Bear Abroad Trey

Trey Frye

Major: ISF: International Development

Q&A

"I really enjoyed simply talking to people from different countries. My friend Karim from Madrid, who I am still in contact with, spoke for hours about politics, our views of the world, and countless other topics. The exposure of new ideas a different kinds of thinking was my favorite part."

 

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

I chose Maasticht, because of the school's reputation and its central location in Europe

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

2 come to mind. I really enjoyed simply talking to people from different countries. My friend Karim from Madrid, who I am still in contact with, spoke for hours about politics, our views of the world, and countless other topics. The exposure of new ideas a different kinds of thinking was my favorite part. Also, getting to see corn made out of a metal pan with hot coals in Morocco was quite the cultural experience.

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

I think the biggest challenge is simply being in a new place, far from home, and not knowing anyone there. I was fortunate enough to have a great living situation with several other international students who all got along very well.

Describe a typical day for you abroad.

A typical day started with making breakfast with friends in the communal kitchen, going to class for most of the day, coming back to the student housing to play games with friends or study. I would then cook dinner with friends and go back to someone's room to talk a bit before bed.

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

Global Transportation Management, Marketing and Supply Chain, Innovation in Business and Understanding Society. I thought the Maastricht courses were more demanding in terms of reading and being prepared for class but Berkeley final are much harder

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

The most memorable part for me was touching the marble headstone at the American WWII museum in the Netherlands

What impact did studying abroad have on you personally?

Studying abroad has taught me to be an open minded person and to take time to enjoy the simple moments with fun people

What would you recommend to students considering studying abroad, especially to your country or program?

Yes, I have already recommended several people to study abroad and have even helped them start the process