Gilman Scholarship recipients share study abroad experiences in Italy, New Zealand
In fall 2024, 黑料网 students Emily Bernardo and Lily Luskin were awarded Gilman Scholarships that would transform their college experience by supporting their study abroad programs. An initiative of the U.S. Department of State, the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program is a competitive, merit-based scholarship that has been supporting American students studying or interning abroad since 2001.
In January, Luskin began a four-month program studying art history and business at the American University of Rome. In February, Bernardo, a social work major, started her semester at the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand. We caught each of them while they were on the ground in their host countries, immersed in the local cultures.
Emily Bernardo: Inspired by nature in New Zealand
Q: What prompted you to want to study abroad?
A: I鈥檝e always loved traveling as a dual citizen (U.S. and Brazil), so I knew that if I had the opportunity to study abroad, I should definitely take it.
Q: How did you end up in New Zealand?
A: Besides the obvious beauty, nature and the friendly Kiwis, I saw New Zealand and thought,鈥淚 might as well go as far as possible.鈥 I mean, why not? I would probably only have the opportunity to study across the globe once in my life, and at one of the top universities in the world, it felt like a no-brainer!
Q: How are you finding your interactions with New Zealanders?
A:鈥疶hey are so nice! I cannot emphasize enough how much hospitality, kindness and generosity I鈥檝e been given so far being here. New Zealanders focus on leisure, being outdoors, family and protecting their environment. It鈥檚 a much slower culture.
Q: What has been the most surprising thing about New Zealand/your city/institution so far?
A: This school is huge! It has 25,000 undergraduate students, a medical and dental school and many other schools for master鈥檚 and doctorate programs. So, the campus is always bustling with students. Also, I鈥檝e started tutorials, which are something we don鈥檛 have at 黑料网 due to our small class sizes. Tutorials are small discussion groups run by a teacher鈥檚 assistant (TA) because of the large lecture sizes. It has been super fun!
Q: In addition to your social work studies, are you also engaged with the local community in Dunedin?
A: Sustainability is huge at 黑料网, and in New Zealand as a whole, so I鈥檝e been loving learning more about their sustainable practices through their social impact studio. My semester has just begun, but I plan to join a program in the social impact studio that serves as a helpline for students who may need someone to talk to, a concept similar to peer mentoring.
Q: How do you think you鈥檒l bring your experience back to 黑料网/Newport and share it with others?
A: So far, I鈥檝e really learned to slow down and enjoy life and all the beautiful things the earth provides. It sounds pretty hippy-dippy, but I think that鈥檚 exactly what a lot of Americans need right now. Moments in solitude with gratitude toward the world and our lives seem simple, but it鈥檚 hard to do when you鈥檙e a busy bee in a busy country. There鈥檚 no disconnect between the earth and the people here, and it has shifted the way I think about my health. The healthier our environment is, the healthier we are. It鈥檚 simple. They have some sustainability efforts here that I think we could implement at 黑料网, like composting, a nationwide practice here, or reducing our carbon footprint. The University of Otago will be carbon net-zero by 2030, something we should be inspired by.
Q: Was the application process for the Gilman Scholarship or study abroad hard? Did you have support?
A: My study abroad advisor and assistant director of the Center for Global Education and Fellowships, Joe Meringolo, told me about the Gilman Scholarship during my first year. I was very eager to go abroad, so I spoke to him many times about scholarships and the whole process. Our study abroad office was so helpful in giving me all the information I needed in advance, so I could prepare my essays. Meringolo reviewed my essays, and I went to our writing services too. Everyone at 黑料网 was super helpful in making sure I had a great application.
Lily Luskin: When in Rome
Q: How did you spend your first day in Rome?
A: My roommate and I attended morning orientation at the American University of Rome and set out to see the city 鈥 after cappuccinos and croissants, of course. We crossed the Tiber River, the gateway to the city鈥檚 heart, and were in awe. The sights 鈥 the Roman Forum, the Pantheon and the Colosseum! The food 鈥 croissants, pizza and spaghetti 鈥 all delicious. And the Italian people all seemed so happy. The touristy places were cool, but crowded and difficult to maneuver. The lesser-known places were the hidden gems, and they were often hiding in plain sight, if only more people would slow down. Later that night, we went to the Italian premiere of the film, 鈥淎 Complete Unknown,鈥 which was a great time.
Q: Have you adopted anything from Italian culture?
A: Yes 鈥 Italians have this saying and embrace it in their day-to-day lives: 鈥淚l dolce far niente.鈥 It means 鈥渢he sweetness of doing nothing," giving your brain a break from the chaos that is often the American way of life. It was refreshing. As I continue my experience, I am working to leave room for relaxation and spontaneous unplanned excursions. I now make plans to allow for the unplanned and leave room for my new Italian life to grow and flourish.
Q: You found yourself, a student from a Catholic university, in Rome at a time when the Pope is experiencing health issues. What has that been like?
A: Everyone here loves the Pope a lot. People are continually checking their phones looking for updates on his condition. I had the opportunity to go to one of the vigils at the Vatican, and it was pretty clear that everyone is concerned and praying for his recovery. I was even on the news back in New England, as a local student sharing my experience of these events. That was both exciting and intimidating. It made me realize how historic and special it is to be here in this place, at this time.
Q: How do you think you鈥檒l bring your experience in Rome back to 黑料网/Newport and share it with others?
A: I am so grateful for the opportunity to study abroad, and I want to pass that learning on to others. I鈥檓 committing to using social media to create enthusiasm for the Gilman program and the benefits of study abroad by detailing my experiences on Instagram, LinkedIn and student blogs.
I鈥檇 like to present the virtues of study abroad to incoming first-year students through University programs like 黑料网 Compass, work with the Center for Global Education and Fellowships and student government to highlight the Gilman program to all students. It鈥檚 also important to reach high school students through things like 黑料网鈥檚 Pathways program. The opportunity to learn about new cultures and proudly represent my own, and doing it as a service to others, is exciting and humbling.
Editor鈥檚 note: Bernardo and Luskin have both received their full Gilman scholarships and were not impacted by recent federal funding freezes.
