Studying abroad fuels curiosity about other cultures for Delaney Rettele
The recent graduate was studying in Slovenia when the pandemic forced her to return to the U.S.
Of all the opportunities available to Multicultural Business Scholars, studying abroad is at the top of the list of their most cherished experiences while in the program and at KU. From South America to East Asia, scholars can travel the world in search of enriching experiences while completing their undergraduate business education.
Unfortunately, COVID-19 impacted many students’ summer 2020, fall 2020, and spring 2021 study abroad plans. One MBSP scholar was already studying abroad 5,258 miles away when the global health pandemic began to influence a shift around the world.
Delaney Rettele, a recent marketing graduate, was studying abroad in Ljubljana, Slovenia. The coronavirus was declared a global pandemic on March 11, 2020. Rettele had been there since September 2019 and planned to stay in Europe through June 2020. Luckily, she was able to make it back home to the U.S., though she did change schools mid-semester and had to figure out a way to enroll at KU and still earn credit for that semester. She was able to successfully finish the semester and receive credit for the courses she was taking.
Although her time in Europe was cut short, Rettele made the most of her experience up until that point. In Slovenia, she lived in a house with 10 other students from around the world, from Russia to Colombia, whom she keeps up with today. She took advantage of the weekends by traveling to countries throughout Europe: Austria, Hungary, Italy, Germany, Spain, and the U.K. She also of course familiarized herself with Ljubljana, the Slovene capital and city in which she presided throughout her experience.
Navigating a new country can be intimidating for many students, including Rettele at first. But over the course of her experience, she learned that “people are willing to help you if you ask.”
Rettele attributes part of her desire to meet new people from different cultures to her experience participating in diverse and multicultural events through the Multicultural Business Scholars Program. This program also assisted her financially through a study abroad scholarship, as it does for many program scholars studying abroad.
Currently, Rettele is seeking a full-time position in the brand marketing industry as a brand strategist.
