In the Pursuit of Hope in Times of Crisis
PGS: European Foreign and Security Policy in Times of Crisis
Avia, one of the Penn Global Seminar Correspondents, shares her experience abroad during the May 2025 travel period. Follow along with the group of correspondents on our blog and look out for their images on the @pennabroad Instagram feed.
I chose to apply to this specific Penn Global Seminar because I felt the topic was extremely relevant to today’s current events. After spending the fall semester abroad in China, my goal was to gain a deeper understanding of Europe and its complex nature. When I saw Bulgaria as a location, I was extremely drawn to this destination because I knew absolutely nothing about it. In fact, I was not even fully confident in my ability to locate it on a map! I took the leap to press submit on my application with the intention to learn more about a country that does not necessarily come first to mind and hopefully gain a more holistic understanding of the European Union. Now that the semester is wrapping up, I can say that I achieved exactly that goal.
Hi, my name is Avia and I am a junior (soon to be senior, WOW) studying International Relations and Psychology. I have a wide variety of interests and passions, but my ultimate goal in life is to learn as much as I can about the world and all its nuances. This course and Penn Abroad has given me the opportunity to achieve this goal in so many different ways over the past three years.
I believe that there is immense value in stepping outside of your comfort zone. This occurs not just physically, by traveling, but intellectually when we confront perspectives and histories that challenge your own assumptions. This Penn Global Seminar reminded me that international relations is not solely about treaties or security dilemmas, it’s about people. International relations is also about communities who live through these policies, who feel the real impact of decisions made by various actors, and who continue to show resilience in the face of uncertainty and crisis.
Studying the European Union’s (EU) foreign policy in times of crisis can feel heavy. From wars and ethnic conflicts to democratic backsliding, energy shocks, and migration debates, the EU is navigating challenging times. As students, especially in International Relations, I find us often immersed in the language of risk and failure. But this course and the upcoming trip to Bulgaria reminds me that hope is not naïve. Hope is a choice and a lens that is often found in unexpected places.
I’m excited to experience Bulgaria not only as a political case study, but as a vibrant place full of underrepresented history, language, cuisine, and life. I am excited to talk and dance with the people. To listen and learn their narratives. To see how EU dynamics play out on the ground, in the context of a country that often sits at the margins of typical Western narratives. And maybe, in those conversations and experiences, I’ll be reminded again why I chose to study this field in the first place.
In a time when headlines often flatten countries and cultures into crises and conflict, I am choosing to pursue curiosity over fear, and humanity over hopelessness. I’m choosing to believe that learning more about Bulgaria, Europe, and its people is, in itself, an act in the pursuit of hope even in times of crisis.
Read Related Blogs
Trial by Frantic Ubers: 12 Hours in D.C. to Prep for Ten days in China
PGS: Policy Task Force on U.S.-China Relations Emilia, one of the Penn Global Seminar Correspondents, shares her experience abroad during the May 2025 travel period. Follow along with the group of…
Packing Light, Except for the Historical Baggage
PGS: Rivalry, Competition and International Security in Northeast Asia Lala, one of the Penn Global Seminar Correspondents, shares her experience abroad during the May 2025 travel period. Follow along with the…
How A Week Abroad Shattered My Career Assumptions (And Why I’m Grateful)
PGS: Global Business Communication for Impact William, one of the Penn Global Seminar Correspondents, shares his experience abroad during the Fall 2024 semester. Follow along with the group of correspondents on our blog and look out…