The variety of study abroad opportunities was one of my main reasons for choosing St. Olaf — and my experience did not disappoint. I had the privilege of going on the World Courts in Europe January term trip with Professor Anthony Lott and Piper Center Coach Leslie Moore. Our course focused on international court systems and agencies, allowing us to learn and explore the language between states and how we, as a society, have decided to settle disputes.
Our first stop was Geneva, Switzerland. After recovering from our jet lag and crashing at the hostel, our first stop was the United States Mission in Geneva. We got to have a wonderful conversation about the United States’ role within the United Nations and in foreign policy. During our time in Geneva included trips to the International Red Cross Museum, World Health Organization, United Nations Geneva, and more. When we weren’t on official class excursions, we explored the city. I find it impossible to choose a favorite stop on the whole trip, but Geneva was definitely up there with its beautiful lake and mountains.
I took my first train trip to Strasbourg, France, where we stayed for a week to explore the European Court of Human Rights, Council of Europe, and European Union Parliament. Strasbourg was such a beautiful city, with an astounding cathedral and a charming village filled with shops and restaurants. We had a few days off after this location, so I went with a few friends to Paris. We saw the Eiffel Tower and went to the Louvre to look at the crown jewels before they were stolen this October.
We stayed in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg, for a short time, but the city was gorgeous, and it definitely gave off medieval vibes. We had the honor of sitting in on a hearing at the European Court of Justice, which was a dispute between Ireland and the United Kingdom.
On our way to the last city, The Hague, Netherlands, we stopped in Brussels, Belgium, for some waffles and chocolate. I never thought I would get to see so much so fast, and I think about this city all the time. The Hague was also beautiful, as it was right on the ocean. We were able to walk on the beach, collect shells, take a day trip to Amsterdam, and visit the Peace Palace, International Court of Justice, and International Criminal Court.
I highly recommend any sort of study abroad trip offered at St. Olaf. I learned so much about myself, my travel resilience, and the world around me. A few travel tips I have learned are to pack light, check credit cards and phone service for international capabilities, and go with the flow. The opportunity to travel with this group was such a blessing — my ability to be spontaneous opened up doors and allowed me to get the most out of my time abroad.
