More Obama news to share! College students wishing to study abroad and church groups may soon be able to travel to Cuba to participate in new programs. Under President Clinton’s administration these conditions also existed, but in 2004 President Bush tightened restrictions, limiting travel to Cuba.
As a result of the president’s announcement to ease travel restrictions for study abroad, many universities are preparing to implement programs to study Spanish and possibly global health in Cuba.
This is a great opportunity for students to see another country in the world. The only problem: It further complicates the decision about where to study abroad by adding another possibility! Choosing the place to study abroad is just one decision students are faced with when they decide to study abroad. Other things to consider include whether to go abroad for a full semester or for a shorter time such as a summer or winter program like the one I participated in. If you decide to go for a semester, the next choice is whether to go in the fall or spring semester. For Lehigh students, is it possible to miss the Lehigh-Laf game?!
These may seem like trivial questions to ask yourself, but going abroad is a big decision. It’s almost like being a freshman all over again. No friends. Unfamiliar environment. Living (further) away from family. Scary! To make things even scarier, this time you may have to cope with a language barrier.
The unknown is always feared in any situation. Although these scary conditions associated with study abroad exist, they should not be reasons to stay home. Instead of thinking about the scary, think of the exciting. The prospects of making new friends, learning new cultures and traditions, and being independent are all aspects of study abroad that should outweigh fears.
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