Shortly after getting back from Berlin, I felt like I had so much free time and needed to do something. So with little to no training (which I do not recommend) I hiked Half Dome!
NAME: Niyana Graves
MAJOR: Communication Studies
PROGRAM: Faculty-Led Program (FLP) – Berlin – A Cultural Extravaganza – Summer 2025
EMAIL: niy.graves@sjsu.edu
BIO:
My Name is Niy Graves, and I am a fourth-year Communication Studies major who studied abroad this past summer semester. My study abroad summer semester was a little more unique than the other study abroad programs that were offered. It was a ten-week semester, with my cohort and I being in Berlin for three of those weeks, then completing our work online for the remaining seven weeks. Studying abroad has always been something that was at the top of my priority list when it came to things that I wanted to do while in university. I have always wanted to immerse myself in another culture while also being in a learning environment. Originally, I had always wanted to do the program by the name of Semester at Sea (SAS), but SAS didn’t align with my schedule correctly. I learned about the Comm FLP when I was self-touring the campus right before the start of my first semester, and actually saw the poster from last summer (Summer ‘2 still posted up in one of the classrooms. When I saw the poster, I knew that this was the program that I wanted to do as it was perfect for me.
GOALS: What were your goals for studying abroad?
When I was abroad, I wanted to use my communication skills learned so far to admire what was around me. This course focused on cultural memory, so I really wanted to focus on how communication is passed along differently between cultures and how different memories are perceived across cultures. For instance, how differently do Germans learn about the holocaust compared to Americans or Canadians?
PERSONAL GROWTH: What was the biggest impact that your study abroad experience had on you?
I learned more about myself in those three weeks than I have in my other years of life. I learned independence in a different way than I was used to. I learned how to navigate difficult situations on my own while effectively solving problems when they arise. I learned not to be startled by things that may not be familiar to me.
ACADEMICS: How would you describe your academic experience abroad? My academic experience abroad was nothing but positive. I loved using the city as my classroom, it was nice being able to walk around Berlin and learn something new every time I turned a corner. I now find myself admiring my surroundings much more when I am learning, whether that be in a classroom or outside. I used this course to satisfy my applied activity section of coursework.
CAREER: What skills did you learn / sharpen during your study abroad experience? My communication skills have been sharpened immensely. I have learned how to communicate with others, even if there is a language and cultural barrier, while having an effective conversation and still getting my point across.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: How has your immersion impacted your perspectives on the world?
Landing in the Berlin airport served as such a big culture shock for me, I had never left the country before, so everything was so new. Once I was able to settle in and fully immerse myself in my surroundings, I realized how different things were, and I don’t mean that in a bad way. Spending three weeks in Berlin and seeing how people live their everyday lives out there showed me that there is more out there than just America. Seeing the norms out there, like riding bikes everywhere and not really saying things like excuse when trying to pass someone, really popped my American bubble and opened my eyes towards how others live.
FUTURE: How has study abroad prepared you for your future? As someone who has always wanted to get her master’s degree abroad, I feel like this program has given me the small push of confidence needed to commit to my decision. I feel more prepared and now know what to expect when it comes to studying/traveling outside of America.
TIPS: What advice would you give to future Global Spartans?
Don’t be scared and try new things, the program will go by so fast! With my program being three weeks, it genuinely felt like it zoomed by in the blink of an eye, and before I knew it, I was on a very, very long flight back home. Have fun and explore new things, don’t be afraid to go off alone, but make sure to be safe, share your location with friend(s), and let them know where you’re going and when you plan to head back. Try new things, don’t do a bunch of things that you can do while in America, really immerse yourself in the culture, and make the best of your time. While I can’t promise you’ll enjoy it because everyone is different, it doesn’t hurt to try.