Batsheba checking in from the ERASMUS exchange with the Fine Arts Academy in Krakow: “As cheesy as it may sound, my time in Krakow, Poland, has been nothing short of life-changing. I had my qualms about coming here, as most study abroad students do. I was afraid I would become homesick; that I would not do well adjusting into the culture; that I wouldn’t do well in classes; among other worries. In addition to these worries, I left a difficult personal situation when coming here, which made me even more open and grateful to this experience. Though I’ve gotten bouts of struggle in and out of classes, they turned out to do nothing except help me grow as an artist and as a person. In particular, my class in Interaction Design has helped me merge my fascination with psychology with my passion for design and directed me into the area of UX/UI design, which I have the full intention to explore more upon my return. Outside of the classroom, I have made incredibly strong bonds with the friends I have made here, even if it has only been a few months of knowing them. So much so, that they’ve invited me next summer to their respective countries and back to Poland. We even have had international cooking nights when we can! I have come to learn so much about cultures I would have never thought I would learn about during my time here. In addition to meeting new people, I had the chance to reach out to an MSU alum, Levi Bochantin, that is currently working on his master’s here! He was a great person to reach out to when I first moved here as he provided much guidance through the transition. I hope to do the same for any Missouri State student in the future. I am so grateful for Missouri State’s Art + Design department in getting me all the way over here and for all the instruction I received that allowed me to get here. Thank you all for selecting me for this experience, I will never forget my time here or at MSU.” Sounds amazing!