By: Victoria Torgersen
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Victoria Torgersen, junior at Stern and our Marketing Co-Chair, went to Santiago, Chile for the International Studies Program, a Stern program that teaches students the economic, cultural and political histories of countries in a business context, including a trip to one of three international locations of spring break. Read about one of her adventures here:
 
Chile was the dream: 80 degree weather, shorts, sunglasses, and hiking. Everyone was obviously pretty stoked to be hiking in the Andes mountains, but no one knew what was to come. We started what was meant to be a 15-20 minute hike (that's what our guide told us) only to end 2 hrs later! Many groups, including mine, took an off-trail route: It was hilarious, we were falling left and right, covered in dirt and sweat, but we all survived and the view from the top made all worth it. Definitely a bonding experience.

By: Ashley Hall

Hey USWIB! It’s Ashley Hall, your Study Abroad Director! While I’m usually in charge of the behind-the-scenes work to keep you all in the loop about what our Study Abroad Liaisons are up to during their semesters abroad, this time it’s my turn to share!
 
As a junior in Stern, I would typically have done the ISP trip but decided to go off the beaten path and opt out of ISP (as a BPE student ISP is not mandatory) and join a class called SIV Ghana. Part of the Stern International Volunteers program, Stern Professors Rachel Kowal and Hans Taparia have been bringing students to the village of Waotze Taotsoe in the Volta Region of Southeast Ghana to explore how social entrepreneurship can bring development and opportunity to disadvantaged communities.
 
We got a chance to visit the village for a week, each day learning how the informal economies there worked. It was super fascinating to see how, as Professor Taparia says, business is a universal language. However, it was not just all work and no play! We visited Wli Falls, a monkey sanctuary, the Blue Skies Juice Factory (where we ate tons of fresh Ghanaian fruit, went to the market, learned to make batik cloth, and played with the school kids in the village!
 
We had one night where we stayed in the village with a host family. I stayed with my friend Lilly with a woman and her three children. We had to take a bucket shower with rain water - it was a crazy experience but an amazing one! I decided to do SIV Ghana instead of ISP because I knew it would be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and the trip did not disappoint.
 
Now that we’re coming back to New York, there is still more work to be done to build on what we accomplished in the field. We are working to ensure the success of this village, and the members of the community are super dedicated to the success of themselves and their children. It was definitely an amazing trip! If anyone has any questions about this program or would like to buy a batik bag to support the entrepreneurship going on there, please reach out at ashley.hall [at] stern.nyu.edu. Akpe! 

By: Claire Zhang
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Hey USWIB! I’m Claire, and I’m a sophomore studying Business and Political Economy. I studied abroad in London last semester, and I’m back for another exciting semester! This time around, I fully intend on doing all the London-y things I could possibly do.
 
Personally, I think that London is pretty similar to New York, but with a slight European flair (and they drive on the wrong side of the road). In terms of getting around, London is a very spread out city, but there’s always the Tube or the classic red bus.
 
I’m living in Byron Court, which is a 15-minute walk to campus and a 10-minute walk to Kings Cross, which will pretty much take you wherever you want to go. The area is really quiet and beautiful, which is a nice break from the busy streets of New York. NYU London’s campus is situated in Bedford Square, which is right next to the British Museum (and the Rosetta Stone!).
 
In terms of classes, I’m taking Foundations of Finance, Management & Organizations, International Political Economy, and A History of London. The history class is super cool because you get to see London in a whole new light. What makes it even cooler is the fact that we have walking tours throughout the semester, and sometimes we just pop into the British Museum at the end of class to see the artifacts that we were just talking about.
 
So far, I’ve visited Oxford to see a friend studying there. London is awesome and there’s a ton to do, but it’s always nice to go to the countryside, relax, and see a bit of nature. I’ve also gone to Windsor Castle through an NYU-organized trip (and the Queen happened to be there on the same day). It was really chilly; in fact, it even snowed. Still, the castle was beautiful.
 
With BPE, we also went to Budapest to learn about transition economies. After the lectures and company visits were over, we had plenty of time to explore the city. Some of the highlights include the Széchenyi thermal baths and the coolest bar ever: Szimpla Kert. Budapest is definitely my favorite place that I’ve visited so far.
 
I also took a solo trip to Belfast recently, and I would highly, highly recommend travelling alone at least once. Also, if you are studying in London, it’s really easy to get caught up in wanting to travel all around Europe. But there’s also a ton of cool cities and beautiful scenery around the UK as well.
 
Outside of school and travelling, I also play water polo at University College London. NYU gives us free membership to UCL Union, so you can join any club you want. This has probably been my favorite experience of London so far. It’s a really awesome opportunity to meet British students and sneak in a little exercise too.
 
More than a month of the semester has passed, and it has really flown by. Even though I’m looking forward to finally returning to New York, London really has become a third home for me (after California and NYC, of course). If you have any questions about Stern, BPE, or London, don’t hesitate to reach out to me. Cheers!

By: Yara Khalil
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Hello USWIB,
 
I’m Yara, a sophomore studying Finance & Management, with a minor in psychology and I’m spending this semester in London. So far, London has been extraordinary. It really does a great job combining history & culture with a touch modern aesthetic.
 
In terms of housing, I live in Urbanest, which -you may have heard- is the furthest away from campus. It's around a 40 minute walk, but in all honesty if you’re here to explore the city the walk isn't that bad. However, if you’re not willing to walk, there’s a bus right across the street that can take you straight to campus. What makes it worth it? You get a private room & bathroom and a huge kitchen that you’ll share with 4 or 8 people depending on your apartment. Also, most people don’t have class 5 days a week, so if you only need to be on campus 2-3 times a week, it’s definitely worth it.
 
In terms of classes, I’m currently taking Foundations of Finance, Intro. to Marketing, social psychology and Islam & the west. I would say that the professors here are great, however since there are no TAs you might want to get all your questions answered in class. Also, most classes don’t really assign homework so you can work at your own pace.
 
Everyone goes abroad to travel. Personally, I’ve been to Paris, Monte-Carlo and basically all the cities in the French Riviera. It’s way cheaper than it sounds really. Also the fact that you only have class 2-3 times a week, it’s just easier to go on longer trips. The methods of transportation are endless really; you just have to plan it out in advance.
 
I really can’t believe more than a month has passed already. Although I do miss New York, London continues to impress me everyday. Feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions. Stay tuned for more updates throughout the semester.