Studying the Arts Through Experiences Abroad

My sister has been Irish dancing for 13 years. Although she went to college this year and could not dance with her dance school, they still asked her to come back and perform in the show yesterday. As I watched my sister gracefully dance on stage, I was reminded of our first night in Ireland when my sister had the opportunity to dance on stage at the Abbey Tavern.

About four years ago, my sister’s Irish dance school organized a trip to Ireland so the girls could see true Ireland so the girls could see true Irish culture and even cooler – dance there! (Lucky for me, the trip was designed for families to tag along!) My sister’s dance teacher was born in Ireland, and her parents still are very close to family and friends there. By having native tour guides, we were able to go off the beaten path and experience real local color.

My sister returned home from Ireland with a vibrant passion for Irish dance and Irish culture. It was so exciting for her to see dancers in Ireland perform in the Saint Patrick’s Day parade. It was even more thrilling for her to have gotten the chance to dance alongside a local Dublin band and Irish dancers from Ireland at the Abbey Tavern. Through observing and absorbing the true culture of Ireland, my sister has gained an increased appreciation of the talent, devotion and beauty of Irish dancers, which has led to improvements in her own dancing. While this may not have been traditional study abroad, the first-hand experiences she had taught her more about the arts of Ireland than reading from a textbook could since it ignited her passion for all things Irish.

Start Preparing for Study Abroad This Summer

So school has been out for a few weeks at this point, and I’m sure the last thing you want to think about is homework. The truth of the matter is, summer is the perfect time to do your study abroad homework. You aren’t stressed or busy with school, and you have all documents (social security card, passport) at your disposal. You can leisurely research destinations and fill out your paperwork. So if you are considering going abroad, consider this your summer homework as assigned by me.

1.       Research places to go. Check out the Links section to the right or your school’s study abroad website to get started.

2.       Once you have selected a place, check to see if the paperwork is available. For my study abroad trip to Spain with Lehigh University, there was a reduced cost incentive to submitting the application by a certain date.

3.       Make sure your passport has not expired. If you don’t have one yet, apply for one as the process can take some time.

4.       Toward the end of the summer, set up a meeting with your school’s study abroad office to verify that everything is on track.

Being Completely Open to Experiences Abroad

For three days I have been without a cell phone. I feel completely isolated from the world, which is silly because I go to work every day, drive two hours a day and interact with my family at home, I am just a normal product of this technological age – a girl ATTACHED to her cell phone. Aside from these three days, the only times I have been completely devoid of my cell phone in the past eight years were my trips to Ireland and France.

During my trips I am so busy seeing anything and everything, I don’t think about my cell phone much. Not having a U.S. cell phone abroad is a good thing for me. For one it eliminates embarrassing myself like this. It also forces me to be completely involved in what I am seeing, doing and learning – an experience I have to fully soak up because with all the places in the world, I may only be in that given place once. Probably most importantly it eliminates one more American thing about me.

I love being American, but unfortunately we have a bad reputation for thinking we are entitled abroad. I do love constantly connected to my microcosm of the universe, but by temporarily discarding my habits, I can be open to other ways of life. I make an effort to try things because you can’t know you don’t like it until you try it.

While the experiences abroad are exciting, what is sometimes more rewarding are the changes back home. Going abroad with a completely open mind allows for broadening of horizons and views. The subconscious shift from viewing everything abroad through an American lens to coming home and seeing things differently because of your experiences abroad is magical, beautiful.

Study abroad comes at the perfect time. College is when people really start to discover themselves. Studying abroad changed me and taught me so many things about myself in such a short time. Although I am in my early 20s with many more experiences ahead of me and still much to learn about myself, I know that my experiences abroad will continue to shape who I become.

Self Created Study Abroad Program (Also Known As Vacation)

Like any kid I’ve always enjoyed summer vacation. This summer as I am on the cusp of not being a kid anymore, I have a science journalism/communications internship with Johnson & Johnson (an opportunity I am REALLY thrilled to have). As my summer consists mainly of the hustle and bustle of the 9-5, I think I will appreciate my vacation to Italy as I have never appreciated a vacation before.

