Christine Carfagno

Christine studied in Croatia on the Zagreb, Croatia: Social Transformation in 20th Century Eastern Europe program during Summer 2015.

If you could give only one reason, why would you suggest other students study abroad?

Experiencing new cultures is one of the most valuable aspects of life. The world can seem small within your own country, but when you get out of your element you learn just how beautifully unique the world is. It’s amazing to compare the similarities and differences of your own culture to that of another country, and I found that this added an incredible amount of perspective to my life.

What was it about your program specifically that fit your personal goals over other programs?

My personal program was to Croatia and Eastern Europe through the Sociology department. This fit me well as a sociology major, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that the people there were incredibly like-minded to myself, fun, and extremely hospitable. I like to spend the majority of my time outdoors, so the landscape along the Adriatic Sea made for beautiful hikes, kayaking and sight- seeing. I am also a vegan, and was delighted to find an abundance of fresh fruit and vegetable stands as well as plenty of plant based options within the restaurants.

What did you learn, or what experiences did you have while studying abroad that you feel you could not have learned/experienced if you had stayed at Penn State?

I learned a fair amount of the Croatian language in the 3 short weeks I was abroad. As students we were culturally immersed with Croatian students, so we learned many unspoken customs and social trends of the locals. I found their slower, more appreciative way of living very enjoyable and I now find this applicable to my everyday life.