Meet Eliza McLane (she/her)

Program and Location:

Spring, Istituto Lorenzo de’ Medici; Florence, Italy

Major/Minor:

Business Administration (concentration: Marketing)

Why did you choose to study abroad?

I have always been interested in traveling but I never had the chance growing up. I had never left the east coast, let alone the country; so, when I found out about NC State’s study abroad program, I couldn’t miss the opportunity. Essentially, I chose to study abroad because I wanted to experience a new culture and what better way to have new experiences than going with your college friends to new countries!

What did you learn about yourself?

I learned that I am great at meeting new people because I am not afraid to put my self out there. I had the opportunity to go abroad with five relatively close friends, and out of the group that I constantly traveled Europe with during our time there, I was the only one to make true genuine friendships with people not from NCSU. In all my my classes, I was able to make friendships with people who I got to hang out with when I was not traveling with my Nc State friends. All of these connections were established by me putting my self out there by being willing to hang out with people that I had no prior relationship with/connection to, other than both of us studying abroad at the same time. Having these friendships made me feel really proud that I was able to make core memories with people outside of the group that I went to Europe/Italy with.

What was one of your favorite parts of your program?

My favorite part of the program was the variety of classes that were available. I saved up my free electives so I was able to take any classes I wanted and I got to enjoy taking courses such as Wines of Italy (Wine Tasting), and an Italian cooking class. Because of these courses, I was able to meet such amazing people from all over the United States that were also studying abroad and having similar experiences as me.

What advice do you have to future study abroad students?

My advice to future study abroad students would be to branch out from your friend group! It is an amazing idea to go abroad with some friends, but once you are there, I would strongly encuorage you to make as many friends as possible. Everyone in your classes will be in the same boat as you and will be just as eager to meet new people; so, don’t be afraid to strike up conversation and definitely grab food or drinks with new people!

How were your classes abroad different than if you would have taken them at NC State? Did you take any field trips or do anything outside of the traditional classroom?

I took four courses while abroad and three of them were free electives that I had saved for my time abroad; so, I got to choose to take any course I wanted. My classes were interactive, intimate, educational, relevant, and so fun and interesting. I took a Wines of Italy course which each class involved tasting red and white wines from different regions of Italy. We also had a couple field trips to local Florence wineries. Another course I took was an Italian Ancient Cuisine Cooking class, which involved cooking many different Italian meals from ancient times. Evidently, these courses were very different than what I was used to as a business major at NC State as they consisted of only 20-30 students, and covered topics I would never have imagined studying when I first come to college. There were also a plethora of other interactive courses offered such as fashion styling, jewelry making, etc. I also took an International Marketing course, which counted as a concentration elective for my major. I had such a unique opportunity to learn about international marketing while being in a foreign country, from the perspective of an Italian professor who had a career in the topic.

Is there any advice you would give to other students who share your identity?

Research your chosen study abroad country before committing. Make sure you are going to a safe country and look up the laws in regards to your identity. If you have a disability, and take medication, make sure you know how the prescription process works and if your medication is available.

Would you do it again?

YES!