My family and I have had several planning sessions to ensure that we fit in everything everyone wants to see in Florence, Rome and Tuscany. While I am not studying abroad in the sense that I will not be taking classes, I still consider travel a form of study abroad. I will be visiting museums to gain an appreciation of the evolution of art and culture in Italy. I will be shopping in local markets and dining in authentic restaurants to truly learn the Italian way. I think learning and understanding the history of a place leads to more astute observations of the present day situation. This is what I strive to do in order to fully absorb the Italian experience. While this is supposed to be my time for relaxation this summer, I doubt I will be doing much of that. We will be running around trying to do everything possible – and that’s the way I want it!

Do you think the cast of the Jersey Shore (who have been causing trouble in Florence) will want to join me on the cultural adventure?

Twitter Helps Students Abroad Stay Connected

One of my best friends is on a short term study abroad trip to Prague. She has been tweeting updates about what she’s doing and seeing (which is making me really jealous!). Being fairly new to Twitter, I didn’t have an account on any of my abroad experiences, but seeing Brittany’s use of it during her trip made me realize just how valuable it can be as a means of staying in touch with family and friends.

In Spain I found it difficult to communicate with my family and friends in the U.S. Because my cell phone carrier is Verizon, my phone did not function overseas. I did end up purchasing a pre-paid cell phone in Spain to communicate with the other students on my trip. It only cost about 20 Euros. I also brought my iPod Touch with me, and this is mainly how I talked to my family and friends. Many hotels offer free WiFi, and even restaurants offer WiFi with purchase of an item. I was able to log into my e-mail and Facebook accounts to send messages home.

Eventually I did buy a pre-paid phone card, the cheapest way to call home (I think 5 or 10 Euros for 50 minutes of talking time). Finding public telephones was easy, too. The problems I did encounter included finding a mutually convenient time to call on account of schedules and time zones, not being able to talk very long because I was using public telephones, not having long periods of free time to talk and not being able to commit to the next time I would call. These problems could partly be remedied by Twitter.

By tweeting multiple times a day, people would know where I was and how I was doing no matter what time they check my profile. The 140 character limit is perfect for on-the-go travelers who don’t have much time for longer updates in the hustle and bustle of the day. The fast, instant nature of Twitter could also help in finding a time to call. As many smartphones notify users of an @ mention, sending a “hey are you free?” tweet could provided an instant response to inform if you should/could call. As more and more forms of media spring up, it is easier to stay in touch abroad, at home – anywhere!

Cancelations Could Disrupt Flights Home From Study Abroad

Because of ash from the Grimsvotn volcano in Iceland, thousands of passengers have had flights from Scotland and northern England canceled Tuesday. According to an article in The Australian, British Airways, easyJet, Aer Lingus, Ryanair, KLM and Loganair canceled flights into and out of Edinburgh and Glasgow, but these cancelations are not as significant as those from the last volcanic eruption.

As started in an article from Gulf News, “‘Airlines will not suffer the same magnitude of revenue loss as they did last year in volcanic ash. Last year’s closure of almost all European airspace for nearly a week was the biggest shutdown in modern aviation history. This year we are not seeing anything like the same shutdown,’ an IATA spokesperson told Gulf News.”

Despite the fact that officials are confident that cancelations will not continue to disrupt travel plans, it does create some last minute stress as study abroad students are returning home. My friend Marissa has been studying in Scotland all semester and is scheduled to return home Friday. While I am sure leaving is bittersweet, I hope Marissa doesn’t run into any problems leaving Scotland. I bet Marissa would enjoy some extra days studying abroad, but I don’t think being frustrated in the airport would be the perfect end to her semester. Let’s hope the flight cancelations do not continue.

The Perfect Phrasebook for College Students Studying Abroad

Last summer before I went to Paris, I was chosen as the family member that would learn French. I turned to Rosetta Stone to help me learn the basics. While I did learn numbers and how to conjugate verbs, I had one complaint: I wasn’t learning the need-to-know phrases (as I didn’t have time to make it through the whole program).

I could say “the blue car” or “the man fell” or “the horse walks,” but I didn’t learn many phrases that tourists need to know. Two Dartmouth seniors, Dan Hochman and Mike Lewis, ran into the same problems with traditional phrasebooks. According to an article in The Dartmouth, “‘We were in Florence, Italy, for sophomore Spring and we had a bunch of standard phrasebooks, but we didn’t want to use any of the phrases in there,’ Hochman said.

