Welcome back travelers!
Your travel experience is hard to sum up in just a few words - the places you explored, the friendships you made, and the ways you've grown. Instead of answering "How was it?" with one quick response, we invite you to reflect more deeply by completing the form below. There's no required length, just share your honest experience!
Lehman IPCE Travel Reflections
Share your Photos!
We know you probably captured hundreds, if not thousands, of moments during your travel experience. We invite you to share your favorite photos with us through the:
IPCE Dropbox
Try to include photos that highlight the landscape, people, and culture you experienced. Your photos may be featured on our Instagram or displayed in our office throughout the year!
Student Testimonials
Lehman Alternative Breaks
Study Abroad
- Rafael Almanzar - Winter in Athens, Greece
- Esmeralda Frias - Academic year in Paris, France
- Christopher Bethea - Summer in Florence, Italy
Lehman Alternative Breaks
Famata Kajakhe - Peru, 2019
My trip to Peru was an amazing experience especially learning about the culture of the Peruvian people, the health concerns, their government & the population. Preparing for an alternative break program like Lehman L.I.F.E was not an easy route, but with a dependable team, supporters, amazing advisors, & lots of fundraising, I was able to fundraise for my trip & received a scholarship to cover the rest. My role on this trip was a journalist where I had to stay very focused on the daily work we did each day we were there. The goal was to serve our time in Peru because we were dealing with an underserved community where sex trafficking was a high concern & the age of these women who were affected started from age 14 and up. The health system was deteriorating and a lot of families could not afford to get checked. Huancayo really opened my eyes to a lot of things and I became more aware of how much there is to do abroad if you push yourself to understand the needs of those you are going to serve. I advise everyone to give it a chance & make it a skill to serve your time to be an additional hand for a community that is in need.
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Kimberly Molina – Puerto Rico, 2019
In Spring 2019, I had the honor of going to Puerto Rico to assist the community of Mariana, Humacao. I was lucky enough to go with a group of students who not only became my friends but became family to me. Being able to travel to assist the community of Mariana changed my life. This was the confirmation that allowed me to see that doing volunteer work is something that I want to continue to do as much as possible. Traveling to Puerto Rico allowed me to change my viewpoints on things that I usually would take for granted. It allowed me to be thankful for all of the things I am grateful to have.
Being a part of Lehman L.I.F.E. allowed me to come out of my comfort zone and do things that I usually wouldn't do. Lehman L.I.F.E. has allowed me to make lifelong friends and allow me to be grateful for the little things that people usually look over. It also allowed me to service a community outside of the Bronx. We met once a week throughout the fall and spring semester leading up to our trip to Spring Break. This was one of the best parts of Lehman L.I.F.E because it allowed us to get to know each other and also do research on the area we were going to be traveling to. My favorite part of the trip was getting to know the people of Mariana and making lifelong friendships in PR! We were also able to fundraise 100% of our trip and do so many different fundraising activities.
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Study Abroad
Rafael Almanzar
Rafael Almanzar studied abroad in Greece during the Winter session. He has since graduated from Lehman and is currently pursuing his Masters degree at New York University in Bilingual School Counseling.
To be able to witness what I have only seen and read in textbooks and on television has become a phenomenal and life changing experience for me. On my final semester at Lehman College, I learned about the possibility of studying abroad for the winter session. I was always under the impression that only wealthy students could afford to study abroad. Greece is a country that I had had an interest in because of its ancient and rich history. I had also enjoyed reading Greek mythologies. Determined to take advantage of this amazing opportunity, I applied for the STOCS (Study/Travel Opportunities for CUNY Students) Scholarship. I was honored to be the only Lehman student, at that time, to receive the max STOCS award. Receiving the STOCS scholarship was a tremendous support for me because it paid for half the cost of my study abroad.
In January, I flew to Athens, Greece. The course I took, called Quest for your Ithaca, was held at the University of Indianapolis in Athens. It was a course on Greek history and culture. Professor Constance Tagopoulos was incredible. After the lectures, she would take the class on field trips, museum visits, and plays. We also had the opportunity to visit some of the Greek islands such as Crete and Hydra. The cultural excursions gave my fellow classmates and me the opportunity to see the sites that we had discussed in class.
Soon after my study abroad experience, I graduated with a
Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology with a Psychology minor. I am currently
working for the S.E.E.K (Search for Education, Elevation, and Knowledge) program
at Lehman and I am also a M.A. candidate at New York University in Bilingual
School Counseling. I would ultimately love to work for the Board of Education as
a School Counselor. The New York city schools are full of students from diverse
cultures and backgrounds; going to Greece gave me a taste of what to expect in
my career. I encourage all undergraduates to consider studying abroad. My
experience in Greece was truly unforgettable and I have many fond memories that
will last a lifetime. I thank the Study Abroad Office for all their help and
support.
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Esmeralda Frias
Esmeralda studied abroad in Paris through the Paris/CUNY exchange program for one academic year. The following article is an excerpt from the Lehman Study Abroad Newsletter.
"Esmeralda’s Séjour à Paris"
Most
students find the idea of studying abroad rather intimidating. Despite the
feeling of nervousness or anxiety that may accompany such a decision, Esmeralda
Frias, a Lehman undergraduate student who studied in Paris for a year, did not
let her fears stop her from spending her academic year in France. Soon after her
first two months in Paris, Esmeralda, who intended to study in Paris for only
one semester, opted to stay the year in order to improve her French. She shared
her impressions of France, the educational system, and anecdotes about her
travels.
Esmeralda began taking French courses at Lehman and felt that she could improve her language skills by participating in the Paris/CUNY exchange program. “I thought that studying abroad in Paris would be a great opportunity to travel and practice my French.” Students are required to complete three semesters of French language courses before they can participate on the program. As is the case for all Lehman students who participate in the program, language skills greatly improve. “I have now been living in Paris for 6 months and I feel that my French skills have improved a lot.”
