Sagehens Abroad: Student Stories from Around the World: Recent Episodes
Sagehens Abroad
Tune in to the Pomona College Study Abroad Podcast – Sagehens Abroad: Student Stories From Around the World. Each episode features one of our peer mentors interviewing students who have returned from abroad to provide insight into their unique experiences. Some of the discussion topics include pre-departure preparation, specifics about their program of choice, what challenges they came across and how they overcame them, and how their time abroad shaped their academic pathways and personal experiences. Additionally, the students share some insider tips, memorable moments, and highlights.
Join host Meriel Chang ‘23, a double major in economics and anthropology, as she interviews Chris Meng ’23, a double major in psychological sciences and mathematics, about his semester away on the Domestic Exchange Program at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania. Meriel and Chris have an engaging conversation about the benefits of studying away on a Domestic Exchange Program, how he was able to expand his interest in educational studies, ways to engage in clubs and befriend locals.
Keywords: Domestic Exchange, double major, local engagement, extracurricular activities, direct enrollment
Transcript:https://pomona.box.com/s/6st9lb5ueblozcbwjkmv9migv8tasfnf
Join host Mikaela Nishida ‘21, a mathematics major, as she interviews Camille Molas ’21, a physics major, about her semester abroad on the Pomona College Program at University of Edinburgh. Mikaela and Camille have an enlightening conversation about the benefits of studying on a Pomona Program, how she learned more about Scottish history and culture, ways to engage in university clubs and befriend locals, and budgeting tips.
Keywords: Pomona Programs, university courses, local engagement, extracurricular activities, housing, budgeting
Transcript: https://pomona.box.com/s/w1kbqjimk27e461ddxo9i5wafv939f2z
Join host Talia Ivry ‘21, a religious studies major, as she interviews Skye Jacobs ’21, a philosophy and politics major, about his junior year abroad at Oxford University: Lady Margaret Hall in Oxford, England. Talia and Skye have an engaging conversation about studying away for an academic year, the academic structure at Oxford, and how to engage in the university and befriend locals.
Keywords: Oxford University: Lady Margaret Hall, academic year abroad, tutorials, local engagement, extracurricular activities, housing, cultural adjustment
Transcript: https://pomona.box.com/s/v4a9h1as7ceu4f63bfgjo233by8ohpdf
Join host Tashi Rosenthal ‘21, a neuroscience major, as she interviews Ladin Boluk ’21, a cognitive science major, about her fall 2019 semester with DIS-Study Abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark. Tashi and Ladin have a lively conversation about studying away as an international student, study excursions, housing, and experiencing Danish culture.
Keywords: international student, cognitive science major, Danish culture, housing
Transcript: https://pomona.box.com/s/chpk9gxfgp2x3doppoggg54g4alb2g7o
Join us as hosts Ashley Kyelem’22, an economics major, and Martin Fuchs ‘22, also an economics major, talk about their time in Seoul, South Korea with the CIEE Arts and Sciences program in fall 2021. Ashley and Martin have a in-depth conversation about studying away during the pandemic, studying at a foreign university, experiencing the Korean culture, and adjusting back to life at Pomona.
Keywords: economics major, local engagement, Korean language and culture, direct enrollment
Transcript: https://pomona.box.com/s/ka303ihhygryl7u8fg0rdky36gpvz18o
Join us as host Talia Ivry ’21, a religious studies major, interviews Lily Feldman ‘22, a mathematics major, about her time in Budapest with St. Olaf College: Budapest Semesters in Mathematics in the spring of 2020. Talia and Lily have a droll conversation about studying away as a STEM major, attending theater and dance performances, and learning to read in Hungarian.
Keywords: women in STEM, math, local engagement, Hungarian, student apartment
Transcript: https://pomona.box.com/s/h1srqx90y9m7p6u4zxezf0ewrrsrnre3
Join us for a special Passover episode as co-hosts Talia Ivry '21, a religious studies major, and Sarah Burch '22, an international relations major, chat about their Jewish identities and studying in Aix-en-Provence, France through Wellesley-in-Aix in the spring of 2020 and Kigali, Rwanda through SIT Rwanda in the fall of 2019. Talia and Sarah have a thoughtful conversation about spending the High Holy Days in a refugee camp, sharing Judaism with host families, seeking out family heritage, and continuing to decide what Judaism means to them.