“Their resources provided “irrelevant” phrases including ‘Where can I get diapers?’ so the pair decided to create a book that catered specifically to the needs of college students, he said.”

Their book titled “Can We Swim Here (Naked)?: The College Student’s Phrasebook for Having Fun” includes phrases translated into French, Italian and Spanish. The phrases are categorized into six chapters: “Eat,” “Sleep,” “Daytime Fun,” “Nighttime Fun,” “No Fun,” and “The Basics.”

This book is the perfect resource for a student going abroad. The phrases were translated by native speakers and are phonetically spelled out to facilitate learning. As this phrasebook is pocket-sized, it is easy to carry so that students’ will always have the means of saying exactly what they want despite language barriers. So if you know a student going abroad, think about visiting Barnes and Noble to buy them (or yourself) a departure gift that you know they will enjoy and really use!

Advice From Former Study Abroad Students

Are you still on the fence about whether you should study abroad? Are you scared?

Throughout the semester we heard from various students about their study abroad trips. Most of them are already home and missing their semesters abroad. Based on their experiences, they all agree that if you are considering studying abroad, you should! Hear some more of their advice!

Jordan: Absolutely do it. Find friends to go with you so that you have travel buddies. Plan trips far in advance so that you save money. Lock up your passport in hostels, and take advantage of not yet being in the working world.

Aubrey: My advice would be to explore all of your options and make sure you choose the program that fits you best. I think I was successful in doing this. My program suits my lifestyle very well, and it makes living in a different country a lot easier. I know plenty of people who didn't really choose well or went to a specific place because their boyfriend or their friends were going there, and a lot of times that just doesn't work. I think that studying abroad should be about your personal experience, and you should have the opportunities to do exactly what you want to do. I would also say that if you're going to study abroad, you need to be aware of where your important things are at all times (wallet, passport, cell phone, etc.). I know so many people who have had Blackberrys and credit cards stolen, and getting it straightened out is really just a nightmare. As long as you're careful, you'll avoid most problems and have the time of your life!

Ally: Definitely study abroad, however if there is an option to go spring of sophomore year or fall of junior year choose one of those. Spring of junior year is tricky because all of your friends that are seniors will be graduated when you get back and you will be a senior. You also miss out on a lot of your friends’ 21st birthday parties. Don’t go with a bunch of people you know, but it’s nice to know one or two people even if they aren’t your good friends.

Marco: Do it. It’s the best time you'll have. A bunch of my friends from Lehigh and other schools all said, they didn’t want to miss spring at -insert school here- because it’s so much fun and so-and-so happens. That so-and-so will happen year after year. You can go back as an alumnus and still experience it, but you'll never get the opportunity to "study" abroad again. I put study in quotes because the classes here are really not hard at all, and most of the time I’m out enjoying myself, not doing work like at school. Also, when you’re in a different country, immerse yourself: try the food, try to speak the language. It’s amazing how nice people are to me when I speak in Spanish, even when I’m wrong, they laugh and try to help me because they see I’m trying. Try new things because you may like something you never knew you did (like food or going out so late that you get breakfast with your friends before going home to bed since its already 8 a.m.)

Megan: I would definitely encourage students to study abroad if they have the opportunity in their college curriculums. Advice…keep an open mind at all times!

Alexis: My advice for any student wanting to study abroad is not to hesitate and do it!  Pick a country you do not think you'll have another opportunity to go and don't worry about language or cultural barriers.  Studying abroad is proving to be the most amazing, worthwhile, and valuable experience I have ever had and I am looking forward to the months that lie ahead.  I would encourage every student who has the opportunity to study abroad to take it and make the most of it.

Learning Through Language Barriers in China: An Interview with Alexis

My roommate from the past three semesters decided to study abroad in China this past semester, leaving me with a single. Alexis chose to study abroad in China because she wanted to explore a part of the world she thought she wouldn’t have another opportunity to see.

Christine: Why did you decide to study abroad?

Alexis: As a Global Studies major, I was required to study abroad for one semester or for a summer or winter session.  I chose to study for an entire semester because I felt that by spending four months in a country I would gain a better understanding of and greater appreciation for the culture and language of my chosen country.  Also, I always had a desire to travel and I wanted to experience a different way of life to broaden my horizons.

