Name

Eileen Dobzynski

Major/Minor 

Anthropology (Sociocultural Emphasis) Major / Technology Management Minor

Class Standing

Sophomore

Graduation Year

2026

Virtual or In-Person

In-Person

Program Title, Location, Duration

UC Davis Quarter Abroad Nepal, "Community, Technology, and Sustainability," is a hybrid study abroad and exchange program that connects UC Davis and Nepali university students to complete sustainable development projects.

What motivated or led you to participate in your global learning program?

Studying abroad was a big goal of mine coming into college—especially since the pandemic impacted three years of high school for me; I was so ready when I came to college to find ways to move beyond the bubble I had felt stuck in for so long. I did not think I would achieve my goal in my sophomore year, but once I found out about this program during my first year, I knew it was a great opportunity and I started doing everything I could to make it happen.

What was your experience like in this program?

I had a great time being a part of this program! There were moments when I was confused, stressed, and frustrated, but holistically, I look back at it as a wonderful, nearly indescribable adventure. From it, I learned how to communicate better, how to fluidly adapt to change, and most importantly, how to live in the moment. Being a project-based program, I was able to really engage with the subject matter and put my classroom learning to use in a way I had never had the opportunity to do before. Additionally, coming out of this experience, I have a lot of great relationships with people from UC Davis and Nepal, and I think those bonds were formed because of the cohort model, living and working together full-time.

What was the most challenging part of your program and the most rewarding?

The most challenging part for me was the timing of the program. It officially began in September, but being hybrid, our “on the ground” time in Nepal was limited to three weeks…might I add that we started our travels right after Fall Quarter finals ended! So, with it being sandwiched between Fall and Winter quarters, we (the UC Davis side) felt pretty rushed into it. Also, because plans changed significantly for all the teams upon arrival in the village, there was a lot of pivoting required. Most days felt very intense, and I did not have much time to adapt to the newness. However, I must add that I LOVED my four bonus days where I got to explore Kathmandu before the program started. That alone was totally worth begging my professors to take and submit my finals early!

The most rewarding part was definitely the people I met. I met so many amazing people, all filled with deep-rooted ambition and goals for the future. I was the youngest of the group, too, so I felt like I was constantly learning from everyone and gaining inspiration of where my academics and career goals could take me. Notably, it was super neat to talk to the Nepali anthropology students and learn about their academic experiences, comparing and contrasting them with my own.

What’s one of your most memorable experiences from your program?

One of my most memorable experiences was the homestay in the village. It was during our third and fourth days there and I was paired with Mei (a fellow UC Davis undergraduate student) and Sandra (a Nepali graduate student). Firstly, we were given flowers and tikas by women in the village and then were introduced to a member of our host family. We arrived at the house in the mid-afternoon and were introduced to the family. The host family had an incredibly smart 10-year-old boy and an adorable, yet feisty toddler. Within 20 minutes of being there, we got to hold baby goats that had been born on the day I had arrived in Nepal, a heartwarming surprise. Sandra, Mei and I spent some time walking around the village at dusk and watched the sunset together. It felt so freeing from our busy schedules and project stress. We got to help cook dinner and learned the names of the different vegetables and spices in Nepali. It was the best meal I had during the program, hands down! Mei and I ate with our hands for the first time, too, and we were actually commended on our skills. Then, we got ready for bed and Mei and I had a nice long chat, processing our experiences thus far. Then, in the morning, we had soup and eggs. We chatted and journaled, and while it was a lazy morning, it was so worth it to cherish the slowness. This homestay is so precious to me—top of the list, indeed.

What was a typical day like on your program?

A typical day included waking up around 7 a.m., having breakfast and reflecting with everyone in the Inn Canteen. Following that, we had team meetings and discussed plans for GMT A and GMT B (Team GMT was one of the three big projects). We would then work on those goals for a few hours. A large chunk of our work as GMT A included data collection, going to different places in the village to map them on Google Maps and conduct interviews. In that mix, we had lunch and a second team meeting to make sure we were on the right track with our projects. Towards the end of the village stay, we spent less time wandering and more time making our information cards and Google Maps listings. In the afternoons and evenings, there was another big group reflection time, dinner and some sort of rotationally-planned evening activity. In my free time, I did laundry, journaled and sang lots of karaoke with my teammate, Prim.

