An unforgettable day trip to Paris! I already want to go back.

Name: Mia Conley | Major: Mechanical Engineering | Semester: Summer 2025

My name is Mia Conley, and I am an incoming sophomore mechanical engineering major who studied abroad through the College of Engineering. The program I attended took place in Belgium during the May 2025 intersession; it was faculty-led and titled “Sustainability in the European Food System.” I first landed on this program in Belgium when studying abroad was mentioned in one of my intro level engineering courses. It was the shortest program that was offered for my major, and knowing that I want to go abroad for an entire semester in the future, I felt as if this two-week course was a great introduction to the opportunities and experiences I can gain from studying abroad. Additionally, I had never traveled to Europe before this program, and I was very curious about the culture in this part of the world and how it may impact my learning experience. After doing more research about Belgium, and specifically Ghent, I realized that this country implements engineering in several ways to become more sustainable in their food system, so the topics that would be covered in this program were on target with the cultural practices of this country. After this research, sustainability became a topic that interested me more and more, so I knew that this program would be highly beneficial in expanding my knowledge of this subject as well as connecting it with my major and my future courses.

While abroad, the academic experiences I was a part of shaped the way I view the topics of my program. Every morning, my classmates and I would listen to lectures from professors at Ghent University where a wide range of topics were covered including GMOs, remote sensing, food packaging, and more. In the afternoons, we would visit sites related to the topics we had learned in the morning, including biotechnology labs, greenhouses, and production warehouses. These excursions would feature a guide who would discuss the sustainable methods that their company was using before actually demonstrating these devices and their impact. These days of lectures and excursions were transformative in my learning experience. Listening to these professors and researchers share the work that is done in their country and then being able to see this work executed at an actual site expanded my perspective of the steps that go into every sustainable measure. I felt as if I was getting the best forms of knowledge through the way that this program was executed and that I could implement many of the aspects of sustainability that I learned into future research and postgraduate studies. The assignments completed during this two-week period were beneficial as well. Many assignments involved reflection papers where I was able to make connections between the environmental sustainability of Belgium to their overall culture and belief system. I was also asked to make connections between Belgium and the United States, and this task allowed me to further explore the topic of sustainability and its global impact. I feel as if the academic experience I gained from this course was essential in the development of my comparison and critical thinking skills, and I also feel more equipped to explore the topics of sustainability in my future courses at the University of Arkansas.

Besides the academic experiences I had while abroad, there were also many personal experiences that shaped my trip. After the first week of classes, three other girls and I decided to take a train to Paris to spend our Sunday. We navigated the train stations, the metro, and the busy streets of the city, ate delicious food at Parisian cafes, and saw monuments that I have always dreamed of seeing. This day trip was something that I will remember forever, and I was completely in awe of the fact that I was even able to have this opportunity. Besides this trip to Paris, small day-to-day happenings while abroad also became unforgettable memories. After long days of classes and excursions, my friends and I would often stop by a cheap pasta restaurant that offered takeout. We would take our containers of pasta by the canal in the city center of Ghent and enjoy our food as we observed the many things happening around us. I remember taking in everything around me as much as I could, including the small boats passing by, the beautiful architecture all around me, and the lovely people walking the streets. Moments such as this stood out, as they allowed me to reflect on the exponential amount of growth and opportunities I have had after my first year of college.

Overall, this two-week program in Belgium was the perfect way to end my freshman year at the University of Arkansas. My knowledge of a topic I am deeply interested in has expanded, making me more academically motivated for future endeavors. Furthermore, I feel more equipped to study abroad for a full semester in the future and I have a greater understanding of cultures outside of the United States. This experience was highly rewarding and transformative, giving me a feeling that I will continue to chase as I continue my studies.