Christine: Why did you pick China?
Alexis: In many of the Global Studies courses, we would frequently compare the United States with China and discuss the important role of China past and present in international relations.  I wanted to experience first-hand the culture of Chinese society and infrastructure of Chinese business.   China is a very powerful country with a rapidly growing economy and thousands of years of history.  It has beautiful scenery and exquisite architecture.  I chose Shanghai because, as a city, it embodies the characteristics of globalization and is becoming a global city with plenty to offer.

Christine: What have you enjoyed most about your experience so far?
Alexis: My trip has been filled with nothing but positive experiences, and I have been truly enjoying every minute of studying abroad.  I live in a residential area complete with local charm and delicious Shanghainese dishes.  Every person I meet – from shop keepers to servers to people on the street – is very friendly and eager to help me improve my Chinese along with my knowledge of local culture.  Shopping at markets is a lot of fun especially when you are able to successfully bargain down the price.  Even simply exploring downtown Shanghai proves to be an adventure filled with exciting experiences and breath-taking views.

Christine: Have you faced any challenges (homesickness, language barriers, cultural barriers)?
Alexis:  The main challenge I face is definitely the language barrier.  Sometimes just trying to order dinner is a daunting task.  Hopefully with my intensive Chinese classes and the patience of the people in Shanghai, the language barrier will not seem like such a challenge in a month or two.  There are many cultural differences between the United States and China, however, they seem less and less apparent the more time I spend interacting with local residents and students.

Christine: Do you have any funny stories to share?
Alexis:  For me almost any interaction with local people has an amusing ending.  They frequently laugh at my attempt to speak to them in Chinese (but their laughter is almost always them laughing with me not at me) and it usually ends in me having to do charades in order for them to at least partially understand my requests.

Christine: What have you learned so far?
Alexis:  I have learned a lot about basic living in Shanghai such as navigating my way around the city and local customs.  Some things that are different from the U.S. are that you do not tip any server, bar tender, taxi driver etc. and that as a pedestrian you absolutely do not have the right of way even if the walk sign is green.

Because the school system is different than in the U.S., Alexis is still studying abroad. She will be home June 19, so hopefully she has some adventures in China still ahead of her!

Destination Profile: China

China is the fifth most chosen study abroad destination by U.S. students (and our last country profile for the semester).

Population: 1.35 billion

Capital: Beijing

Major language: Mandarin Chinese

Number of U.S. students who studied abroad in China during 2008/2009 academic year: 13,674

Popular cities with study abroad programs: Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Qingdao

What to see

Beijing: This capital city offers students and visitors a view of historic China. Visits to the Forbidden City, China’s best preserved imperial palace; the Temple of Heaven, and the Ming Tombs offer rich history. One of the most notable attractions is the Great Wall of China.  Also don’t forget to check out some new aspects of Beijing such as the Olympic sites.

Shanghai: Many visitors flock to the Bund, a part of the city famous for its architecture along the Huangpu River.  Another famous architectural site includes the Oriental Pearl TV Tower in Pudong Park. In addition to cutting-edge modern culture, you can find remnants of old China such as at the Yu Yuan Garden.

Hong Kong: The Sik Sik Yuen Wong Tai Sin Temple is a beautiful, traditional temple that many visitors frequent. The Victoria Peak offers a complete view of the city and the harbor. Other popular places to visit include Hong Kong Island, the Kowloon Peninsula and the outlying islands such as Lantau Island.

Qingdao: One of the most important symbols in Qingdoa is the Zhan Bridge. Many other outdoor attractions include the First Bathing Beach; the Golden Sand Beach; Ten Thousand Country Architecture Garden, which features scenic paths and the former home of Chiang Kai-shek; and Mt. Laoshan, which holds significance in Taoism.

Although Melissa will be studying in Shanghai, she plans to take weekend trips to see attractions in other cities. With so much to offer, I am sure she will have a great trip!

Students' Motivation Behind Short-term Study Abroad Programs

Over winter break this year I participated in a short-term study abroad trip to Spain. I signed up with a friend at the beginning of our fall semester, and then I attended an information session meeting about two weeks before the deadline. I was the only one in the group of 20 students who had already signed up for the trip.

As the program was faculty-led, it was designed for 16 students, and there were only five spots remaining. The study abroad office and the professor accompanying the trip were baffled. This Lehigh in Spain program had never been so popular. To accommodate the high demand, the program was expanded to 18 students.

