Erika Perez ’12 — My Study Abroad 2011
I studied abroad in Denmark this past fall 2010 and I
give some credit to my Palmer sisters for my successful departure, stay
and return. Studying abroad had not been a priority when I thought of my
college career, but peers and mentors encouraged me with stories of their
experiences. I talked to Palmers who had gone to Europe and got useful
advice from them. While I was in Denmark, I was glad to have been
forewarned of watching out for all the bikes thanks to Miss Ellen
Anderson, who unfortunately did not have the same precautions and ended up
getting hurt by a bike. Once past all the technicalities of having the
right charger and enough toothpaste, I also had to face the change in
lifestyle and missing those in California. My Palmer sisters were always
keeping me updated with e-mails, tagging me in Facebook pictures of events
where I would have been present, and even telling prospective Palmers
about me so that while I missed them very much, I also felt included. I
biked to where the Baltic Sea and the North Sea meet and clash in Denmark;
witnessed a live anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction and a live
open-heart pig operation in Sweden and Estonia, respectively; climbed to
the Acropolis/Parthenon in Greece; and found the statue of the Fallen
Angel in Spain with new found Italian friends. I had a blast and took
countless pictures, always thinking of how I would share them with my
sisters. Although they were unable to send their care package to me while
I was abroad, I was moved when I received it upon my arrival. I had an
easy transition back to the Palmer Society and California, and one of the
reasons was the support and excitement my Palmer sisters exhibited. I am
happy to be back, share my experiences and continue to make more memories
with my Palmer sisters.
Erika Perez is a junior from Bell, California and a part of the
Whittier Scholars Program. She is focusing on a Pre-med curriculum with an
interest in neuroscience and minor in Spanish. Erika has served as editor
of the Quaker Campus. In addition to Erika, Palmer sisters Maria Pizana
’12 and Dannea Crespo ’11 also studied abroad during the January Interim
this year; both studied in Spain.