Hello friends,

My name is Diana Urry. I used my scholarship to go to Cuenca, Ecuador for spring semester 2023, and I combined it with my social work practicum. Cuenca is in the mountains at 8,400 feet above sea level and roads over the mountains that take you to other cities can get as high as 14,500 feet above sea level. Cuenca is known for its very old and beautiful architecture, especially Catholic churches. The oldest church was built by the Spanish conquistadors in the 1500’s. The church with the domes in this picture took a hundred years to build. The population in Cuenca is 445,000.

This picture was taken on January 14^th of this year. It captures the culture in Cuenca. This is the downtown area and people from all over come to sell fruits, vegetables, and all sorts of crazy things, such as fresh goat’s milk. They line the sidewalks every day to sell, and their prices are very low. In the background is the typical store. You won’t find a Walmart here; most stores are very small, and most people are very poor, with the average income being $450 a month.

I took four years of Spanish at the UM, but I felt like I was starting from scratch when I got to Cuenca because they don’t teach slang and dialect in school. I learned quickly though, and I felt fluent by the time I left. I’m the one in the front and behind me is my social work supervisor. She’s about 4’11 feet tall and that’s typical of Ecuadorians. We worked at a cancer treatment hospital. My job was to give emotional support to patients having surgery or doing chemo treatments. This experience was invaluable to me now that I’m graduated and working as a social worker in Salt Lake City. Spanish comes in very handy here with 22% of the population being Hispanic. I am so grateful for this opportunity that changed me for the better in many ways.

Hi, my name is Ethan Lowe, and I am senior studying Mathematics and Japanese, and I have spent the last year studying at Tohoku University in Japan. The experience as a whole was extremely valuable in the social connections and friends I made, the challenging coursework I participated in to improve my Mathematics skills and Japanese language skills, and the traveling around the country I was able to do to expand my worldview. The classes I took for my Mathematics Major focused around doing research on various aspects of Applied Mathematics and culminated in the spring semester doing a research project on Numerical Analysis of Partial Differential Equations. In addition, the entire year I continued my study of the Japanese Language and I greatly improved as being forced to use the language in all of my daily interactions makes one improve quickly, and in addition, the coursework I took was also difficult but invaluable as it provided a different style of Japanese Language teaching that I was used to.

In addition to the coursework, I also spent a lot of time in my spring break traveling around the various parts of the country, from all the way in the north in Hokkaido, to the cultural center that is Kyoto. Because the culture of Japan is so unique compared to Western culture, it was some the best things I have ever experienced. The temples, architecture, food, people, all of it was so unique and makes me very thankful I had the opportunity to travel around Japan to expand my worldview and make myself a more informed person. I look forward to using all that I learned and experienced in the GLI program and at University of Montana to enhance my senior year.

Hello everyone!

My name is Carli Cebulla and for my Beyond the Classroom experience, I studied abroad in Barcelona, Spain for the Spring 2023 semester. This experience has influenced my outlook on life and helped me grow into a much more understanding person of the world. Although my actual project was based in Barcelona, I was able to go on so many adventures throughout Europe and Africa, that affected me just as much. 

Growing up in a small farm town, and then moving to Missoula was like I entered a whole new world. I never could have imagined how much I would thrive in a city consisting of 2 million people, having only grown up in a town maybe consisting of 1,000 people on a good day. There was so much I had to learn the first month I was there, but luckily my roommates were from Spain and helped me out a lot my first couple weeks. Without them, I would have not had as great of an experience and put myself out there as much. 

There are so many wild adventures that I could put in here, but that would make this post into a whole book. However, my favorite memories of my time abroad mostly have to do with the insane nightlife scene, and all the new stores that I could shop in. It still has not sunk in that I am no longer there and probably will not be back for many years. But as for right now, I still feel like all my adventures were just last week. 

My time abroad really showcased how different lifestyles can be. It was a little bit of an adjustment that first week, but after that I learned to love the work to live mindset. This experience opened my eyes to a whole new side of people that I did not see when I first moved by myself several years ago. I created great friendships with people all over the world and learned even more about other countries because of that.

Throughout my time there, I had a couple visitors. Everyone that came mentioned how much happier everyone is over there within the first day or two of being there. And I have to agree. The way of life is much simpler, and even though Spain is less developed than the United States, everyone seems content and not overly stressed. It was refreshing to see a world that has more to life after college than just working.

Overall, my experience in Barcelona still feels like a fever dream. And I keep reliving all the little moments, which I hope to continue to do. I will never forget the impact this experience has had on my life and how I view the world!

