This past summer, I had the chance to study abroad in Lyon, France, with the USAC Lyon Program for two months (the end of May to the end of July). As I packed my bags and prepared myself for two months in a country I had never visited before, where the primary language was one I was not fluent in, I found myself a little anxious. I wasn’t sure how I would be accepted there, or if there were any parts of myself I would need to hide to keep myself safe.

For some background into who I am as a person, I am currently a fourth-year student at the University of Iowa. I am pursuing a double major in French and psychology, and a minor in Spanish. I am also a bisexual woman. I was excited to study in France because I knew that France had a more accepting view towards LGBT+ individuals. I was looking forward to being myself without fear for my safety; however, there was one fear that lingered- would I truly be accepted by this program, these new people, this new country? The answer I found, very quickly after my arrival in France, was yes. A resounding, whole hearted yes. I was welcomed with open arms by everyone. The native French, the people at my university who came from different countries throughout the world, and the people in my USAC program all made me feel safe and comfortable to be completely myself. There were a couple of other queer students in my program; but even the non-queer students were allies. Some of the people I became friends with in Lyon went to la marche de fiertés with me because they knew how important it was to me. The day of the march was raining like crazy, and my friends and I didn’t have an umbrella. We were trying to eat before the march started, and it was raining so hard that we couldn’t eat without our food getting soaking wet. There were French women on the street who saw us struggling and immediately rushed to help, offering us their umbrella while we finished eating. This was an experience of solidarity that really showed me just how kind people can be. I loved experiencing pride in another country, and I loved having the support of my new found friends even more.  

"One of my favorite memories from France was when I went to visit lavender fields in Aix-en-Provence on my own. Aix-en-Provence was just two hours away from my home base in Lyon, so it was a day trip and that day I saw lavender fields for the first time in my life (one of my lifelong dreams)."

While I was in France, I learned some important things about myself. The first, and most important, is that I am capable of so much more than I think. I am someone who has always struggled with social anxiety, and so being in a foreign country away from my support system was scary. But I took that jump, and I grew into a much stronger person because of it. I learned that if there was something I wanted to do, I could do it. Regardless of whether I had someone to go with me. One of my favorite memories from France was when I went to visit lavender fields in Aix-en-Provence on my own. Aix-en-Provence was just two hours away from my home base in Lyon, so it was a day trip and that day I saw lavender fields for the first time in my life (one of my lifelong dreams). I also got to eat dinner at a delicious Lebanese restaurant where the family running it asked me questions and got to know me and made me feel at home. It was safe, and I knew that. Now, when I want to do something, I don’t wait for someone else to want to do it with me. I reach for my dreams and know that I am more than capable of achieving them.

The Global Access Ambassador Scholarship (formerly Diversity Ambassador Scholarship) through the University of Iowa was something that made it so much easier to travel abroad. Without it, learning all these new things about the world and about myself would have been things that would not have been possible. This experience has already impacted my life and it set a fire burning in me to continue to travel and experience different cultures. I will forever be grateful to the University of Iowa for helping me to live out my life-long dream of studying abroad, and for helping to fund the experience. 

LEARN HOW YOU CAN APPLY FOR A GLOBAL ACCESS AMBASSADOR SCHOLARSHIP

The Global Access Ambassador Scholarship program provides awards to study abroad for a summer, semester, or academic year. The scholarships are intended to support students who study abroad with the intent to serve as Global Access Ambassadors upon return to the UI campus. Upon completion of the study abroad program and return to UI, award recipients are asked to submit a photo and an open letter to prospective students or suggest an alternate means of sharing with prospective students.

Please note that the opinions and views expressed by ambassadors are solely those of the students and do not reflect or represent the views of International Programs or the University of Iowa.