Stephanie Danis, US Study Abroad Student at Vesalius College
It’s hard to forget when one picks up and leaves all that they know and embark on an entirely new and unpredictable journey. In a bit of a unique turn of events, I decided to spend my semester abroad in Brussels, Belgium because my father is Belgian and I actually hold citizenship.
My time in Brussels and at Vesalius College has been a collection of amazing memories that I will always cherish and look forward to sharing.
The experience here was remarkable. Not only were the students entirely welcoming and supportive, but the faculty and staff were equally challenging and motivating. Living in Brussels, the capital of Europe, and studying at Vesalius was a combination of the big city with the laidback feel that only a city like Brussels could possess.
I cannot believe how much I have learned about Europe, and about how different the culture and the lifestyle here is in comparison to the US. Every step I took was a new learning experience. Paris, Amsterdam, Dublin, and London are just a few of the cities I was able to visit during my four-month stay! On top of that I was able to take a school trip of important WWI and WWII battlegrounds in France, which was an unforgettable experience. Studying abroad is a once in a lifetime opportunity and what better choice than Brussels, Belgium where everything is centrally located. I am very grateful to Vesalius for maintaining such a wonderful study abroad program in Brussels because of how much I have blossomed in these four months.