Keywords: religious identity, heritage seeker, homestay, non-traditional location, petition, language immersion, French, Kinyarwanda, direct enrollment
Transcript: https://pomona.box.com/s/qkizb5fnvxezjweado1g51txu22o2xpg
Join host Talia Ivry ‘21, a religious studies major, as she interviews Liz Murray ‘21, a sociology major, about her time in Ireland with Arcadia University: Trinity College Dublin in the spring of 2020. Talia and Liz have a lively conversation about the learning curve of university classes, adjusting to life in Dublin, and connecting with family heritage abroad.
Keywords: heritage seeker, direct enrollment, senior thesis, student apartment
Transcript: https://pomona.box.com/s/8gkpj6uzjyxuq7f65v5svpnp8rz4g7bu
Join us for a special episode celebrating the end of Black History Month, as host Ashley Kyelem ‘22, an Economics major, interviews Musa Kamara ‘22, a French and Politics major, about his time in Paris through the Middlebury School in France in the spring of 2020. Ashley and Musa have an introspective conversation about being abroad as Black students, the differences between French and American Black culture, and advice for future students who plan to study away.
Keywords: Black identity, Black History Month, Middlebury in France, Paris, direct enrollment, double major, homestay, language immersion, French
Transcript: https://pomona.box.com/s/q3wd0g6d8fl42lmm64tqc4odueukx07n
Join host Talia Ivry ‘21, a religious studies major, as she interviews Pipi Gao ‘22, a mathematics and media studies double major, about her time in Paris through Middlebury Paris in the spring of 2020. Talia and Pipi have a lively conversation about studying abroad as an international student, being a double major, overcoming the initial fear of communicating in the host language, staying in a homestay, and bridging cultural divides through TikTok dance videos.
Keywords: international student, double major, STEM major, language immersion, homestay, Middlebury in France, Paris, French
Transcript: https://pomona.box.com/s/azccenv5zerwt26n5qjvrsd6ri8y2z5j
Join host Tashi Rosenthal ‘21, a neuroscience major, as she interviews Mikaela Nishida ‘21, a math major, about her time in Kyoto, Japan through the Associated Kyoto Program in the fall of 2019. Tashi and Mikaela have a lively conversation about being a student-athlete abroad, accelerating foreign language skills, visiting religious sites around Kyoto, and trying one of the best meals of Mikaela’s life.
Keywords: student athlete, STEM major, language immersion, homestay, Japanese, direct enrollment, Associated Kyoto Program
Transcript: https://pomona.box.com/s/6pmzqme425mmvwtdkz3dkibm0v8wy26j
Join host Tashi Rosenthal ‘21, a neuroscience major, as she interviews Jed Kronenberg ‘21, an economics major and Chinese minor, about his fall 2019 semester abroad in Taipei, Taiwan on the CIEE Intensive Chinese Language and Culture program. Tashi and Jed have an engaging conversation about the reasons why he chose the program, extracurricular activities and building community, living with a Taiwanese roommate, Chinese courses and language acquisition, and adjusting to living abroad.
Keywords: language immersion, Chinese, extracurricular activities, student dormitory
Transcript:https://pomona.box.com/s/8uxa24ropdbgn5j60wx5zyjad7tytqfr
Join host Mikaela Nishida ‘21, a mathematics major, as she interviews Hutch Fann ‘21, a philosophy, politics and economics major, about his junior year abroad in Oxford, England at Oxford University: St. Edmund Hall. Mikaela and Hutch meditate on Oxford's unique academic structure, making friends abroad, and the best late-night snack spots.
Keywords: academic year abroad, tutorials, local engagement, Oxford University: St. Edmund Hall, student apartment, (flats)
Transcript: https://pomona.box.com/s/eio6uc4xj5l7ok1gwhh3ofwj754zjxen
Join host Frey Lemonholm ‘21, an English major, as he interviews Bita Tristani-Firouzi ‘21, a gender & women’s studies major, about her spring of 2020 semester abroad in Madrid, Spain with Middlebury School in Spain: Madrid (Autónoma) program. Frey and Bita have an engaging conversation about balancing studying abroad with being on the Prehealth track, navigating language learning and housing abroad, and strategies to adjusting to a new cultural environment.
