Study Abroad Interns

Saanya Melwani

Finance and Technology Major, Psychology Minor

Semester Abroad: CEA CAPA Florence, Spring 2025

Email: smelwani@falcon.bentley.edu

I studied abroad in Florence, Italy with CEA CAPA, where I also interned as a Business Researcher at FlowPay, a Fintech startup. I grew up in Jakarta, Indonesia, and attended an international school for most of my life, which gave me the opportunity to interact with people from many different cultural backgrounds. At Bentley, I’m a member of Delta Sigma Pi and work at SP&E on the Student Organization Support Team, where I help provide resources and guidance to student organizations across campus. Living in Florence allowed me to immerse myself in a completely different culture while gaining hands-on international work experience in Fintech. For me, study abroad was a chance to grow in ways I never imagined—it’s about saying yes to new people, new food, and new places, because those yes’s turn into an unforgettable experience. If you’re thinking about studying abroad, come say hi at the Study Abroad Office, I’d love to share my story and answer any questions!

Macouta Cynthia Thomas

International Affairs & Computer Information Systems Major, Business Administration & History Minors

Study Abroad: CIEE Open Campus: Kyoto, Japan, and Seoul, South Korea (Spring 2025); Faculty-Led Courses (Spring Intensives 2023, 2024)

Email: cthomas@falcon.bentley.edu

I studied abroad in Kyoto, Japan, and Seoul, South Korea, on an 18-week CIEE program, spending 12 weeks in Kyoto and 6 weeks in Seoul. For me, studying abroad was a way of testing myself by stepping into completely new environments and learning how to adapt. From navigating daily life in two different countries to building connections across cultures, I discovered how much I could grow when pushed outside of my comfort zone.

During my time at Bentley, I’ve also participated in the Study Abroad Office’s faculty-led programs, which first introduced me to international travel and sparked the joy I now associate with exploring new cultures. I truly believe that studying abroad is a lucrative experience for students. Not only is it a chance to immerse yourself in a new environment, but it’s also an opportunity to learn more about yourself and the world around you.

Having gone through the application process for a variety of programs and experienced firsthand the growth that comes from studying abroad, I’d be more than happy to share my story and answer any questions from students considering an international experience.