Lang spent two weeks studying abroad in Italy

Montana Lang, a civil engineering major from Philadelphia, was one of 45 Mississippi State students who attended the 2024 interdisciplinary Global Game Changers study abroad trip to Italy in June.

Lang, entering her second term of her master’s program, will graduate in May. She departed for Italy on June 8 and spent over two weeks there, returning home on June 24.

Participants ventured through Milan, the Amalfi Coast, Florence and ended the trip in Rome. Students from six of the university's nine colleges traveled abroad with customized itineraries specific to their field of study, meeting daily to enjoy broader cultural activities as a group.

“The class I took over there was a business class, but my master’s program is technical marketing of civil engineering, so I take a few MBA classes mixed in with civil engineering classes,” she said. “When I was over there a lot of the business talked about how engineering was one of the most crucial parts of their jobs, so I got to see both aspects during the trip.”

Lang also creates promotional videos for the Richard A. Rula School of Civil & Environmental Engineering at MSU. During her trip, she spoke with various business owners, including the owner of the top-rated restaurant Al Aqua 2 in Florence.

“His restaurant was styled to where everybody who came got a sample. Everyone got six different dishes to share instead of just ordering one meal,” Lang said. “He cooks differently too and always put fruit with his steaks, but he studied different cultures throughout history, like what Kings and Queens would eat.”

Lang said the highlights of her trip included visiting the Roman Colosseum, the scenic coast of Tuscany, the fashion in Milan, and the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

Faculty advisors from MSU's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, College of Architecture, Art and Design, Bagley College of Engineering and College of Business include Gallery Director Lori Neuenfeldt, Assistant Teaching Professor Aswathy Rai, Lecturer Rachel Woodward, Associate Professor Harish Chander, Assistant Professor Erik Markin and former MSU Associate Professor Charles Freeman, who coordinated and hosted the study abroad trip.

"This is a life changing trip for students. They can study abroad with their peers from campus who soon turn into friends and see sights that you maybe wouldn't be able to see as a regular tourist. Many of my students come back from these trips saying it changed their perspective on everything in life," said Freeman, the trip's faculty lead.

“My professor, Dr. Erik Markin, was great,” Lang said. “He made sure all of our classes were early in the mornings so we could venture out on our own later in the afternoon and was really encouraging, too. One of the girls I met had her birthday during the trip and he told us what restaurant to eat at and sent us a cake. They were all great and would find ways for us to do stuff together.”

Lang said she met many people who became friends, especially during afternoons at the beach and evenings when they hung out and explored together.

“When you’re gone that long and forced to live with people, you all learn how to live with one another,” she said. “As the trip went on, we all became best friends, and we even talked about how we were scared at first about being in a foreign place with people we didn’t know.”

Lang and a few friends she made in Italy even took a beach trip together on July 4 after they returned home. She said the trip also opened up new possibilities for her future.

“The Leaning Tower of Pisa is a marvel for civil engineering and how many different engineers work there, so it piqued my interest if I ever wanted to go back,” Lang said. 

Lang’s advice to others considering studying abroad is to simply just do it.

“I think it’s one of the best things I’ve done in college, and I would’ve regretted not doing it now that I know how great the program was,” Lang said. “I felt very safe and comfortable the whole time and made a lot of friends. Now I feel confident in myself to travel more.”

Lang left Italy inspired to explore other countries’ infrastructures, which she plans to incorporate into her future career in civil engineering. She said she might even study abroad again if she decides to pursue a doctorate degree next.

She is the daughter of Dr. Monty and Michelle Lang.