Being a committed member of a team doesn't prevent Muhlenberg athletes from enjoying the same transformative experiences that their fellow students do - like studying abroad. Every semester, a good number of Mules travel overseas, and we catch up with them in our Postcards from Abroad series.  Our first "foreign correspondent" for the Fall 2024 semester is women's lacrosse junior Rebecca McCurdy, a media & communication major who is studying in Florence, Italy. Here's what she had to say about her experience:

What made you decide to study abroad?
I've always known I wanted to study abroad; it played a major factor in my recruiting experience. One of the reasons I decided to come to Muhlenberg is because my coaches not only allow studying abroad, but they also encourage it.

What has been your favorite part about studying abroad?
My favorite part about studying abroad is how easy it is to travel to other countries, learn about different cultures and try new cuisines! By the end of the semester, I will have visited around 20 cities in nine countries!

What is something you have learned about yourself while studying abroad?
I've learned a lot about adaptability and how I respond to things. While living in a different country and constantly traveling, nothing is going to go exactly as planned, but I've learned how I respond to those situations.

What advice would you give to someone thinking about studying abroad?
If you're questioning doing something, do it! If you don't know if you want to visit that one city, go to an event or try that one food, do it, because when else are you going to have the opportunity?

What classes are you taking and which is your favorite?
I have been taking a variety of classes, including classes about the chemistry of visual arts, Tuscan wines, a walking class discussing Florentine culture and communication classes for my major. My favorite class is my social media class because we are not only learning about social media marketing, but we also get real-life experience going to local events and creating content that might be used for their socials.

What has been the favorite place you've visited?
Prague, Czech Republic! I highly recommend anyone studying abroad in Europe to visit there!

How have you kept up with your sport while abroad?
I have been trying to keep up with my cardio at the school gym but I also do a lot of walking every day around Florence and when we visit different places! My teammates and I also have to walk up seven flights of stairs to get to our apartment, so we get a great leg workout multiple times a day (dragging all our luggage up there was a full body workout!)

What is one thing you miss most about Muhlenberg?
I miss all my friends back at school and the tight-knit community feel of Muhlenberg's campus!