LOS ANGELES — Last week, IU Semester in LA students flew into weather quite different than that of Indiana.
Just over two weeks ago marked the start of the Los Angeles wildfires, the first starting in the Pacific Palisades and another near Pasadena only hours later.
Right as the fires started to make national headlines, IU Semester in LA students were expected to be in the city for the start of their program.
But with the wildfires, many students were left wondering whether LA would be a safe place to stay for the semester.
For IU junior Josie Broyles and 20 other Media School students, the Semester in LA program opens opportunities for media-related classes and internships, as well as touring a city known for its iconic landmarks.
"It was like, oh my gosh, we're in this new city, in this new situation, and even the LA locals are telling us its never been this bad," Broyles said.
But with the wildfires, students couldn’t accomplish the tourist activities they had planned.
"It doesn't feel a lot like an abroad program, where 'oh my gosh, we're here, we're having so much fun,'” Broyles said. “It's almost like, 'you're here. Be happy that you're here because you could've, like, hopped on a plane back home.'"
IU junior Shelby Brown said one of the most difficult parts of the situation was being alone.
"It was just very scary, like, going to a new area by myself, having to figure everything out so suddenly," Brown said.
Both Broyles and Brown said this situation has opened their eyes to the good that can come from tragedy.
“You can also see the good in people,” Brown said. “People are coming together to help one another, so that's really, really nice to see."
Brown said she and Broyles plan to spend some of their time in LA volunteering as an effort to give back to people who lost much more than just a travel experience.
