Annie Kate McAndrews

Overall Experience

Overall, study abroad changed my life completely. I got to travel to eight different countries and many different cities in them. I took courses, including Italian style and culture, fashion, photography, tailoring techniques, and the life and works of Michelangelo.

Learning experience

The most valuable learning experience that I took from studying abroad is that you really have to live it to know it. For example, we can learn all we want about other cultures, people, and ways of life. But, we can’t fully understand it until we immerse ourselves in it. Living in another country where values and cultures are so different, has taught me to be more understanding, curious, and accepting.

Memorable experience

The most memorable experience I had was when a few friends and I traveled to a small island off the coast of Greece called Poros. There was not a single other tourist and it was not yet in season for the locals to be back. Most of the shops and houses were empty except for this one restaurant and one gas station that we found. We ate at this restaurant for three nights in a row after long days of hiking and exploring. By the second and third night the servers and staff knew us by name which I found so cool. They told us stories and brought us their favorite foods. I think about these moments a lot because it’s times like these when you really learn the most.

What did you not expect?

I didn’t expect seeing the world and lives of others around the world to impact me as much as it did. Going forward, I am interested in working with global connections and traveling for work which I wasn’t really interested in doing before.

What advice would you give?

Do it and do it fully. It changed my life and so many of my friends and classmates’ lives for the better. It is an indescribable experience.

How has this experience impacted your life?

This experience has impacted my life in countless ways. Getting to see and experience different cultures firsthand opened my eyes to everything that is truly out there in the world. I constantly found myself curious and wanting to see and learn more. In terms of fashion, living in a country where even basic street style is so different from American style was so interesting. Coming back to the US, my style has evolved so much since being immersed in the Italian culture. I also took a course which focused on Italian style and culture. Here, I learned the background of Italian retail, small businesses, fashion evolution, and so much more.

How did you learn about this experience?

I first learned about this opportunity when researching the fashion design program at Iowa State University. Some upperclassman had told me all about the amazing study abroad program.