My name is Collin Baker, and my Beyond the Classroom Experience took me to Atlanta, Georgia for a ten week long internship. As a Management Information Systems major in the College of Business, an internship relevant to information systems, which aligns perfectly with finding a BtC Experience related to my theme of Technology and Society.

I spent the summer as a Digital Assurance and Transparency Intern with PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLC (PwC). The position essentially boils down to IT audit. My client was a financial technology company that acts as an intermediary between financial institutions and advertisers to place ads into banking apps. Basically, if you bank through most major companies like Bank of America, Chase, Wells Fargo, and others, the coupons you find in your bank’s app were placed there not by the bank, but my client. My job involved making sure that all of the controls the company had in place covering financial information and data security were operating the way they ought to, and that they properly protected and guaranteed the accuracy of all of the information the company handles. This meant gathering evidence, analyzing reports, and talking to people working for the client (data engineers, compliance managers, even the Chief Information Security Officer) to make sure I properly understood the systems they had in place and could confirm they were appropriate.

Doing this gave me an incredible understanding of the use of information systems in business to a degree that my major could never provide. The pervasiveness of technology in all aspects of life, including business, is well known, but few people truly understand how essential it is to the proper operation of a company. Even more critically, the extent of attention paid to controls and security measures is far more substantial than I thought. Everything is taken into account, to the point that what we considered “data security” controls included not only firewalls, VPNs, and password requirements, but organization charts, succession plans, and vendor contracts. The value this opportunity added to my understanding of the field I intend to work in, as well as my general understanding of technology as it’s used in business, can not be understated.

The summer wasn’t just about work, of course. I had a fantastic team to spend my time with, and each day, whether in the office, at the client site, or at a bar for happy hour, was fantastic. Throughout the summer, we did everything from minigolf to Beat the Bomb (basically a bunch of minigames with everything from memory challenges to dodging lasers) and it was a great way to get to know my associates, managers, and even firm partners (all on the company’s budget, of course).

This was a great experience, and I am excited to start my full-time position with the company after graduating in the fall.

Hi, my name is Kate and I am a junior at the University of Montana studying human biology and psychology. I am hoping to pursue a career in medicine and for my beyond-the-classroom experience, I participated in a 3 month medical and teaching internship in Nepal. Over my time in Nepal, I had the opportunity to shadow doctors and nurses in 3 different hospitals in the Kathmandu Valley as well as teach health and hygiene classes to students across 3 different schools. My internship was very self-led so most days I was the only intern/student that was observing in the hospital, although I often had between 4-7 housemates at any given time who were also doing separate projects. I became very familiar with using the chaotic public transportation in Kathmandu and each morning I would have breakfast, head to the hospital, and start my day doing rounds or observing appointments and procedures in the outpatient department.

I was lucky to be surrounded by Nepali nurses and doctors, so during slow times they would help me practice my Nepali language skills and they would tell me more about their lives outside of healthcare. Because of this, I was able to communicate more with locals and patients in their language which really made me feel connected more to the people and their culture. Moreover, I taught first aid, public health, and sexual/reproductive health classes to students ranging in age from 9-14 years old. Public and global health is my global theme for GLI so I really gained a broader perspective about healthcare in a developing country through my internship. Moreover, my teaching experience was greatly informed by the things I learned and observed in the hospitals. I was able to focus the curriculum on subjects like first aid and hygiene because I observed that many people had limited education on these topics and would end up in the emergency room because of it.

I am so grateful to have had this experience and I learned so much about medicine, culture, and education in a country so different from the United States. On top of it all, I was able to explore all around Nepal including trekking, seeing tigers and rhinos in the jungle, and visiting many cultural sites. It was an amazing experience and such a unique way to learn and immerse myself in a new culture!

  My Beyond the Classroom Experience took me to Cork, Ireland. I chose Cork largely based on the fact that I could take upper-division film courses that transfer to my BFA in Digital Filmmaking. The film program at the University College Cork is extremely different from the program at the University of Montana. The UCC program is a theory-based learning program while UMT is much more practical. Not only was I thrown into a different style of learning, but it almost felt like a different subject. At UMT, the program has us constantly producing artwork for our portfolios and engaging in hands-on learning. UCC on the other hand has us look deeper into the history and philosophy of film. While the programs are different in engagement in film, I found that learning from both schools benefited me and how I examined the subject

The classes at UCC had us dive into many experimental and bizarre styles of filmmaking. I was exposed to types of films that I would have never seen if I stayed in the States. I benefited from the fact that I stayed for a whole year so I could explore more thought-provoking films and theory articles. Irish Cinema does not often see a lot of global engagement because many of the filmmakers lean away from Hollywood’s crisp style and focus on avant-garde styles. Being exposed to such deep levels of thought and understanding of film as well as the shock of never seeing films of this nature completely rearranged my thought process. I tackle cinema completely differently and as my final semester in school begins, I can’t wait to combine both of my skillsets from UMT and UCC to propel me forward into new projects.

