Study Abroad 2017

When I arrived in Beijing, “Destinations” was the word on every gay exchange student’s lips.

Florence does eventually go to sleep, but the boisterous students stumbling down the streets don’t believe that.

I chose to study in Cuba because, with the little knowledge I had about the island, I knew it was going to be an intriguing experience.

The drizzle is light, and it stops as I hurry down the steps to the classroom. No heavy downpour tonight. Scotland’s being good to me. As usual.

Living in close quarters with multiple people who are most likely complete strangers — such as when I shared an apartment with five others while studying in Rome this spring — can be quite the experience, especially when you don’t have much familiarity with roommates to begin with.

I realized that my obsession with globetrotting did not necessarily stem from a need to explore new locations, but a need to continuously challenge myself and expand my worldview. By fleshing this out, I was able to separate my experiences from the destinations themselves.

UC Berkeley’s study abroad programs attracted more than 1,700 students from fall 2016 to summer 2017, studying in 40 countries across the globe.

Growing up in America, you can only ever wish to be an American, an identity which extracts as much as it promises. You have no choice in the matter, even if you will always come up short.