This past summer I was awarded the opportunity to study abroad in Western Europe. For 10 days I studied International Business and Innovation, Change & Agile Projects while touring the historic cities of London, Paris, and Amsterdam. Studying abroad has allowed me to not only experience new places and cultures, but it has also helped me to gain a more global perspective. Another great benefit to studying abroad that I’ve found is that it provides an opportunity to discover yourself while gaining an understanding of those different cultures. One perspective that I’ve gained has been that while traveling in unfamiliar places can become overwhelming, yet liberating for some, the travel experience as a Black-American woman is very much different.

During the trip It became mentally exhausting as I found myself constantly examining every aspect of my behavior from the viewpoint of others, especially while traveling through Western Europe, home to predominantly white countries. While this was not my first study abroad trip- my first being to Costa Rica, this study abroad trip presented its own unique challenges, such as being the only black person in my travel group and even having to navigate instances of overt racism, microaggressions, and stereotypes in the countries we visited. However, learning how not to allow a sour interaction to ruin my trip or perception of the country I’m studying in, really allowed me to turn those negative interactions into moments to be reflective. Therefore, I can say that this study abroad trip was the most eye-opening and rewarding trip of my life. All the different experiences garnered throughout the trip – the good and bad, I’ve found have aided in my personal development by not only testing my ability to adapt to diversely dynamic situations, but also my analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills. I’m grateful for the opportunity to study abroad as it offered me access to empowering experiences I would have never gained otherwise.
– Fabre, SPC Western Europe Study Abroad Program, July 2022