Esmeralda talks about her impression of the French educational system, which she finds different from that of the United States. “You will most likely not get a syllabus or an academic calendar, but the professors are very helpful…” She also adds that while the classroom experience will vary from professor to professor, you should “enjoy the ride!”
Another great aspect of studying abroad, especially in Europe, is that students can easily travel to other countries at very inexpensive rates. Many students like Esmeralda, take advantage of their study abroad experience and explore other countries during their vacations and even weekends. Esmeralda notes, “Traveling is really cheap but you have to do a little research.” During her stay in Paris she traveled to numerous cities in Spain and Italy and “in 3 weeks, I’m on my way to Dublin, Ireland. I found a flight for 11 Euros ($15)! I just had to buy it.”
When asked about her overall experience in Paris, her response was “Life in
Paris is GREAT! The French have a very different lifestyle, but it’s not that
hard to adjust.” She adds “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, so dive
into the culture. Eat French food, listen to French music, and make friends!”
For more information regarding the Paris/CUNY
exchange contact the Paris/CUNY Director: Dr. Maxine Fisher at
Maxine_Fisher@qc.edu, or Emmanuel Perez at emmanuel.perez@lehman.cuny.edu.
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Christopher Bethea
Christopher studied abroad in Florence, Italy through the College of Staten Island during the summer session. Below, Christopher shares his thoughts about different aspects of his study abroad experience.
"La Mia Mezza in Italia"
Thoughts about Italy before studying abroad
I
thought my idea of studying abroad in Italy for a month was great. I imagined
that there would be great food, great scenery, and I looked forward to having a
great time in another country. At this time, I had never left America and was
anxious to see what it would be like to live in another country – especially one
where English is not the official language. My Italian was at an intermediate
level as I had taken Italian in two previous semesters, but my comprehension and
pronunciation was terrible.
Firenze
Florence is a small town located in the heart of central Italy. It is regarded as the birthplace of the Italian renaissance and it is home to some of the world's greatest artists and inventors. Two worlds come together in Florence, the old and the modern. The narrow driveways, architecture, and cobblestone streets are reminiscent of the renaissance, while the many restaurants, bars, cafes, and stores remind me of a modern ever changing world. It was easy to walk everywhere, although it took me a while to understand the addresses and where the street names were located. There was also plenty of art everywhere. I couldn’t turn around without seeing someone selling paintings or drawings on the sidewalk.
Accommodations
We had a few choices to select from, including off-campus apartments, dorm-style rooms and hostel accommodations. When I arrived, I stayed at the PLUS Florence hostel, which was walking distance from my school and del Duomo. The hostel had a friendly staff who aimed to please, a basement bar that also served food, and a nice swimming pool with a steaming sauna. My room had internet access, private bathroom, TV, and a small kitchen where I would cook some of my many delicious meals. Many of the students that lived in the apartments were American students from all areas of the United States, but the PLUS Florence visitors were mostly tourists from all over the world.
Classes
The classes that I took were mainly taught in English, with the exception of the Italian language classes where the instructor interchanged between English and Italian. My professors were fun and engaging. They had a more interactive style of teaching. On nice days, my class would take place on the school’s patio. We were allowed to drink coffee and eat small meals during class! There were excursions at least every week; some were mandatory and some were optional. There were also daily homework assignments and weekly quizzes, which were fun and encouraged us to better understand Italian culture and strengthen our Italian language skills. My group felt well prepared for the quizzes and class assignments. It was very different compared to classes taught in America.
Excursions
The excursions were both educational and fun, some of which included: museum visits, a lemon tree garden, a Gelateria where we got to see how gelatos were made, a boat ride down the Arno river, and a traditional Florentine soccer match. We also had the opportunity to help Italian students with their English. The professor who led the excursions was cool and explained everything in both Italian and English.
Traveling
I studied abroad for an entire month in Italy and then traveled around Europe for another month before I went home. During my study abroad program, I traveled to Rome, the Vatican City, Pisa, Livorno, Naples, Milan, and all over Florence. I was able to travel around by train, which wasn’t too far from Florence. After the program ended, I traveled a span of eleven countries, including France, Monaco, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, Holland, Czech Republic, Austria, Ireland, and England. I scheduled a bus tour that picked me up at PLUS Florence and then dropped me off at different hostels during my travels. Since many of the European countries are a short distance from each other, the bus rides weren’t too long. I was able to meet and befriend many Australians, Canadians, Koreans, Europeans, and other Americans during the trip, and have a lot of interesting stories that happened to me along the way. Out of all the cities I have been to, I have seen some of the most beautiful scenery and tasted some of the best food in Florence.
Tips and Advice before studying abroad
- Prepare in advance! It is very important to do everything months before you leave.
- Make sure to have your passport on you at all times, because you will never know when you might need it.
- Although many of the European cities are generally safe, always be aware of what is going on around you.
- Always take out more than what you need out of the ATM. Most bankcards will charge an extra fee because you are converting currency, or using a Foreign ATM. If possible, try to use your debit/credit card instead.
- Only go to an exchange market if you don’t have any use for your remaining currency. They will often give you a bad exchange rate and then charge you for using their services.
- If you are planning to travel beyond your home stay, consider getting a Eurail pass, or look into bus tours. You can save a lot of money and still get to see places at reduced prices.
- It is very important to set a daily budget, and not overspend! If you happen to overspend on one day, subtract the additional costs into your tomorrow’s limit to balance the lost.
- Pack lightly and try not to bring things that you don’t need.
- Most importantly – Loosen up and have fun!
