Me eating pasta by the canal in Ghent with some classmates

Name: Jalee Spain | Major: Civil Engineering | Semester: Summer 2025

This summer, I had the opportunity to attend the May Intersession of the Food Sustainability in the European Food System program. We spent two weeks in Ghent, Belgium, and they were the best two weeks of my life! In addition to Belgium, I also took a day trip to Paris, France, and spent four days in Dublin, Ireland. This trip is something I will remember for the rest of my life.
My decision to attend this program was not much of a choice. Since my freshman year, I have always known I wanted to study abroad. But in the College of Engineering, there are only two faculty-led programs offered through the university. I read about this program and found interest in the content, so it was a no-brainer that I would try to attend. When we first arrived in Ghent, I immediately fell in love with the city. We stayed in a hotel that was within walking distance of the city center, where many restaurants and shops were located. Belgium is known for its fries, beer, and chocolate, and we indulged plenty in the city center. Ghent is a college town and not as touristy as other areas, which gave it a cozy feel. Something special about the Belgians is that they all speak three languages: Dutch, French, and English. So, every person we interacted with in the city spoke English, which made the time abroad easier. We also took a few short Dutch lessons!
One interesting thing about the Food Sustainability in the European Food System program is that class time is split between lectures and field trips. We had lectures on a variety of topics such as food packaging, wetland wastewater treatment, and the history of Belgian beer. We also took field trips to a chocolate factory, experimental agriculture labs, and a winery. With such a wide variety of content and locations, it never felt like a boring lecture, it was engaging and entertaining. As a civil engineer, food sustainability is not something that directly relates to my major—or so I thought. We had both a lecture and a field trip focused on using a wetland to perform wastewater treatment. The concept of wastewater treatment plays a large role in my major; we even visited a wastewater treatment plant last April. It was fun for me to connect many different ideas and classes together. Seeing that, as a civil engineer, I could make connections to agriculture was something I never thought I would do. I also feel very inspired to innovate and think sustainably after seeing what is being done in Europe, especially when picking materials and such in the future.
When I was picking my program, I was a little nervous about Belgium. I remember calling my mom and saying I was going to look at a bunch of potato farms. I originally planned to attend a Rome Center program, a very different setting from where I ended up. But I am so happy with my choice. There is so much more to Belgium than potatoes. I would recommend to anyone wanting to study abroad to have an open mind about the location and program. It may not be a place or a subject that jumps off the page to you, but the experience of studying abroad cannot be beaten. I was surprised by how much I loved Belgium and the content we learned. Going in with an open mind was the best thing I did for myself. Belgium will forever have a special place in my heart, and I am already looking forward to the time I can visit again.
My time abroad was and still is so special to me. I had looked forward to this program since early in the fall, and it lived up to my expectations. If the opportunity to study abroad is given, do not pass it up. And especially do not pass it up if it’s the Food Sustainability in the European Food System program!