S4 E7: Bursting Your American “Bubble” Abroad

Studying abroad provides the opportunity to immerse yourself in the local culture like no other travel experience can. But it’s not always easy to do! This week Brianna Gjongecaj ’26, a Strasbourg alum, and Peyton Foley ’26, a Florence alum, join the pod to talk about how they navigated connecting to their host city. The group talks about becoming a regular at a neighborhood restaurant, making local friends through speed-dating, speaking at the grocery store in the local language, and so much more. The big lesson learned? Everyone needs to talk themselves out of their nerves!