I got to try a belgian waffle covered with belgian chocolate- it was one of the best things I ate there.

Author: Alyssa Foley | Majors: Crop Science, Agricultural Communications | Semester: Summer 2025

Hello! My name is Alyssa Foley, and I am an incoming junior double-majoring in Crop Science and Agricultural Communications. Over the summer, I was lucky enough to study abroad in Belgium and attend the University of Arkansas’ faculty-led intersession on Sustainability in the European Food System. Over the course of two weeks, I got to take classes at the University of Ghent, listen to lectures on sustainability from experienced international professors and guest speakers, and tour amazing plant-breeding facilities, greenhouses, and breweries to learn more about the Belgian economy and how heavily the country prioritizes sustainability in its industries.
I was incredibly interested in attending this program because I had always been fascinated by the efficiency and sustainability of European cities and their respective economies. I always admired the city of Ghent specifically, because it is such a beautiful, historically rich
town that incorporates sustainable practices into many of its aspects, whether it’s regarding
general transportation, agriculture, housing, or retail practices. Therefore, when considering
places to study abroad and further my education in plant sciences, it felt like the perfect place to
visit. I was also very interested in using my experiences there to serve as a reference for my
honors research on plant pathological sciences.
Besides the many interesting lectures on fermentation, engineering, plant breeding, and
Dutch language, I had many wonderful educational experiences on the trip- one of my favorites
being the tour I took of the commercial tomato greenhouse: Tomato Masters. I loved getting to
wear a full protective suit and walk around an almost fifty-acre facility full of thriving tomato,
bell pepper, and cucumber plants. I also got to see how the produce gets harvested, packaged,
and shipped across the world to be sold in markets. Thankfully, they let me try some of the
tomatoes, which was even more fun! Right after that, I loved having the chance to explore the
historic city of Ypres and tour the Flanders Field Museum, war memorials, and graveyards that
use the red poppy flower as a symbol of remembrance for the soldiers of the first World War.
Ultimately, Belgium is such a culturally diverse country with a rich history full of fascinating
stories, and while I spent most of my time abroad in Ghent, I was surprised by just how many
amazing cities there were to explore that differed greatly from anything that exists in the United
States.
To any student who is considering studying abroad, whether it’s with the University of
Arkansas or through an outside program, I cannot recommend it enough. At first, I was unsure
what to expect from a two-week intersession, but even in that amount of time, I learned so much
about Belgium, agriculture, myself, and my personal career goals. I also built a relationship with
the other students and faculty on my trip, which made the entirety of the experience even more
worthwhile. There are many incredible resources at the U of A for anyone looking to study
abroad- the Honors College, Bumpers College, and the Study Abroad Office helped me to make
this experience possible, and now I have amazing memories I will never forget and an immense
desire to study abroad again. Any student looking to do the same will surely have an
unforgettable experience as well, no matter what country or trip length they decide to participate
in. I feel so lucky that I went to Ghent!