From England to Rome to Austria, the 2024 fall semester yielded many travel stories and adventures from students who participated in some of the study abroad programs offered at Concordia. Students currently studying abroad gave advice and excerpts from travel stories for Golden Eagles who want to fill their future study abroad semester with as much travel as possible.

Starting with Concordia Cambridge experience program, Hudson Winchel, sophomore, shared his list of adventures: "I've been to England, where I'm studying, Scotland, Italy, France, and, if it counts, the Vatican. We're also tentatively planning trips to Ireland and Amsterdam." With only two months of international experience, Winchel has already visited four countries, with two more adding themselves in his last month abroad.

While Winchel’s total is impressive, sophomore Josiah Thieme tops it, having visited thirteen countries in three months of being abroad through Concordia’s Living and Learning program. Thieme's study abroad adventure began in Rome but extends to Malta, Vatican City, Egypt, Spain, England, Greece, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany and Austria. He said, "It's been a lot of fun setting out and seeing the world.” However, out of all his ever-growing list of trips, Thieme points back to one moment as his favorite, which was "waking up and going to the balcony in my hotel first thing in the morning and watching the sunrise."

Other favorite moments for Winchel include, “After a day trip to London to see Les Misérables in the West End, a group of us had to sprint through the underground to catch our return train; walking through the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, Scotland, for the first time; and entering St. Peter's Basilica in Rome."

Faith Taylor, junior, part of Concordia Cambridge experience, explained, "The best part about traveling is making memories that I'll have forever. I am so grateful I got to have this once-in-a-lifetime experience with so many good friends. I know I'm going to be reminiscing about this forever."

As much fun as traveling is while studying abroad, Thieme cautioned to remember that while being abroad, you are a student as well. On his trips, Thieme would often "find a coffee shop and a good view" to take care of his schoolwork while simultaneously enjoying the beauty of travel. Winchel offered similar advice: "The earlier you go, the less academic workload you'll have, making it the perfect time to explore."

No matter the different experiences these Golden Eagles had overseas, they all point towards the excitement and, as Winchel explains, the "academic knowledge" that is interconnected with international travel. To explore Concordia's different study abroad opportunities, visit cui.edu/academicprograms/programs-abroad/partner- programs-abroad/europe and start thinking about your travel plans today.

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