses before transitioning into graduate study

Miles Cameron

Argentina: Urban Field Experience

Field of Study: Sustainable Urban Development

Expected graduation: Spring 2019

My name is Miles Cameron and I am going to be going to Buenos Aires this August. I am excited to apply what I have learned in my Urban Studies classes to an international city with lots of culture and history.

Katlyne Clark

Italy: When in Rome: Intercultural Business Communication

Field of study: Arts and Sciences; minor in Environmental Studies

Expected graduation: Spring 2019

My name Is Katlyne Clark. I am a full time professional working as a Compliance Coordinator and a full time student working towards my Bachelors Degree in Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences. My current career goal is to combine my professional and educational experiences by going into public policy with an emphasis on environmental issues or social/community change. To aid in my educational goals and add some culture to my life, I will be studying Intercultural Communications in Rome, Italy for the early fall quarter for the When in Rome TBUS 490 program.