Meet Your Advisor - Anneka Shaver
Learn all about USAC Program Advisor, Anneka!
Where did you study abroad?
I studied abroad for a semester in Lyon, France, and returned a year later for a winter internship experience. I’ve since taught English in France (Chalon-sur-Saône and Sainte-Étienne) and South Korea (Busan).
What is your favorite memory from your time abroad?
My favorite memory from my time abroad was my visit to the Erik Satie Museum in Honfleur, France. The last room in the museum featured historical carnival rides which were still in working order and that you were encouraged to experience firsthand. They were so odd and hilarious. I think it’s the time I’ve laughed the hardest in my life!
What is your favorite place you have traveled to and why?
France tops my list of favorite places I’ve traveled to because it feels like a home away from home for me. Especially whenever I return to the cities I’ve lived in, I feel a real sense of connection to the place and the people that can’t be beaten.
What is your funniest travel memory?
My funniest travel memory is a day trip I took with my friends to Geneva during my semester abroad. Our main goal for the day was to take a cable car up Mont Salève. However, we weren’t well-prepared and ended up spending a couple of hours walking through town and into the suburbs trying to find the location of this cable car. During that time, it started to rain, so not only were we lost, but lost in the rain. Thanks to the helpful redirection of several locals on our route, we did arrive! However, the weather had become so terrible that they’d closed the cable car. It sounds like an unideal situation, but we couldn’t stop laughing at our misfortune for the rest of the rainy and windy walk back into town. It was a great relationship-building experience in the end and a real example of how life isn’t about the destination, but the journey. Sometimes, when everything goes wrong, you have the most fun!
If you could go on any USAC program, what would it be and why?
If I could go on any USAC program, I would pick one of our Thailand programs. I’m intrigued by the unique course offerings. The prospect of connecting with the kind people there and exploring the abundant natural beauty of the country is so exciting!
What do you like to do outside of work?
Outside of work, I like to read, write letters, go for nature walks, listen to podcasts, bake, go to the movies, and peruse local bookstores.
What is a weird fact about you?
A weird fact about me is that I love little surprises. I’ll always put a quarter in coin-operated machines for little stickers, figurines, bouncy balls, etc. I’m still a kid at heart.
What’s on your bucket list?
A couple of things on my bucket list include visiting the town in Norway where my family comes from and eating at a Michelin-star restaurant in Lyon!
What’s a meme that describes your life?
