Deji Emiabata
Mechanical Engineering, Class of 2020
“I learned to be more open-minded with certain life experiences and also be ready for challenges, because you never know where next you will find yourself.”
Taken in Munich, Germany near the famous Eisbach river where people casually surf during the day. (Left to Right: Oren Hochstein (IES Barcelona), Deji Emiabata (IES Madrid), Ebisan Ekperigin (IES Madrid)).
Where did you go? What program did you do?
Madrid, Spain, IES Study Abroad
Why did you want to go abroad?
I wanted to embrace a new culture and learn more about myself in terms of being independent and mature as a person.
Did you work with anyone to help arrange your abroad experience?
I worked with the school’s study abroad program as well as my advisor.
How would you rate the relative ease/difficulty of arranging study abroad?
On a scale of 1 (difficult) to 10 (easy), I would say 9.5. It is a relatively easy process once you know exactly what you want and you have reached out to people.
Were you able to take classes to satisfy degree requirements here, and if so which classes did you take?
Yes, I was able to take classes that satisfy requirements. I took Control Engineering, and Energy in Buildings. They both fulfilled my Engineering requirements for Mechanical Systems and Heat Power Application, respectively.
If you received a scholarship or any additional funding to study abroad, what did you receive? How important was this in enabling you to study abroad?
I received the IES study abroad scholarship.
What did you gain from this experience?
I learned to be more open-minded with certain life experiences and also be ready for challenges, because you never know where next you will find yourself.
Any particularly memorable experiences?
One of my memorable experiences was my trip to Morocco. I went with a couple of other friends on my study abroad program (Vanderbilt, UMichigan and Bates College). As a Nigerian, I know Morocco has similar cultures to Nigeria in terms of religion, lifestyle, etc. For me, this was not only a visit but a time to also let my friends experience the African culture. I remember the first day we arrived, a stranger on the street decided to guide us to our Riyadh (Hostel) because we asked for directions, as we were lost. After the 2-minute walk, he asked for some money for his service. My friends didn’t understand why the man asked for a tip after a 2-minute walk. I was able to explain to them that such gestures are expected without even asking, especially in local areas. Morocco ended up being their favorite country they visited.
Any advice for students thinking about studying abroad?
Just do it because you won’t regret it. Take a break from the snow in Rochester!
Questions? Ask Deji!
Email: aemiabat@u.rochester.edu