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Hannah Sandrini is currently studying a double degree in Law and International Studies with a Diploma in French. She has completed three exchange programs with us – first at the University of Strasbourg, France, in 2014, then at the University of Montreal, Canada, in 2016, and her latest was at Mahidol University, Thailand, in 2017. Hannah answered a few questions for us on her thoughts on completing multiple programs, and told us about the opportunities she has had because of her experiences.

What drove you to apply for the first program?
I have always had a passion for travel. After I finished high school, I took the year off to travel before attending university, which helped spark my desire to complete an exchange program. I knew from my first day at university that all things permitting, I was going to complete an exchange at some point during my degree. I have studied French throughout my entire schooling and approached my decision of what I wanted to study at university with my desire to travel and to spend some time studying in France in mind.

What did you find most beneficial about Studying Overseas?
All three of my programs were undertaken at different points in my life, with a different level of experience behind me, and different aims and goals. Each program shaped me in a unique way. I studied French in France, law in Canada, and International Studies in Thailand, so in that sense they are not comparable. In saying this, all of my exchanges presented me with new challenges and forced me to adapt in a completely unique manner. France was my first time living in another country and so I encountered all the challenges and success of that experience, which provided solid foundations on which I could build my following two exchanges.

My exchanges in France and Canada were beneficial for my language skills, which were not tested in Thailand. However, Thailand challenged me the most and forced me out of my comfort zone in a way that is unparalleled in my previous two experiences. The experience of living in a developing country and gaining an insight into such a multidimensional and rapidly growing country truly pushed me out of my comfort zone and helped shape my character and understanding of a non-western way of thinking. From this, I was able to challenge my own values and priorities and burst a lot of bubbles I had built in my head.

What were the highlights of your overseas study/what experiences stand out in your memory?
Each day was a highlight in itself even when I was presented with a challenge. The highlight of all of my exchanges has been the people. But some of the crazier individual experiences include hitch hiking from Serbia to Turkey, my mid-semester trip from France up through Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Russia, and Finland, seeing the Northern Lights in Iceland, going on a weekend trip to the Maldives from Bangkok, mid-semester break in Cuba, mid-semester break in Indonesia, surfing in Sri Lanka, Oktoberfest with my brother, skiing in Canada, and hiking in the Canadian Rockies.

What did you learn about yourself from your experiences?
I am currently on my fourth overseas experience and have found myself in constant awe of all the amazing and incredible people that have been coming into my life recently. I am beginning to understand that the reason so many amazing people have come into my life is because I am drawing them into it. Exchange has introduced me to who I am outside of my home and my friends in ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø and all the preconceptions that go along with that. This has forced me to learn and to grow, to understand my desires, strengths and passions, but also my weaknesses and boundaries. My exchanges have inspired in me the confidence to have a better understanding of who I am and to be unashamedly proud of that person and all she has achieved.

This has led to a great sense of trust in myself and my instincts, to believe in what I want in life and to pursue this with the courage that my exchanges have inspired in me.

I have also learnt that I am so much stronger then I could ever have hoped or imagined. While every single one of my exchange experiences has been incredible, they haven’t come without their challenges. What this has forced me to do is to overcome these challenges and adapt quickly. I have learnt to interact and communicate with different people from all over the world and from all walks of life, crossing language and culture barriers. There is a real sense of strength in knowing that I can pick up and move somewhere across the world in a society that I am completely unfamiliar with and I’ll be fine. Above all, the greatest thing I learnt from my travels and experiences is best summed up by my most commonly used phrase in Thailand: mai pen rai – no worries. If I don’t stress the little things and have confidence in myself when it comes to the big things, then there are no worries.

What opportunities did the experiences give you?
The opportunities that have been brought about by my exchange programs can for the most part be directly attributed to the people I have met, the network I have built, and the opportunities this has presented me with. Whether it was friends I met on the first day of exchange and who will remain in my life for a long time to come, or strangers I met along the way who imparted their wisdom and time on me, every single one of them presented me with a unique opportunity and experience from which to learn moving forward. Meeting people from all over the world has presented me with the occasion to travel and work in new places on the recommendation and guidance of some incredible people.

Did you talk about your overseas study in any interviews for opportunities (internships, job interviews, university applications, etc.)?
Yes, pretty much all the time. I am currently interning in a law office in New Orleans and in the interview I spoke extensively about my travel experiences. My current position requires an individual who can deal with challenging situations and has been exposed to confronting content. My experiences of exchange provided great examples of how I am equipped to deal with both of these things. I have a whole host of real life experience from which I can consistently draw on.

How would you sell yourself using your international experience?
Adaptability, communication, independence, experience.
My international experience has pushed me to think more critically and approach things from a different view point. It has provided me with a cross-cultural view of the world, while simultaneously presenting countless opportunities to better myself. From these challenges, undertaken solo, I ha