Peace and prosperity around the world depend on people thinking and working together globally and interculturally. As technology opens borders, educational and professional exchange opens minds.
In late 2005, the U.S. Senate, by unanimous vote, declared 2006 "The Year of Study Abroad." The resolution's purpose was to help state and higher education organizations increase participation in study abroad programs by encouraging students to consider study abroad an essential educational experience. The ultimate goal: to increase global literacy, cultural understanding, and the foreign language skills of U.S. students.
The resolution hopes to encourage more than 1 million U.S. students to study abroad in the next 10 years. To this end, it's established the Abraham Lincoln Study Abroad Fellowship Program. This program reflects the demographics of the undergraduate population; ensures that an increasing portion of study abroad takes place in nontraditional destinations; and is accessible by students at two-year, historically black, and other diverse types of institutions.
Many colleges and universities have active study abroad programs in place, and there are many organizations that assist students with scholarships and opportunities. For example, the Institute of International Education (IIE) is one of the world's largest and most experienced international education and training organizations. More than 18,000 men and women from 175 nations participate in IIE programs each year.
Directors of study abroad programs and faculty at colleges and universities agree that students who travel return to campus enriched in many ways. The students have a positive impact in the classroom and on the campus by bringing their broadened perspectives and experiences into discussions.
Asked what influences students to study abroad, Dr. Jennifer Lund of Agnes Scott College responds: "Many factors--self-motivation, friends, a desire to travel, faculty, academic major, pursuit of other language skills, desire to understand others, taking a break from the U.S. on-cam pus reality, a sense of adventure, challenge, just plain fun, and a desire to make a difference in the world." She notes that these students show quite a bit of altruism, and that interest in service learning is growing.
We asked students from campuses large and small; public and private; who have traveled, studied, and worked all over the world to share their experiences.
Dianna Kane
Graduate student
Fordham University
Bronx, NY
Capetown, South Africa
I went to a country with a long history of racial segregation and social and economic oppression, and one that is currently carrying the heaviest burden of HIV infections in the world. I volunteered at Baphumelele Children's Home in a black township. The statistics on poverty and disease are pretty shocking, but they don't usually stick with us as long as a single face will. I only really "got it" when the global AIDS pandemic was renamed Lizeka, Akhona, and Okhule, just three of the thousands of children orphaned by this terrible scourge.
I returned to America unnerved but inspired. My thoughts were constantly wandering back to South Africa. After finishing my undergraduate degree, I returned to pursue a masters degree in HIV/AIDS & Society and continue my work with the children's home. I now work with a second children's home, and with an initiative to build houses for poor families. My passion and commitment to resolving the HIV/ AIDS crisis comes from these experiences, and from these wonderful children who need us to care. I feel an enormous responsibility to my global community and realize that I can be an active member in this world and relate to people irrespective of nationality, gender, or race.
Pablo Thaler
Dickinson College
Carlisle, PA
Italy and China
The memories I hold most dearly involve the great people I met. I aced my first oral exam in an Italian university, in Italian. I learned how to cook and love Italian food. In China, I learned how to just eat the food in front of me, no questions asked. Often puzzled by the Cantonese language, I discovered how kind the people of Hong Kong could be to strangers.
One of the greatest things about this experience is the opportunity to look at yourself and reinvent who you are. I've become stronger, more tolerant, mature, adaptable, and flexible. I now see subtleties that I would have missed before. And I can live with being a little lost, a little uncomfortable, or a bit on edge. I have learned to listen more, think more, and let the world spin at its own pace.
Jonathan Angus
St. Lawrence University
Canton, NY
Kenya, Africa
The educational value of studying abroad exceeded my expectations. While examining the Kenyan culture and environment, I visited rural and agricultural home-stays. My classmates and I climbed baobab trees with the Hadzabe tribe in Northern Tanzania and studied at the Masai Center in the shadow of Mount Kilimanjaro. My trip culminated in a month-long independent study, during which I traveled throughout Kenya, Uganda, Sudan, and Tanzania. I had first-hand encounters with the real-life consequences of global issues.
