The Daily Californian asked students who studied abroad this question: “What was your favorite part of the experience of studying abroad?” Check out the responses and photos from abroad below.

Name and year: Chevy Quijano, senior

Major: Political science

Abroad: Los Olivos, Panama

What was your favorite part of studying abroad?: “I worked with Learning Enterprises. My job was as an English teacher in a rural community called Los Olivos, and my main job was teaching (first) to fifth graders. I practically phased out of all my stresses of Berkeley and the U.S. The best part was not just being with the students but also absorbing Panama.”

Name and year: Madison Chapman, senior

Major: Political science and public policy

Abroad: Buenos Aires, Argentina

What was your favorite part of studying abroad?: “Dancing and the people.”

Name and year: Matthew Almendarez, senior

Major: Architecture

Abroad: Paris, France

What was your favorite part of studying abroad?: “My experience was definitely an eye-opener. I chose to do a four-country program that focused on sustainable cities to see how the life and cultures of these countries differed and were similar in terms of city design and landscape. Plus, I love to travel, and doing this program definitely helped me establish a connection with not only the world but with myself.”

Name and year: Tracy Nguyen, senior

Major: Psychology

Abroad: Paris, France

What was your favorite part of studying abroad?: “As I reflect upon my trip abroad, the one thing I can say that I’m proud of was being able to go to all of these beautiful and historical sites by myself. I’ve become more independent, and I learned that you can’t limit your curiosity and time waiting for someone to explore with you when doing it by yourself is just as or even more rewarding.”

Name and year: Kurt Cakmak, junior

Majors: Statistics and Chinese

Abroad: Beijing in summer 2014, summer 2015

What was your favorite part of studying abroad?: “Having another country feel like home and being able to conserve the friendships I made in Berkeley over there. The biggest gain I got was the feeling of opening my eyes to the world and letting it humble me.”