Cori Montero | UCB Study Abroad

"At first, you may face difficulties adjusting to a new country, but before you know it, you will be enjoying every minute of it! You will learn so much about yourself and other people. You will also come out of the study abroad experience as a stronger person."

What led you to study abroad? Why did you choose your country/program?

I was encouraged to study abroad because of the opportunity to travel and experience different cultures! Even though I can travel in the future as an adult, I believe that the chance to connect with students globally is something that I may never have again. Therefore, I found college to be the perfect time to go abroad, especially when you have the resources and structure provided by the program (i.e. UCEAP). I chose to study in Bologna, Italy, because of my interest in the culture, food, and history. Additionally, Bologna is a small college town that provides a more authentic experience of living in Italy -- this appealed to me because I wanted to stray away from touristy locations.

Describe a typical day for you abroad.

A typical day abroad always began with an espresso and brioche at the local cafe across the street. From there, I would walk to campus to take 1-3 hours of classes. After classes, I would meet with my friends to study or hang out. For dinner, my friends and I would go into the city for 2-3 hours and enjoy a lovely meal! Occasionally, the program would hold events that I'd attend (i.e., visiting museums/main attractions).

What coursework did you take while abroad? How did courses abroad compare with Berkeley classes?

I took four classes while I was abroad; two business courses (Music and New Media & Business Models in Creative Industries), one history course (Rome and the Universal), and one urban studies course (Urban Sustainability). The courses were interesting since most were masters level. However, the workload was much less than that of Berkeley -- the courses typically didn't have any homework and grade was based on one final assessment at the end of the course.

What was the most memorable/meaningful aspect of your time abroad?

The most memorable aspect of my time abroad was the people! I met incredibly kind people that were extremely willing and excited to share their perspectives and cultures. I made life-long friendships that I am forever grateful for.

What was the biggest challenge/concern of your study abroad experience? How did you respond?

One of my biggest concerns about studying abroad was safety. However, Italy was so much safer than I would've anticipated! The people of Bologna, and Italy in general, tend to stay up late. The streets were always busy -- you'd see people out coming home at 7 am! Because of the sheer amount of people in the streets, it felt a lot safer than Berkeley. I never really worried about my safety while being abroad.

What would you recommend to students considering studying abroad, especially if they share similar identities and/or are considering your country or program?

Study abroad in Italy -- you will not regret it! At first, you may face difficulties adjusting to a new country, but before you know it, you will be enjoying every minute of it! You will learn so much about yourself and other people. You will also come out of the study abroad experience as a stronger person. Additionally, Italy is the perfect place to go. It is super easy to travel via train to other Italian cities (i.e., Milan, Florence, Venice, Rome), but it is also in a great location to fly to other European countries. Finally, the UCEAP team in Bologna is super supportive and will treat you like family. This program was wonderful, and I recommend it!