Jesse Zhang (AIF-NSF Scholar) - University of Nottingham, England

"I’m very glad I took the opportunity to study at the University of Nottingham in England. This would be one of the first times I’ve ever gone anywhere without knowing anyone, and I was incredibly anxious about what was to come. As soon as I got settled in to my new home, I was excited to see what new experiences lie in wait.

"Classes at the University of Nottingham were structured differently, and most classes based your grade off only one final exam. This gave way to more free time since I did not have to worry about homework or midterms, but it was also much more stressful when final exams were approaching. Classes were also much more narrow in the topics that they covered. This allowed for a more in-depth learning of some topics that I wouldn’t have the opportunity to learn at UT. Even though classes were structured differently, it was pretty similar to being at UT. You get what you put in, and as long you take the time to study, you can come out on top.

 

"The University of Nottingham was much more strict in regulations regarding research. I was not allowed to be in the lab without a graduate student supervising me and I could not stay past 5pm. Fortunately, My class schedule worked out nicely with my graduate student mentor, so I didn’t have too much trouble finding time to get lab work done. I delved mostly into new MOF synthesis, and got a lot of experience with X-Ray Crystallography. The skills I learned in the Humphrey group definitely helped me throughout the semester, and I was incredibly fortunate to be placed in a group where everyone was open to teach me and help me along.

 

"Overall my experience abroad was great; I learned a great deal of new things both in lecture and in lab. The extra free time I had gave me lots of time to explore England, and even other parts of Europe. The people I met in class and in lab were all very accommodating and made my experience that much more pleasant. I don’t regret going abroad in the slightest, and I would jump at the opportunity to go again.

 

Andy Zen (AIF-NSF Scholar) - Kyoto University, Japan

"I studied in Kyoto University at Kyoto, Japan for the past semester. It was quite a different experience compared to studying at UT. Japan is a very beautiful place. When I first arrived there were cherry blossoms in full bloom all around the city. I also pass by a lot of temples and shrines on my way to campus every day. Living in Japan was a bit difficult at first because my Japanese wasn't very good, but once I got used to everything it became a really convenient place to live. I spent quite a lot of time traveling around Japan.

"As for the classes, they were shorter than UT, however you're required to take a lot more classes, so I was spending about the same amount of time in lectures but taking much more classes. The majority of my classes were Japanese classes, but for the other classes I could only take classes taught in English. Since those classes weren't meant for Japanese students, they weren't very difficult compared to classes here. The Japanese classes were very difficult though. It really was quite a different experience studying the language in the main country. I feel like my Japanese has improved a lot from studying in Japan.

 

"I also learned a lot from doing research in Japan. I received a lot of help from a grad student, but he also let me do most of the experiments myself. It was a little frustrating in the beginning because I made a lot of mistakes and wasn't getting very good yields for anything, but I got much better towards the end of my stay at Kyoto. It was a really good experience and I'm glad I was able to do research abroad.

 

"Outside of classes I spent a lot of time participating in club activities. I didn't participate much at UT, but in Japan I was spending pretty much everyday after classes with different clubs. It was a great way for me to meet new people and make friends there. I felt really involved in their social life.

 

"Overall, I think studying abroad was a great experience. My Japanese has improved a lot and I've made a lot of friends there. It was really nice to live in another country and experience their culture. If I could I definitely want to go abroad again."

Alexandra Robles (AIF-NSF Scholar) - University of Nottingham, England.

"During Spring 2017, I studied at the University of Nottingham. At first I was really scared to be on my own in a city I've never visited and 2000+ miles away from anyone I knew, but I quickly got adjusted to living in England. Studying abroad felt both more exciting and stressful than studying at UT -- I definitely had to get better at managing my time.

 

"Research laboratories at the University of Nottingham are different that at UT because student researchers are not allowed to be in the lab on the weekends, after 5 pm, or when there is not a grad student supervising. Not just that, but during the month-long Easter break and during final exams, student researchers are not allowed to be in the laboratories either, so taking everything into consideration, I had just about two months or so to work on my project. I had to plan my weekdays to a T to ensure I was going to be able to get everything done in the lab. It was not bothersome, just different, and so very worth it. Through out the semester I felt kind of proud that I was able to utilize the some of the skills I’ve acquired through out the years. I was exposed to a whole different side of MOF chemistry, and it was so interesting to gain a different perspective on this type of research. Most importantly, I learned so much from the people I worked with. Working in another lab helped me realize how much I enjoy research and solidified my desire to get my PhD after graduating this year.

 

"As far as school is concerned, adjusting was difficult at first. It was a little overwhelming to have my whole grade be dependent on one test! However, it all turned out well and now that I'm back, I think I'm better at motivating myself to study and do school work.

 

"Aside from this, being on my own was also liberating. I was able to start from ground zero and get back to the basics of meeting people and making friends. It sounds easy, but I've had the same every-day routine and group of friends since my freshman year of college, and I quite honestly can't remember the last time I talked to a new person in any of my classes at UT. It felt liberating to have the ability to travel all over the UK and Europe with people I had just met, but quickly became great friends with. I will forever cherish the memories.

 

"Every one always says that studying abroad is like a big semester party, but that was not the case for me. Classes were challenging, research was a big time commitment, and planning trips around everything was stressful. But I don’t regret a minute I spent in Nottingham. I will forever remember the friendships and struggles that all made my time abroad a unique experience.

 

"I think its easy to become a conformist in college — you know the people, the classes, and the expectations. Being thrown into a completely new environment while studying abroad reminds of you how smart, committed, and outgoing you are. In a way studying abroad helped me feel confident about myself once again. It also allowed me to realize that I very much love what I am majoring in, and I love how it can challenge me. The cherry on top of all of it all was definitely spending 6 months hearing British accents all around me. 

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Enriqueta Torres (AIF-NSF Scholar) - University of Glasgow, Scotland.

"The weather in Scotland was the complete opposite of Texas weather. It was very rainy and dark, but on the few sunny days Scotland was very green. Even on the rainy days there was still a lot to do and plenty of people on the streets like it was nothing. The people in Glasgow were very welcoming and friendly. It was definitely different from Texas because it was much older and there is so much more history!

"One of the main differences in classes was that more than one professor taught each class. Each professor would teach us about what they specialized in and were very knowledgeable about the subjects. It was a little confusing to go around the campus and have the same class in different buildings depending on the day. It was a great experience to be taught in a different way and in a different setting.

"Research at the University was also really interesting, I ended up becoming a lot more comfortable with Mass Spectroscopy and even got some exposure to Ion Mobility. "