Students travel the globe from Palisano in Around the World in One Night

By Eisa Hashmi

Features Contributor

Of the many amazing programs and opportunities offered at Canisius, the study abroad program is one of the most extensive and exciting, offering students the chance to spend time studying in Europe, Asia, and even Australia. To show off all of the awesome locations offered to students, the Office of Study Abroad put on a great event Tuesday night called Around the World in One Night. 

Students celebrate Germany at Around the World in One Night. / Eisa Hashmi

The event was focused on showing students where Canisius offers study abroad programs, as well as teaching a little bit about each country. When you walked in the doors of Palisano, you saw several tables set up with their respective country’s flag. You were greeted and given a “boarding pass” which you used to travel from table to table. The students at each table checked off one of your three boxes and when you got all three checked off, you could enter in a raffle.

The students at each table had all previously studied abroad or were about to, some of them for the second time. By speaking with each group of students and stopping by all of the tables, you were able to learn about each country and why you might like to study abroad there. The tables were all stocked up with amazing food like Belgian Waffles and Australian cookies called Tim-Tams. The tables also featured a few games to keep the night exciting and lively.

Many of the students at the event knew they wanted to study abroad, but many weren’t sure where they’d like to go. Tiffany Tycz, a junior, said that she knows that she wants to study abroad but came to the event to get more exposure and learn a little more about each country. When asked about why she wants to study abroad, Tycz put very simply, “I just want to experience another culture.” She also pointed out how little many of us actually know about other countries, saying, “In America, we have all of these perceptions of other countries, and they all think of us in a certain way too, so I want to see that firsthand.”

Some of the students representing countries at the event were getting ready to go abroad a second time. Such was the case with Luke McCoy, who spoke on his incredible experience studying abroad in Germany. He said, “When I went abroad the first time, I met refugees in Germany and that was very eye-opening. Seeing that in person made me understand how big this issue really is.”

Along with the many American students representing the countries in which they studied, were also a few students from those countries currently studying abroad in the US. Laura McCarthy is an international student from Australia who was at the event to enjoy the fun and help teach others about studying abroad. McCarthy described her first week in the US as “incredible,” saying it was “like a movie. Like High School Musical.” She then described her experience since then, saying, “I’ve met so many diverse people and made so many lifelong friends.” Suffice it to say, McCarthy highly recommends studying abroad.

Another international student helping out at the event was Spanish student Jorge Alvarez Rodriguez. He talked to students about Spain and why it’s such a great country to spend at least one semester studying abroad. He said, “We are trying to show people our country and encourage them. It opens your mind and changes you so much. Canisius has great programs to explore the world.”

Rodriguez also made sure to talk about Spain’s great lifestyle, great weather, and most importantly, great food. He also spoke a bit about his own experience studying abroad in the US. He loves meeting new people and getting to enjoy a college experience different from the one he has at home. But to put it best, Rodriguez simply said, “In one word? Amazing.”