Study Abroad
BXA students are encouraged to study abroad to broaden their interdisciplinary experience. On average, over 1/3 of BXA graduating seniors have studied abroad. Integrating international study into a student’s academic career may include study, work, research, internship or volunteer opportunities.
Experiences Abroad
Renee Madrigal
BHA Anthropolgy and Drama
Auckland, New Zealand
University of Auckland
When I first viewed the Study Abroad presentations as a freshman, I knew I had to experience another country as part of my undergraduate study. New Zealand, called Aotearoa in the native Te Reo Maori, was a simple choice for me as a Drama and Anthropology student. My anthropological focus is on indigenous cultures, so I was thrilled to take all Maori and Pasifika courses taught by indigenous professors. I was fortunate enough to experience their unique way of life: the relaxed and peaceful vibes of an island nation mixed with the forward-thinking modernity of a thriving country. I’m grateful to have studied in a place that pays respect to its native people and traditions in all aspects of school, community and government. I know there is still much work to be done in the coexistence of New Zealand’s people and cultures, but it was a promising experience and filled me with hope for a better United States.
Spending my junior Spring in New Zealand has been my favorite educational and life experience so far. Studying abroad enhanced my BHA education in ways I could never have imagined and allowed me to grow as a young woman. I loved my time there so much that I would absolutely return one day for further study or work.
Paloma Sierra
BHA Creative Writing and Drama
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Universidad de Belgrano
I studied abroad at Buenos Aires, Argentina during 2017 summer, as a sophomore, Jennings Family Brave Companions Fund fellow and a Dietrich College Modern Languages Undergraduate Study Abroad Scholar.
As part of my time abroad, I not only learned about Latin American art at the Universidad de Belgrano, but also experienced Argentina’s distinguished theatrical scene. Living in Argentina, I experienced operas and a Teatro Colón (the world’s third best opera house) seeking to entertain audiences; a traditional theatre exploring history and offering sociopolitical commentary; and the teatro ciego experimental theatre developed in pitch darkness, attempting to diminish audiences’ fear of the unfamiliar and unknown. Home to remarkable theatre and a complex history, Argentina introduced me to diverse theatrical methods to effectively reach audiences in different cultural contexts—adding to my Carnegie Mellon training in Creative Writing and Drama.