What advice do you have for someone considering your program or a global experience, in general? What would you like to share with students who might have similar identities or experiences as you?

For this program specifically, I recommend taking the time to learn some Nepali beforehand. There are a lot of English words sprinkled in, so if you understand the basics (words and grammatical structure), following a conversation is not super hard (on the listener's side). I did a language program through the University of Washington in the summer, and I feel it prepared me well for being on the note-taking side of my project’s interviews. I was not at the level where I could solo-conduct, but I could follow what was going on intuitively with that baseline knowledge.

As for broad, non-specific program advice, I highly recommend journaling to help process your emotions before, during and after. Multimedia forms of journaling, such as scrapbooking or making a video, are great options, too. I've done all three and it has been really helpful for putting things in perspective and making me less anxious (before), calmer (during) and happier (after).

What was your biggest concern regarding participating in the program? Were you able to overcome that concern, and if so, how? What advice would you give someone who has similar concerns?

This program was my first time outside of the United States! I was nervous and unsure of what to expect and what to prepare for. I’ve wanted to travel and explore the world so badly, but even with that desire, it was impossible to shake all the uncertainty. To combat this, I tried my best to channel it into getting excited and getting my questions answered. I believe that having this mindset allowed me to overcome the big emotions. I recommend to anyone feeling similar uneasiness about going abroad for the first time to reach out and get your questions answered, instead of letting them fester. For example, my program had insurance covered as part of the fees, but the policy did not start until the day before. Arriving three days before that (four days before the program), I wanted to know what options would be available if I ran into an emergency and needed support. Getting those answers really brought me peace of mind and made it easier to get excited about all the great things that were to come.

What is something you wish you knew before joining the program? If knowing this previously, how do you think this would have impacted your experience?

Before joining the program, I wish I knew just how freeing the experience would be and, while cliche, also life changing. I did not have to be convinced twice that studying abroad was a good idea, but I always thought people were being a bit dramatic when they said it changed their lives. Everyone’s experiences will be unique, but having these kinds of global experiences—disconnected from your usual routine, culture, community, etc.—you open yourself up to the opportunity of a new future. I don’t think knowing this beforehand would have significantly impacted my experience, but it would have made me more sure that it was worth it.

How do you think your program experiences will benefit you in the future—thinking academically, future career goals, or personally?

A big benefit I already see in coming back to Davis is that I am even more assured in my choice to study anthropology. My mindset has always been, “I can always learn to code, but now is the time to learn how to be human.” This may sound bizarre to someone outside the Social Science / Humanities realm, but what I mean by it is that I chose my degree not because of a 1:1 trajectory into a specific career path but because I need and want to understand the world so that I can impact it with well-informed intent. This program allowed me to see what transferable skills I have gained from my time at Davis, including strong communication and critical thinking. I learned more about the complex work of INGOs (International Non-Governmental Organizations) and how to vet their intentions and impact. I am also grateful I can add it to my resume and have already seen its impact when talking to employers and building network connections.

Identities or Experiences

First Time Traveler or Abroad, Scholarship Recipient

Please elaborate on any other identities or experiences that impacted your program decisions or time on the program.

Since this was my first time traveling abroad ever, I was pretty anxious at the beginning. It really helped calm my nerves by flying there with a group of five people, all of whom had been abroad and most had studied abroad before. That 28ish hour travel period was improved greatly with them there and they remain some of my closest friends coming out of it.

About the Global Learning Hub at UC Davis

As a part of Global Affairs, the Global Learning Hub aims to inspire and advance global curiosity, understanding, and engagement.

Through the Global Learning Hub, every UC Davis student can find global learning opportunities available on campus, in the region, virtually, and internationally. The Hub offers global learning programs, workshops, and resources that enhance all UC Davis students’ academic and career pursuits through four broad areas of opportunities: Community Engagement; Global Skills and Leadership; Internships and Research; and Study Abroad. UC Davis is committed to preparing the next generation of global problem solvers and change makers. As such, we aim to prepare our undergraduate, graduate, and professional students to solve global challenges collaboratively, equitably, and sustainably.