My adrenaline is spiking as I make final decisions on what to take across the world. Is it weird if I still want to bring my blankie? How many pairs of jeans do I pack? Why do all of my socks not have matches?

Staring blankly up at the ceiling of a French hospital, I distantly understood that I was in trouble, but could find no words to explain how I felt. Speaking in French to explain my situation to the doctor was impossible, as I was no longer sure that I could speak any language. Time moved differently, jumping back and forth between clear memories of before the accident and the fuzzy, confused reality of after. My head felt eerily empty, quieter than I had ever experienced it. I had a vague sense of who I was- I knew my name, at least- but could not understand how I had gotten to be in this state.

I just left my home away from home. I woke up the last day of my program. I admittedly had been pretending this morning would never have to come. I had 24 hours to submerge myself as far as I can in the beauty of what is San Ramon Costa Rica.

Ladroma studied French, Spanish, and International Studies: Development at the UI. A presentation about a study abroad program piqued his interest in the possibility of studying in France. A Regents Study Abroad scholarship paved the way for Ladroma’s opportunity to immerse himself in the European culture. One benefit of studying abroad that Ladroma didn’t anticipate was meeting his future wife, Ashley (DeCarlo) Ladroma, B.A, communication studies, French, at a presentation in Lyon, France. The couple grew up just 38 miles from each other (Ashley is from Harlan, Iowa), but first met in France.

UI international studies and German major Madeline Kaiser, a native of Orono, MN, was awarded a United States Teaching Assistantship at Austrian Secondary Schools and will headed to Vienna this fall to teach at two secondary schools. 

The daughter of refugees from Soviet Union, Korsakov, is a first-generation University of Iowa senior, and she’ll graduate Saturday.

Funds will be used for research, writing, teaching abroad

Mousa Abuissa credits the UI with helping him find direction

Meet a few of this year's recipients

As an elementary education major with an added endorsement in teaching English as a second language (ESL) and a minor in Spanish, Henry Hartzler envisions his English Teaching Assistantship to the Asturias region of Spain will deepen his ability to work with Spanish-speaking immigrant students in the future. Hartzler, an avid rock climber, also plans to organize an after-school youth climbing club.