When I first landed in Florence, I knew my study abroad experience was going to be different than what I initially expected. My luggage was lost, my international plan had not started working yet, and I had already forgotten the minimal phrases I had tried to remember in Italian. What I didn’t realize yet was that this was the beginning of the best summer of my life.

Studying in Florence, London, and Oxford was an incredible experience that allowed us to learn about the history of neuroscience and think critically about ethical issues in science that we are currently facing. From dissecting a calf brain from my apartment in Italy, to observing preserved medical anomaly specimen in the Gordon Museum of Pathology in London, our class activities were unique and non-traditional. Beyond the valuable learning experiences made, the friendships and memories made when exploring Europe (including the challenges that come with travelling) are parts of my college experience that I will treasure forever.

One of my favorite memories during my Foundations of Neuroscience study abroad program was taking a weekend trip to Edinburgh, Scotland with some of the new friends I made on the trip. We took a 5-hour train from London and spent the rest of the weekend exploring. We hiked to the top of Arthur’s Seat, an inactive volcano with beautiful sunset views of the city. The next day, we visited the National Museum of Scotland and went to an anatomy exhibit that featured some of Michelangelo’s famous anatomical drawings that were created in Florence, Italy, which was where we spent the first 2 weeks of our trip! We also learned about the history of medicine, including Charles Darwin’s thoughts on his experience at the University of Edinburgh medical school. Upon our return to London, we visited Charles Darwin’s home called the Down House where he conducted much of his research and wrote his groundbreaking work “On the Origin of Species”. We were so excited to see how many of the places we had seen firsthand and topics we discussed in class were interconnected.

My best advice for students who are considering an education abroad program is… go for it! Don’t be scared to enter with some anxieties about being away from home or not knowing the other students in the program. Everyone is adjusting to their new environment at the same time, so everyone gets to know each other while being supportive. Also, don’t forget to bring a camera/journal to hold on to all the amazing memories you will make!

Name: Anjali Desai
Status: Junior
Majors: Neuroscience and Psychology
Hometown: Lake Orion, Michigan
Program: Foundations of Neuroscience in Italy and the UK