Studying in another country

By Sia Bombhore ʼ29

Study away gives Macalester students the chance to live and learn in entirely new cultural settings. This fall, students studied across Europe and Latin America, returning with reflections shaped as much by everyday routines as by big moments abroad.

Santiago Cotera ʼ27 in Gijón, Asturias, Spain
For Santiago Cotera, studying away in northern Spain became a balance between exploration and settling into daily life. A program trip through the Basque region captured that feeling: visiting the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, sharing a meal in San Sebastián, spending time by the beach, and ending the night at a local music festival with friends he had just met weeks earlier. Living near the ocean for the first time reshaped his time.

 “Walks by the beach have been a near daily occurrence,” he says, describing how the coastline brought calm and familiarity to an otherwise new environment. “I’ve learned that I’m more capable than I thought, and that I value my independence.”

Moyartu Manley ʼ27 in Stockholm, Sweden
In Stockholm, Moyartu found growth not only through new experiences but through slowing down. Cooking Swedish meatballs with a professional chef, attending a sauna and ice plunge retreat, and experimenting with theater, sewing, and hiking all became part of daily life abroad.

The Swedish tradition of fika—a pause for coffee, sweets, and conversation—shifted her relationship with time. “Being here has given me the opportunity to explore the city and myself,” she says. “Before traveling abroad, I felt like I always had to be doing something.”

Her advice for future students is simple: “Don’t rush things. When you arrive, it can feel like freshman year again—but you’ll find your people, your schedule, and your third spaces.”

Vince Thousand ʼ26 in Iceland
For Vince Thousand, studying away meant saying yes to uncertainty. A trip to Grímsey Island in the Arctic Circle—hiking, meeting local animals, and watching the northern lights after a long ferry ride—became one of many moments that defined the semester. Living with a homestay family in a small town also introduced him to a sense of closeness and community he hadn’t experienced before.

The Icelandic phrase Þetta reddast—“it will all work out”—became a guiding mindset throughout the semester. “It made problems feel smaller,” Thousand says. “Things really did work out the way they needed to.”

Zayna Hopkins ʼ27 in Cali, Colombia
In Cali, Zayna Hopkins found belonging through community and routine. A hike through Los Farallones National Park introduced her to new friends and local traditions, while joining an ultimate frisbee team created an immediate sense of connection. Building small daily rhythms—practices, shared meals, familiar places—helped transform a new city into home.

“Small is all—create rhythms that make your new place feel like home.”

Mihailo Vučetić ʼ27 at Queen’s University Belfast, Northern Ireland
Mihailo Vučetić’s time in Belfast began with an unexpected airport introduction that quickly turned into friendship, exploration, and academic discovery. From learning traditional Céilí dance to engaging in conversations about history, identity, and political change, the city shifted from unfamiliar to deeply personal. Coursework and community experiences blended together, connecting classroom ideas to lived realities.

“I’ve learned that I grow the most when I actively seek discomfort,” Mihailo reflects. He encouraged future students to lean into connection: “Talk to people. Ask questions. Settling in becomes much easier when you remind yourself you’re not alone.”