Back from Abroad: Sabrina Hunte ’20

How did you choose where you would study abroad?

I first chose my program, and then I did research on the location options. I was drawn to the IES European Union program because I wanted to explore the EU, and to me, there was no better place to do this than in a powerhouse country like Germany.

I knew that I didn't want to go to a big city like Berlin or Munich, but I wanted to experience a city larger than Brunswick.

Freiburg was perfect for me because it's a mid-size student-centered city in close proximity to larger cities in Germany, France and Switzerland.

Last semester was my first time in Europe, and I wanted to take advantage of everything that each country had to offer. Being in such a central location was very beneficial for my travels and also my education. 

Was there a time when you felt lost, confused, or misunderstood?

I felt the most lost and homesick around Thanksgiving because I was away in a country that didn't celebrate it, even though it was so salient to my family life back home. My program helped by treating us to an American-style Thanksgiving dinner, but it really made me miss home. I felt better after skyping with my family back home. 

What about a time when you felt at home in this new land?

My German roommates were some of the first people that helped me feel at home in Freiburg. Specifically, towards the beginning of my stay we cooked dinner together and they taught me how to make spatzle, which is a German pasta. Cooking was a way that my roommates and I stayed connected to each other. I taught them how to bake chocolate chip cookies and banana bread; and they taught me how to make schnitzel.

How do you anticipate the trip affecting your studies at Bowdoin?

My trip affected my studies in a different way than what I originally thought: in addition to fostering my interest in international relations and learning about different governing bodies across the world, I came home with a newfound love of languages.

I'm now thinking about how I can possibly continue learning French or start a new language next year. Taking a semester of beginner's German made me remember how much I love exploring different cultures through language and encouraged me to get back into languages when I returned home.