KeiAndra Harper, a third-year student at ETSU, always hoped that she would travel across the world to study, expanding her surroundings and absorbing cultural traditions. She currently resides in a Southern Norway city called Kristiansand, known best for its beautiful natural lands and rich history.

Harper first decided to study abroad as a freshman in the fall of 2019. Receiving the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, she initially planned to take a summer course in Rwanda, located in East Africa. Unfortunately, as the coronavirus pandemic took the world by storm, it became clear to her that this was no longer a viable option.

“My advisors at ETSU helped me identify ways to extend the possibility of education abroad,” stated Harper. “The pandemic added a lot of extra planning and logistics, but it was well worth it.”

Now, after many months of waiting for the special opportunity, Harper starts her days by going to class in the crisp, chilly mornings of Kristiansand.

She meets friends in the afternoon where they sometimes have a midday break for coffee, snacks and relaxation, also known as a Swedish ‘fika’. Later on, she spends her evenings participating with campus organizations and finding fun activities to do in the city.

She claims that while studying abroad may not have necessarily altered her world view, it has certainly expanded it, challenging her to think in ways that are new to her. Traveling to Norway opened her eyes to various new experiences and traditions. One of the most exciting experiences, she claims, was going bungee jumping 187 feet over a gorge fed by a waterfall.

“I’m grateful for the international student community here because it has given me the opportunity to learn about many different perspectives of people from all over the world,” Harper said.

To learn more about KeiAndra Harper’s adventures and activities studying abroad, visit her Instagram page @kei.goes.abroad.

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