Mead Fellow Quin McGlame recently reached out to a few History majors who had the opportunity to study abroad this academic year. Brendan Murray ’25 is currently in Florence, Italy for the spring semester. Lucy Ballou ’25 spent the fall in Paris, France and finally, Dasha Vayn ‘25 spent the fall semester in Rome through Trinity’s program and is currently in Florence. 
All three recognized the opportunity being abroad gives them, and the chance to live in and explore a culture vastly different than the one they experience in the United States. Lucy had taken French at Trinity and wanted to explore the culture more. She was also inspired by her mother, who during her time in college also studied abroad. Similarly, for Dasha, Rome offered her the chance to be in a city full of living history. Brendan loved the location of Florence, and his ability to not only explore local history and culture but being so close to various other European countries.
Living in a foreign country truly expanded the students’ horizons, with all of them acknowledging the challenges of acclimating to a new area, and how rewarding it can be. Lucy commented how the moments of discomfort were opportunities for her to grow and became a chance to learn more about a culture she was unfamiliar with. 
For Dasha and Brendan, being in Italy has made them more interested in Italian history and appreciate the ability to visit various historical locations they otherwise would have never seen. Additionally, Brendan’s experience of these locations firsthand has piqued his interest in studying lesser-known parts of Italian history, which he hopes will further his newfound love of Italian history and culture.
While abroad, the students were able to take advantage of unique history classes that they otherwise would not have the chance to learn about. Lucy took a class titled “History of Modern France Since the Revolution,” which explored aspects of French history such as their role in colonization and “de-colonization,” the various revolutions and uprisings in the country, and their role in the First and Second World Wars. Brendan is currently taking “Youth and Culture,” which explores historical phenomena which have contributed to the modern Italian youth culture. With this class, Brendan has been able to visit various historical locations around Florence. One location he mentioned was a neighborhood called Isolatto, which once was a landfill for the city in the Medici era, but is now a vibrant area full of street art. In Rome, Dasha was able to take a class with Professor Elukin titled “Travel and Self-Discovery.” Like Brendan, she explored various places around the city to fully immerse herself. One place she remembered visiting was Ostia Antica, an ancient Roman port with the city’s necropolis, theater, houses, and trade shops, and noted how well-preserved everything was.
Studying abroad gave all three the ability to easily travel to other countries throughout Europe, visiting historical landmarks across the continent. Brendan has visited numerous landmarks in Florence including the Palazzo Pitti and the Uffizi. With his program, he also traveled to Fiesole, a small village that overlooks Florence and has many historical churches and other buildings. In the fall, Lucy was able to visit places like Versailles, but her favorite spot was the Chapel Saint Chapelle. Constructed in 1248, this chapel was commissioned by King Louis IX to house religious artifacts, including Christ’s Crown of Thorns, and is covered in stained glass artworks. She was also able to visit various locations in Ireland, including Trinity College Dublin. For Dasha, she was able to visit well-known spots in Rome such as the Colosseum and the Roman Forum but also used the opportunity to visit lesser-known spots such as the Largo Argentina Temple Complex, the Aqueduct Virgo and Roman Obelisks. Around the rest of Italy, she was able to visit Capri, Viterbo, Sutri, Blero, and Orvieto, which all have a deep history with the Dark Ages. Outside of Italy, she also enjoyed visiting the Edinburgh Castle in Scotland.
All three agreed that every Trinity student should consider taking a semester abroad, but to do their research to find the program best fit for them. While Lucy noted that planning can be daunting at times, finding the best program makes it all worth it. Also, she acknowledged her advisor’s effort who helped her along the way with any questions. She also recommended being on the lookout for any opportunities for students including: “program-led trips, clubs and activities, and museum visits which are all usually free of charge or highly discounted.” Brendan also recommended learning a foreign language before traveling, as it can be extremely helpful when acclimating to a new region. They all agreed that taking advantage of this opportunity has broadened their worldview and heightened their appreciation for studying History at Trinity College.
