College of Lake County (CLC) students expanded their horizons while exploring and learning in a new country and culture Jan. 10-19 during a study abroad trip to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The trip took students to Ajman, a city about an hour outside of Dubai, home to CLC partner institution Ajman University.

Ten students went to the UAE as part of their introduction to anthropology coursework. For the past three years, Ajman University has provided a grant-funded project for students to engage in collaborative online international learning with students studying sustainable learning. CLC built an anthropology course around this topic, starting with the trip followed by a faculty-led online course the rest of the semester.

“An anthropology course and study abroad experience in the UAE offers students a unique opportunity to explore cultural diversity, urban transformation and heritage preservation while gaining global awareness, academic insights and personal growth through immersive learning,” Anthropology Instructor Nina Pitrello said. “Experiencing UAE culture firsthand offers a chance to see anthropology in action while fostering open-mindedness and deepening cross-cultural understanding.”

For Daniel Jasso, a Spanish major from Libertyville who wants to study languages, studying abroad provided him with an opportunity to immerse himself in a different language.

“I’ve been out of the country before, and I wanted to study abroad in a place I might not have another chance to visit soon,” Jasso said. “I saw Dubai on the list and thought, will I ever get another chance to do this?”

Students engaged in classroom activities and faculty run hands-on case study activities with students from Ajman University and other countries including Croatia, Germany and India.

Like Jasso, Adriana Colin, from Gurnee, had traveled out of the United States before. Studying abroad gave her a chance to meet and interact with students from around the world with similar interests.

“I'd never had an experience with students from other countries with the same passions,” Colin said. "I enjoyed sharing experiences with them and doing everything together. We talked about our lives in our countries and connected cultures.”

Beyond classroom learning, students engaged with experts through guest lectures and site visits to government and nongovernmental organizations focused on sustainability. They toured sustainable farms and facilities where waste is transformed into fuel, witnessing firsthand how innovation is shaping the future of environmental conservation.

“Students loved the variety of experiences and academic content," said CLC Director of Global Engagement Voytek Wloch. “It was an engaging nine days, and students appreciated the full experience.”

There were also chances for students to be immersed in the culture. One of the highlights was a trip into the desert.

“My favorite part was definitely the desert safari just because of the experience of being in a desert,” Jasso said. "I got to ride on a camel, which was really cool and something I never thought I would do.”

Exploring independently is a key part of studying abroad, helping students build confidence and adaptability. Along with being a great way to have fun, self-exploration is key for students to develop and work on independence and navigating new and uncomfortable situations.

“My favorite place to visit was a shopping center in Old Dubai,” Colin said. “Everything in the city is modern except that area. It was cool to see a side I had never known about.”

In addition to the fun, students like Colin and Jasso came away from the experience with improved skills that will benefit them both academically and professionally.

“Study abroad provides soft skills and cultural adaptability development that students may not get elsewhere,” Wloch said. “These skills contribute to better preparedness when students are ready to transfer or find employment.”

Visit here to learn more about studying abroad with CLC.