Marketing Student Spends Semester in Israel

11/25/2014 11:50 AM

By Brandon Wallace, ’17

One of the newest study abroad opportunities offered by the Foster College of Business was especially appealing to junior marketing and management and leadership student Sharon Mozes ‘16. Mozes spent her 2013 fall semester studying at Hebrew University in Israel.

Mozes said that Israel was the perfect study abroad location for her. Not only does she have family that lives there, but she was also familiar with Israeli culture prior to the experience.

Before going overseas, Mozes took an intensive Hebrew class. While in Israel, she took several classes that covered Middle Eastern business practices, including a global entrepreneurship class, an economics class about Israel’s economy in a global context, and an advertising and marketing in the Middle East class.

“The advertising class was by far my favorite,” Mozes said. “Being a marketing major it was amazing to learn about these major concepts but with a sort of twist. It was also really interesting that all the issues marketers faced were the same there as they are here, but the way they are approached and handled are very different.”

The trip was an amazing experience aside from the academic aspect as well. Mozes spent most of her free time with her family, but also did a multitude of memorable things. She went rafting for the first time, spent nights walking around the city with her friend finding “hole-in-the-wall” cafes, attended an international art festival, saw a concert, and went on walks around ancient walls.

“Honestly, every day I was there included something special worth mentioning,” Mozes said.

Mozes, like many students who study abroad, enjoyed the experience and gained a great amount of knowledge, not only academically but in real-life experience.

“Every student that studies abroad will tell you that it is an amazing experience and a lot of fun but what most people overlook is just how much that kind of trip can change a person,” she said. “When studying abroad, you need to mature quickly. It doesn’t matter how mature you are when you get on that first plane, as soon as you land you are on your own. That kind of maturity is valuable in any field or course of study.”