Of the 18 students, we all had different reasons for joining the trip: some were Spanish minors looking to gain credit to fulfill that minor, some just wanted to go abroad (like me), some needed extra credits to graduate, and some were too constricted by their academic requirements to go abroad any other time.

Melissa is a rising senior with me at Lehigh. With her major requirements she has not been able to study abroad for a full semester, so she decided to participate in the Lehigh in Shanghai program. She said, “I really wanted to go abroad at some point during my college career though, so a six-week program is perfect for me.

“With the Lehigh in Shanghai program, we start off with two weeks of culture courses and basic language courses. Then for the last four weeks, we work at a Chinese company with a job related to our major and professional interests. The program is designed to give students work experience in an international setting.”

Melissa is excited to see the sights of Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong, but she is more excited to live and work in a new, different culture. She said, “I hope to learn how to work in an unfamiliar company setting, and I hope to make connections with the international company where I am placed. Learning how to adjust to a foreign setting and how to make relationships with different types of people are important life skills that I hope to gain this summer.”

Short-term Study Abroad Programs Have Increased in Popularity

According to an IES press release, enrollment in short-term, faculty-led programs has increased 71 percent in the past three years. This rise in short-term program participation was also noted in a previous post about the 2010 Open Doors Data.

IES Abroad collaborates with universities to create study abroad programs.

As stated in the press release, “‘As American college and university campuses increasingly look to short-term, faculty-led programs to augment their international education offerings, they often do so with no additional funds to increase the staff needed to manage these programs. These schools are realizing that collaborating with IES Abroad allows them to expand program offerings while also gaining the supportive services and expertise of a known provider of study abroad programs,’ said P.J. Shoulders, director of the IES Abroad Customized Program department.”

Some of the benefits of IES Abroad Customized Program designed trips include expertise in subjects and geographic regions, organization of meaningful field trips, student support services and the creation of marketing campaigns to inform students of the trip offerings.

As summer is upon us, many students will be participating in short-term programs. While these include many added costs to the college experience, students, parents and universities alike realize the non monetary value of study abroad.

As U.S. Department of State Issues Alert, Keep The Safety of Those Abroad in Your Thoughts

In his speech to the American public last night regarding the death of Osama bin Laden, President Obama said, “And his death does not mark the end of our effort. There's no doubt that al Qaeda will continue to pursue attacks against us. We must and we will remain vigilant at home and abroad.”

On May 1, the U.S. Department of State issued a world-wide alert: “The U.S. Department of State alerts U.S. citizens traveling and residing abroad to the enhanced potential for anti-American violence given recent counter-terrorism activity in Pakistan.”

In these uncertain times, while we may be celebrating, we must remember to keep safety and attentiveness top priorities here and abroad. Keep those who are studying abroad, traveling abroad and living abroad in your thoughts.

College Limits the Use of Financial Aid for Study Abroad

In an attempt to balance its budget, Mills College will not be allowing students to use Mills-funded scholarships, loans or work-study awards toward study abroad.

Students will still be able to use federal money and other private institution scholarships to pay for study abroad.

As stated in an article in the school’s newspaper, The Campanil, “‘My understanding is that when a student goes away on study abroad, they pay tuition to the institution they are going to and Mills get’s nothing,’ Nickel said in an email. ‘So for Mills to give institutional financial aid to the student to help cover that tuition cost, it means we are losing money on the transaction, we have negative net revenue.’”

In these tough economic times, there is already a strain on many families and individuals to pay for university education, let alone study abroad. While the “Economic Impact Survey” conducted on behalf of the Education Abroad Knowledge Community at NAFSA suggests that actual participation rates have not dropped because of the financial crisis, this college-endorsed cut could limit study abroad at Mills.

While the college is trying to better their financial state, this new policy could have detrimental effects on the university’s reputation and enrollment. If students entering college are adamant about studying abroad, they may disregard Mills College from their prospective schools because of the restricted study abroad finances.

Mills claims that study abroad costs less than attending Mills, but this calculation does not include the added expenses of travel. While I understand that study abroad is a luxury (that I have been lucky enough to experience), I think it is a shame that students may have to pass up the opportunity to grow and learn because the college has limited how funds can be used to learn.

