Studying Abroad - Summer 2023
This summer, several scholars traveled across the globe through Fresno State Study Abroad, taking courses on math, language, history, public health, and much more.
Victor Martinez-Ambriz and Noeleen Kitongen participated in a faculty-led trip through the History Department called “A Summer in Seoul: Unpacking the Economic Miracle.” They studied Korean history from the colonial period all the way through the Cold War and into the 21st-century, looking specifically at how its capital (Seoul) changed throughout these historical movements.
Leilani Jurena, Rachel Mancebo, and Alexandra Cota traveled to Salerno, Italy to take part in an immersive Italian Language and Culture course. Led by Fresno State faculty, they learned Italian in the classroom and gained real world experience practicing the language in their daily lives. They also explored several nearby regions including the Amalfi Coast and Pompei.
Catie Corchado participated in a six-week study abroad course in Budapest, Hungary, where she studied math education. Through this experience, she was exposed to the discovery-based learning style, studied mathematics in a student-centered class, taught lessons using gamification techniques, and attended a week-long Hungarian math camp with students grades 5-12.
She shared how “working with passionate math educators while experiencing life in a new country was definitely outside of [her] comfort zone, but also a transformative experience of a lifetime.”
Sofia Zubacz traveled to Italy with the Fresno State Nursing Program to learn about the Mediterranean diet and its effects on physiology in different Italian regions. Among these regions were Rome, Florence, Parma, Bologna, and Milan. She had the opportunity to see the Mediterranean diet implemented in food, exercise, and overall lifestyle.
Ariel Rodriguez traveled to Helsinki, Finland; Tampere, Finland; and Tallinn, Estonia while participating in a program called “Confronting Global Challenges: Climate Change, Sustainability, & Urban Development.” During her travels, she met with various social organizations, including ones that offered support to undocumented peoples, ex-offenders, sex and erotic industry workers, and individuals dealing with social emergencies.
Ariel also visited organizations that provided psychiatric medical care to immigrants with a refugee background, low-threshold centers that provide support for substance users, and organizations that provide care and rehabilitation for new and born children and their families impacted by substance usage.
Jolene Uribe engaged in a program titled “Experience Healthcare in Ireland” with the College of Health and Human Services. She studied abroad in Dublin, Ireland, where she learned about Celtic culture and Ireland’s healthcare system by visiting various medical facilities.
Some of her favorite activities from the trip included attending lectures presented by physical therapists and visiting the Irish Wheelchair Association. Jolene also got to visit famous landmarks of Ireland such as the Cliffs of Moher, Croke Park, and Saint Patrick’s Cathedral.
Shailey Shah and Ariana Rajabi studied abroad in Florence, Italy, where they took a class entitled "Made in Italy," which immersed them in Italian culture and history. A large portion of the course involved going on excursions and exploring famous landmarks in Florence, such as the Uffizi Gallery and the Ponte Vecchio. Shailey explained that by taking the course, she gained significant insight into the society, culture, and history of Florence — as well as learned more about herself as a person.
“I would highly encourage other Fresno State students to study abroad if they can,” Shailey said. “By going out of your comfort zone, you not only learn a lot about the world, but you also get to meet some pretty amazing people!”
To explore study abroad opportunities offered through Fresno State, visit the Study Abroad Portal and follow Fresno State Study Abroad on their socials (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter).