Reflecting on my study abroad experience, one memory in particular comes to mind. On Easter Sunday, I was invited to join a group of 5 other students for a potluck brunch. Our table was packed with various dishes: shakshouka, aloo curry, hummus, guacamole, Turkish delight, biscuit cake, eggs with aromat and mayo, baguet, fruit, Cadbury eggs, and more. The small dorm-room kitchen was hot from all of the cooking and the sheer number of people in attendance. We all sat down and built colorful, aromatic plates.

Shortly into our discussions, we came to an exciting realization that every single one of us was from a different country. We represented India, Turkey, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and the United States. Not only that, but we ranged from 20 to 28 years old. At first, I found this to be slightly intimidating. I had only met two of the individuals prior to the brunch.

Beyond this, while studying abroad in general, I have felt acutely aware of the stereotypes associated with being from the States (including cultural ignorance, over-consumption, gun-obsession, etc.) As a queer student, I have also been cautious surrounding varying beliefs and cultural teachings regarding gender and sexuality. These factors, as well as being one of the younger individuals at the table, made me feel slightly unsure of myself.

The conversations I had were, at first, somewhat choppy. Eventually, however, we gained momentum and settled into rhythmic and interesting dialogue. Around the table, we discussed diets, language, families, Easter traditions, faith, classes, recent first-dates, politics, and much more. We cracked jokes and, to fulfill tradition, cracked hardboiled eggs on our heads. Both made us laugh a great deal.

I had a moment of pause, during which I realized just how lucky I was to learn from and with the other students around the table. I realized how lucky I was to even share a table with them. And I realized we were all just young people experiencing a lot of newness together.

UCD hosts students from over 130 nations. Being immersed in a new culture, while also being exposed to many additional cultures made my semester feel simultaneously endless and transient. It posed challenges and elicited moments of misunderstanding, discomfort, and tumult. But it deepened my understanding of the world and myself in more ways than I could’ve ever imagined.

Name: Elliot Pancioli
Status: Senior
Major: Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources Education
Minor: Cognitive Psychology
Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio
Program: University College Dublin