Emily Chiang | UCB Study Abroad

"As an Asian American I wanted to pick a country where I would feel comfortable and safe being myself. Given the multiculturalism of London, I felt very comfortable choosing this place to study abroad.
Studying abroad gave me great pride in being a UC Berkeley student. I realized how proud I was to represent UC Berkeley abroad along with my fellow classmates. UC Berkeley is a globally recognized institution so it was amazing to talk to foreigners about our school.

The most memorable part of abroad was making such great connections with my group of friends and getting to travel to different countries with them. I made some of the craziest travel stories while abroad and there were so many unique cultural experiences I got to participate in while abroad. Traveling with my friends was definitely the highlight of my time abroad because I got to share some of my fondest memories with such great people.

My biggest concern was being homesick and missing my family because I am very close with them. With the large time difference I thought it would be difficult to keep in touch with my family at home, however it was not as difficult as I expected with apps such as WhatsApp to call and text my family.

I would highly recommend studying abroad because it was truly an unforgettable experience. I was so glad I had the chance to travel with friends while I am still young and do not have other obligations to hold me back. Everything from the courses and experiences while abroad are a great change of pace from Berkeley and it really pushed me to become more independent and confident."

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

I was looking for opportunities to push myself outside of my comfort zone, which led me to study abroad. I chose to study abroad in London because I had visited it before and fell in love with the city. I love that the city is multicultural and a rich blend of history and modernity.

What salient identities do you hold? How did your identity/identities impact the way you prepared for, or chose your study abroad experience?

As an Asian American I wanted to pick a country where I would feel comfortable and safe being myself. Given the multiculturalism of London, I felt very comfortable choosing this place to study abroad.

Describe a typical day for you abroad.

I would wake up and eat breakfast at my flat before walking to class with my roommates. Our study center was only a short 5 minute walk from out flat which was very convenient. We would be in class from 10 am-5 pm and during our lunch break my friends and I would usually go to our local coffee shop to grab lunch. After class my friends and I would frequently walk to Soho, which was only 10 minutes away, to do some shopping and after we would either make dinner at home or go out to a new restaurant to eat. We would typically end the night visiting local bars and pubs and immerse ourselves with locals.

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

I took a brand management course, a digital technology course, and a internship workforce course that went along with a part-time internship I did. My courses abroad were much more discussion-based than assignment-based which I enjoyed and the class sizes were much smaller which I enjoyed.

Often, studying abroad can influence or shift our understanding of our own identities. How did your experiences studying abroad impact your understanding of your own identities? And/or what lessons did you learn in general related to your identities?

Studying abroad gave me great pride in being a UC Berkeley student. I realized how proud I was to represent UC Berkeley abroad along with my fellow classmates. UC Berkeley is a globally recognized institution so it was amazing to talk to foreigners about our school.

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

The most memorable part of abroad was making such great connections with my group of friends and getting to travel to different countries with them. I made some of the craziest travel stories while abroad and there were so many unique cultural experiences I got to participate in while abroad. Traveling with my friends was definitely the highlight of my time abroad because I got to share some of my fondest memories with such great people.

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

My biggest concern was being homesick and missing my family because I am very close with them. With the large time difference I thought it would be difficult to keep in touch with my family at home, however it was not as difficult as I expected with apps such as WhatsApp to call and text my family.

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

I would highly recommend studying abroad because it was truly an unforgettable experience. I was so glad I had the chance to travel with friends while I am still young and do not have other obligations to hold me back. Everything from the courses and experiences while abroad are a great change of pace from Berkeley and it really pushed me to become more independent and confident.