Penn Abroad Ambassador Nicole Giegerich

Program:

• SA: CIEE: Lisbon

Ask me about...

While many students opt to apply to the same program as their friends, I decided to dive into a completely new adventure. I set off on my journey to Lisbon alone. This was largely on purpose. I wanted my abroad experience to truly challenge me to broaden my horizons. At the beginning, there were several lonely moments. In order to change my circumstances, I had to put myself out there. I also became increasingly comfortable with doing things alone. It was in these instances that I felt myself grow. I conquered several fears and became more confident in myself. Moving to a new city across the ocean is certainly a daunting task. Nevertheless, I successfully made new friends, learned to navigate Lisbon’s public transportation system, and overcame all of the obstacles that were thrown my way.

One thing I loved about CIEE Lisbon was that there were students from a variety of schools. I made several friends whom I will be able to see back at Penn this fall. However, I also met many other friends who I would otherwise never have come across. For example, I formed a friendship with a student at Belmont University. A college in Nashville filled with aspiring musicians has a very distinct culture from that of Penn’s. My conversations with this friend opened my eyes to a university life very different from my own. It was in these types of friendships that I felt my perspective grow.

My Experience Abroad:

During my semester in Lisbon, I took a Portuguese Politics and Culture class. This course was exactly what I had hoped for as a political science major. I love learning about the political history and systems of different countries, and this class allowed me to do just that. Our professor organized field trips and guest speakers that truly served to enrich our understanding of the material. We learned about the onset of democracy in Portugal in 1974. The most exciting part was that we were in Lisbon for the 50th anniversary of the Carnation Revolution! We got to experience the celebration of democracy alongside the Portuguese people.

My time abroad also allowed me to gain a major sense of independence. I grew up just a 30 minute drive from Penn’s campus. While I am at school in Philly, it is easy for me to hop on a train and go home whenever I want to. I may have been living on my own, but for my first five semesters of college, I knew that my parents could be at my door within the hour if I really needed them. That all changed this past semester. I moved to Lisbon on my own, where I knew no one. The lovely staff of CIEE Lisbon provided a sense of security throughout the program. There was a good balance. While I had the support I needed, I also had space to grow and become more comfortable navigating everyday life on my own.

Other Highlights:

Portugal is the perfect size. It is big enough that there is always more to explore, but small enough that you can see a lot of it in a semester. I gained a strong understanding of Portuguese culture during my time abroad.

In early February, some of my classmates and I took a spontaneous weekend trip to Porto. It ended up being one of my favorite memories. The weather was wonderful; it was sunny and the temperature was perfect. We walked everywhere, exploring this beautiful city that I had hardly even heard of just a couple of days prior. Bonds I formed on this trip became close friendships throughout the next few months.

I did a class presentation on Fado music. To prepare, I visited the ‘Museu do Fado’ in Lisbon’s Alfama neighborhood. Admission was inexpensive, yet the exhibits were well thought out and informative. This was a special day, as I was able to connect my interest in music to Portuguese culture.

In April, our program sponsored a trip to the small city of Setúbal. Here, we had the incredible experience of dolphin watching. This had been my childhood dream, so it was a full circle moment. Day trips like this one were a highlight of my abroad experience. The CIEE Lisbon staff organized them at no additional cost to the students. These excursions made it possible for my classmates and me to focus on enjoying the moment and getting to know each other.