For Upper School students, the year and semester abroad programs are great opportunities for students to utilize their foreign language skills in that language’s home country. Students are not only speaking on an almost daily basis with native speakers, but they can choose to attend some of their classes in that language as well. The Upper School has offered abroad programs to Italy, France, and Spain in previous years and a semester abroad to Switzerland during the 2024-25 fall semester. These amazing programs offered are definitely things to consider when looking into immersing yourself in your chosen foreign language.
For senior Macaella Sikhoya ‘25, there were many cultural differences between Minnesota and Italy, the country Sikhoya chose to spend a year abroad in. In the area she stayed, Sikhoya describes how everyone was quite close “because we were the only 50 people in a tiny town that spoke English.” She describes the relationships as “very tight bond[s],” a testament to life in small towns.
On a typical school day, school started for Sikhoya at 7:40. A difference between life abroad was “everyone would walk to local coffee shops and grab some breakfast” within the 10 minute break they were given “around 10am,” according to Sikhoya. Another fun difference was on Wednesdays when the students were given a “field day,” where students would go to Rome and explore different parts of the historical city.
Junior Ava Mittra ‘26 spent a semester abroad in France at an American School. She described her day-to-day life, saying she “would come to school from our host families’ houses” by either walking or taking the bus or metro, and “arrive [at school] around 8:30-9 a.m..” Following this, Mittra attended the classes of English, Math (in English), French Cinema, French Political Science, French Language, and French Experiential Class.
She describes weekends as more enjoyable, stating that they were “much better because [students] could stay out until 12am for one day: Friday or Saturday” instead of their usual 7 p.m. curfew. One of the most memorable moments for Mittra was leaving the people she had spent a semester with when it was time to go home. She stated, “saying goodbye at the train station” was one of the hardest things about her experience.