January 10th I began my journey to study abroad. My parents used to live in Athens so I had a little insight on what to expect. My grandparents are also from Holland so I was able to fly there first and adjust to the time change! As soon as I got there I realized I had 12 roommates. Wonderful people from all over the states. The school was in a smaller city called Agia Paraskevi. Greeks do things a little differently. Meal times can last up to 3 hours, and there is a period of time during the day called Siesta time where you go home from work to nap or relax. The food was amazing, I had a lot of gyros and octopus. I was luckily taking Modern Greek so I got to learn a bit of their language. During my time their I visited some of the Greek islands by ferry, such as Naxos, Hydra, Crete, Rhodes. And wishing the mainland I got to see Nafplio, and Delphi. I also got to visit other European countries including Italy (Naples/Rome), Hungary (Budapest), Austria (Vienna), Spain (Barcelona), Cyprus, and Holland (Amsterdam). Although I missed Missoula, this experience was life changing as I got to see so many cultures and meet so many people while hearing their stories. I think in my life, being exposed to so many different things is what makes me, me. By Spring break, my parents got to visit me and I got to show them my school and new friends. At the end of the semester my girlfriend, 2 best friends, and brother all came to visit me as well. I am extremely grateful for my time abroad and I highly recommend it to everyone. Sure there are big fears you need to overcome. Being alone in a new country can be daunting. I know it was for me. But I began to trust myself and my capabilities to see this experience as a growing one. I also met some lifelong friends along the way. Here are some pictures!

For my Beyond the Classroom Experience I spent a semester studying at the University of Chester in England. Going into this experience I was excited and nervous about experiencing culture shock. I figured that since there was no language barrier it wouldn’t feel very different from the United States, but I was wrong. Not only do English people use a lot of different phrases, but their systems and ways of living were unfamiliar. I took classes with English residents as well as joined extracuriculars affiliated with the school. The classes I took were basic gen-eds about the history and culture of England which helped me become more aware of our differences and similarities. It was difficult to meet friends in classes, so I joined the gardening club and football (soccer) team. These groups made me feel welcomed and and helped me build a life in Chester. 

My semester ended in late march, giving me two free months to travel. I spent this time visiting friends across Europe and doing some solo traveling as well. This part of my experience is where I learned the most. I felt myself quickly adjusting to new cultures, languages, transportation, and food. I mostly stayed in hostels where I was able to meet lots of other solo travelers who became close friends very quickly. I’m so excited to carry all of these new skills with me going forward!

During the Spring of 2023, I headed abroad for a semester in Cork, Ireland. I studied at University College Cork (UCC) and took many courses related to my Sociology and Political Science majors. The course that related to my beyond-the-classroom experience was Victim and Victimology, which as the title suggests, dove into the study of victims. I chose this course for my experience as I wanted to better understand the complexities of human trafficking and this class gave me a new perspective I and many others skip over: the victim of crimes. Just a few things we learned were the victim–offender overlap, the role of the victim in the criminal justice system, and the impact of victimization on individuals. We looked into many real cases that happened in and around Ireland which provided me with a more in-depth history of where I was living. The course highlighted the importance of examining both the offender and victim in human trafficking, and other crimes alike.

While my beyond-the-classroom experience was filled with learning, meeting new people, and so much more, I also truly enjoyed my overall experience abroad. I met some of the loveliest people from all over the United States and the world. These people are friends that I know will be a part of my life for a very long time. They were a part of the scariest, most exciting, and most wonderful time of my life. I was able to truly learn how to be independent and navigate a world I really knew nothing about. This was the first time I had gone to an entirely new country traveling all by myself. I not only made it to Ireland on my own, but figured out public transportation, an entirely new way of schooling, and all new aspects of day-to-day life. I left behind the only world I had known. Not to mention all my family and friends. I personally grew more than I could have ever imagined in the three months I lived in Ireland. I was able to see some beautiful towns, cities, people, and places that I will forever be grateful for.

I grew up in Missoula, MT, and have lived here all my life. I am fortunate to be from this town and will likely settle down here someday. However, studying abroad was one of the best choices I have ever made for myself. It pushed me to get out of my comfort zone and test how capable I am of doing things on my own. I am proud of what I did and how I handled myself. My time abroad provided a completely unfamiliar learning experience I could not have got any other way.