Keywords: Middlebury School in Spain, Madrid, Spanish, language immersion, direct enrollment, hybrid program, Prehealth, apartment
Transcript: https://pomona.box.com/s/l8qhzv4xvk7tsnbz13bu8k057d9wlknm
Join host Mikaela Nishida ‘21, a mathematics major, as she interviews Chris Clark ‘21, an environmental analysis major, about his fall of 2019 semester abroad in Monteverde, Costa Rica with the CIEE - Tropical Ecology and Conservation program. Mikaela and Chris have a lively conversation about choosing a study abroad program, close encounters with tropical wildlife, being an athlete abroad, and cultivating resilience.
Keywords: field station, research abroad, STEM major, student athlete, Spanish, CIEE- Tropical Ecology and Conservation
Transcript: https://pomona.box.com/s/1v6w15q37y47zadykiga4ykc28a41kvh
Join host Lindsay Chu ‘21, a history major, as she interviews Jacob Noh ‘21, also a history major, about his time studying at Yonsei University on the CIEE Arts and Sciences Program in Seoul, South Korea. Lindsay and Jacob have a lively conversation about deepening their language skills, culture shock and adjustment, and exploring their identities as Asian-Americans studying in Asia.
Keywords: Asian-American identity, language immersion, Korean, direct enrollment, CIEE Arts and Sciences Program
Transcript: https://pomona.box.com/s/bkv2wp0zyne7zpc44h41kjq6scjctg2e
Join host Vienna Vance ‘21, a cognitive science major, as she interviews Ryan Smith ‘21, a psychological science major, about his time in Copenhagen through the DIS - Study Abroad in Copenhagen in spring 2020. Vienna and Ryan have a lively conversation about learning and communicating in a new language, living in a host family, and the Danish tradition of hygge.
Keywords: language learning, Danish, local transportation, homestay, local engagement, DIS-Study Abroad
Transcript: https://pomona.box.com/s/447jhp08ibug9t134l5betgd8i8yk1b9
Join co-hosts Lindsay Chu '21, a history major, and Frey Lemonholm '21, an English major, as they interview Emily Lunger '22, a French and anthropology double major, about her semester off-campus. Emily studied abroad in Dakar, Senegal with the CIEE Language and Culture Program in spring 2020. Topics discussed between the guest and co-hosts include living and bonding with your host family, culture shock, preparing and learning about the customs of your host country, language immersion, and making friends in Senegal.
Keywords: double major, language learning, French, Wolof, homestay, non-traditional destination, local transportation, Francophone West Africa
Transcript: https://pomona.box.com/s/u0c616uoenq2fndyeuz206iv67zsgovm
Join co-hosts Vienna Vance '21, a cognitive science major, and Renee Susanto '21, a religious studies major, as they interview each other about their experiences studying abroad in Vienna, Austria with IES Abroad, London, England with IES Abroad, and Bali, Indonesia with SIT Abroad. In this episode the hosts give listeners insight on choosing a program, housing abroad, connecting with locals and other students, language acquisition, and how study abroad has shaped their return to Pomona and career aspirations.
Keywords: program by petition, academic year abroad, direct enrollment, non-traditional destination, language immersion, Bahasa Indonesia
Transcript: https://pomona.box.com/s/hnxetrhjq8n2k4h3yguki1vg9ervcnmg
Join host Tashi Rosenthal '21, a neuroscience major, and guest Jessica Orvis '21, a psychological science and anthropology double major, as they discuss Jessica's semester in Kathmandu, Nepal with Pitzer College in fall 2019. Tashi and Jessica have a lively conversation ranging from cultural immersion, homestays, and language acquisition, to adventures in street food and conducting anthropological research.
Keywords: homestay, Pitzer College in Nepal, double major, language learning, Nepali
Transcript: https://pomona.app.box.com/s/xyiwg0rqqkph5dhj3qnuyxk5rrteawwp/file/795693021927