Michelle Turney
Agnes Scott College
Decatur, GA
Chile, Thailand, and Bolivia
I never would have imagined the tremendous impact that a three-week excursion in Chile could have. My travels led me through the beautiful city of Valparaiso, the urban sophistication of Santiago, and through conversations with people from different organizations about contemporary issues, [and led] to a deeper understanding of the complexities of Chilean society. That trip showed me the value of experiential learning and inspired me to travel again. My interest in HIV/AIDS drew me to volunteer in Thailand during my junior year. While studying at Thammasat University in Bangkok, I worked with an organization that taught monks how to use Buddhism to help people understand the nature of the HIV virus and prevent its spread. This experience also gave me the determination to study public health in a cultural context, as the monks had done.
As a Spanish speaker, I continued my studies in Bolivia, where language was less of a barrier. My memories are with me always and are a constant reminder of my responsibility to help those in need through my future research, field work, and volunteering. I am pursuing a career as a doctor with a masters degreein Public Health.
Heather Campbell
Richmond, the American International University in London, U.K.
In terms of personal growth, attending an international university has given me the opportunity to learn from my professors and my peers and has had a very beneficial affect on me. Studying and living in an international environment with professors and students from around the world has challenged me and altered my perspective as a global citizen. I learn as much outside the classroom as inside, adapting to the multi-dimensional realities of this complex world.
Ian Chinich
Rutgers University
New Brunswick, NJ
Zagreb, Croatia
One of my most memorable experiences was a visit to Kumrovec, the village where Tito grew up. From very humble rural roots, the former Yugoslavian dictator rose to the heights of power in 1945. Although many places in Croatia are now quite cosmopolitan, in Kumrovec the rural culture has been preserved in honor of Tito, who in the eyes of many Croats, had united Yugoslavia for a better standard of living. Most Americans would not understand the sentiments of Croats toward their former Communist dictator, but if they saw the devastation left by the civil war of Yugoslavia, they might change their minds. It 's a sobering reminder of the political consequences of war. My experience has broadened my perspective, enabled me to view the world through a non-Western lens, and deepened my understanding and respect for other cultures.
Jane Judge
Canisius College
Buffalo, NY
Lille, France
Studying abroad has only improved my life. I'm a French major, so France was a logical destination for me. Living in Lille helped me realize how independent I can be, how much I enjoy learning new things, and that it's a lot of fun getting to know people from another culture and teaching them about mine. I wish every student could do it. I'd do it again in a heartbeat.
Crystal Christophe
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA
France and Italy
My first trip, I went to the French Alpine city of Grenoble. I stayed in a student residence and took nine months of intensive French classes. I had no prior knowledge of the French people or their language, besides a few preconceived notions. The people were so kind, the food was exquisite, and the culture delightful. Italy was my next destination, but I planned and prepared with two years of Italian language classes. I lived in Syracuse on the Mediterranean Sea. The natural beauty was surreal, and the people were the most sincere and warmest that I've ever met anywhere. These trips are the highlight of my college career and have convinced me that I eventually want to live in Europe!
Alessa Thomas
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI
Belgium, France, Switzerland, and Italy
I've studied in Brussels, Paris, Geneva, Florence, and Rome in my pursuit to earn a specialization in food science. I was studying international food law, and my program gave me the opportunity to visit the World Trade Organization, the European Union, and the World Health Organization. One of the major benefits of studying abroad is access, as most tourists cannot visit these places.
Traveling overseas allowed me to really appreciate the idea of interdependence and gave me the perspective to understand my role as a global citizen. The experience broadened my perception of what is possible, and of future careers I'd like to consider. The exposure to different governments, traditions, languages, and foods has opened my mind to possibilities I couldn't have imagined before.
Meaghan Gruber
Dickinson College
Carlisle, PA
Madurai, India
One thing I will never forget about living in Madurai was riding my bike to class each morning. I would peddle this little red bike down the road with dust flying everywhere, people walking, scooters and cars swerving all over the place, cows and bullock carts meandering down the streets, no lanes, no lights, and lots of honking. By the time I arrived at class, I felt incredibly alive. That morning routine was definitely more invigorating than the average cup of coffee!
Finally, Dr. Lund, of Agnes Scott College, suggests, "Don't let finances be an obstacle to this experience. There are many creative ways to make it happen, from working and saving over the summer to requesting donations instead of birthday gifts from friends and relatives--for example, give to the 'Ashley to Australia' or 'Mark to Madrid' fund--borrowing money, or applying for more need-based aid and scholarships. You're investing in a college education, and part of that investment can include this life-changing experience. Bon voyage!"
Article courtesy of www.careersandcolleges.com
