Madison, Natalia

Natalia Madison

Why did you choose to study abroad and how did you select your program?
I've always loved travel, and I've always wanted to travel for long periods of time. I picked my program because I've always been interested in the former Yugoslavia. I read a lot of books about the history of Yugoslavia in high school, and the Balkan region has always fascinated me.

What did you learn about yourself?
If there's one thing that I am, it's brave. I took an overnight bus to Serbia by myself. I've done a lot of things in the name of my adventure.

What is one of your favorite memories from your program?
Oh god I can't even begin to pick a favorite, but I suppose if I can only describe one it would be swimming in the Adriatic Sea at midnight after a long day of exploring Dubrovnik. It was the most free I've ever felt. I'd spent the day staring at the sea, eating wonderful local food, meeting Croatian university students, exploring the incredible historic city walls, and just having an amazing time.

What advice do you have for future study abroad students?
See everything you possibly can. Everything is out there. There's so much to explore. The world is big and beautiful. There's an unfathomable amount of beautiful things to see wherever you go. If you get stuck, and you will, just stay calm. There's a solution. You might have to do something scary, but you can find a solution.

How do you identify?
LGBTQ+, Scholarship Recipient, Rural County Resident

Could you share any experiences where your identity played a role in your time abroad?
Being a lesbian plays a role in a lot of my experiences, and being a young woman traveling alone was further complicated by my sexuality. I found myself in a lot of situations with men where I wasn't sure how to... remove myself. I also got into a very odd discussion with a professor while I was in Croatia. He had the whole class over to his apartment for dinner. During the class he asked the women in the group whether they found it easier to find boyfriends if they could cook. It was a really awkward moment, both from a feminist perspective and from a gay perspective. I ended up telling him I was a lesbian, and he said "well you don't count then," so that was very interesting.

Is there any advice you would give to other students who share your identity?
It can be isolating out there, even if you "pass" as cishet. Safety is the number one priority, but even if you're safe it can still be very lonely. Stay connected to queer friends back home or online if you can.

If you faced any challenges abroad, where could you turn to get the support you needed?
I turned to online friends a lot. But the LGBTQ Center on campus partners with the Study Abroad office to work with students who are face those sort of challenges abroad.

Memories