My Italy Summer Vacation Plans Despite Amanda Knox Study

At the end of this semester I am faced with a dilemma. I want the next week and few days that I have left at Lehigh to go by quickly because I am tired of school work and studying. At the same time, I don’t want this time to go by quickly because I have friends who are graduating, I will be moving out of my sorority house for good, and I will be a senior (SCARY!).

Despite the fact that I am scared to end my third year as an undergraduate, I am excited for summer. I will be traveling to Italy for about 10 days! According to a study, young Americans see Italy as a less attractive place to study abroad and visit because of the Amanda Knox case.

I am not included in this statistic. I absolutely cannot wait to visit Italy! Because I was not able to study abroad for an extended period of time due to graduation requirements, I take vacations very seriously. I use vacation as a time to squeeze in everything sight, sound, smell, taste and experience possible. This summer I will be absorbing all that Rome, Florence and Tuscany have to offer (yes, that includes lots of gelato!).

From doing research for a previous post, I learned a lot about what I can expect to see in Italy. It is really a shame that students are shying away from this historic and culturally rich country as a study abroad option. While the study suggests that the Amanda Knox case is partly to blame for the decreased attraction to the country, it is important to remember that unknown dangers exist in all situations. Pretty much anything can happen anywhere.

Ask anyone. I am not a risk taker. There comes a point, though, where I have to weigh fear against my passions. I am passionate about traveling, learning new things through experiences and adopting aspects of different cultures into my ways of thinking and acting. I will not let fear stop me from achieving my dreams and broadening my horizons, and you shouldn’t either.

Studying Abroad Promotes Working Abroad Post Graduation

As I sit in the library avoiding one of my 15-page final papers, I am baffled that I am already faced with the end of the semester and another round of finals. When did I become an almost senior?! Where did this semester go?

As much as I am feeling sad about the departure of my junior year of college, my friends who are abroad are even more upset. Not only are they, too, going to be seniors with me, but they also are leaving the cities abroad that they have grown to love. As sad as it is to be leaving these magical cities that have opened so many doors for them, study abroad is not the end.

A recent study suggests that students who studied abroad during their undergraduate years are 15 percentage points more likely to work abroad after graduation. The link between studying abroad and working abroad was difficult to establish as an article from The Chronicle of Higher Education explained: “In other words – I surmise – students who study abroad are more likely to come from backgrounds (affluent homes, well-educated parents) that are also associated with a higher-than-average interest in working in a foreign country later in life. That means it’s hard to tell whether the former activity influenced the latter.”

The study suggests that students return to the foreign cities where they participated in study abroad programs possibly due to the development of skills that are desired in that country, the student’s fascination with the culture or the return to a romantic partner.

Whatever the case may be, as those of you abroad begin preparing for your journeys home, don’t fret. This doesn’t have to be goodbye. This time away from your study abroad location can be a time of reflection and appreciation. It can help you foster a deeper love for the city you have grown to call home. This can make your return that much sweeter.

Study Finds Study Abroad Students Have Higher Graduation Rates and GPAs

Many students and parents have the notion that study abroad is really a semester of no work and just fun. When I talked to classmates who have returned from study abroad, they always complain how hard school is. They say that they didn’t try while overseas and are now struggling with having to study and work hard in classes.

This is not to say that a semester abroad is detrimental to students; it is actually quite the opposite. A recent study from the Georgia Learning Outcomes of Students Studying Abroad Research Initiative found that students who participated in education abroad had higher graduation rates and grade point averages. Students who participated in study abroad had a graduation rate of 49 percent compared to that of 42 percent of peers who did not study abroad. Also study abroad students’ GPAs jumped from 3.24 to 3.30 upon returning to the US, but students who did not study abroad saw a GPA change from 3.03 to 3.06.

According to an article from Western Front Online, “Don Rubin, research director for the group, told Inside Higher Ed News this study is proof that international study does not hinder the academic process in any way.

“’The skeptics of study abroad have always made the argument that it is a distraction from the business of getting educated,’ he said. ‘I think if there’s one take-home message from this research as a whole, it’s that it enhances the quality of learning as reflected in things like G.P.A.’”

It seems that students return home with an improved sense of self and increased motivation. While school may be overwhelming upon return from a semester of seemingly easier work, it is apparent that students are better equipped to handle this pressure and overcome obstacles. This is shown by the improvements in GPA and higher graduation rates. While study abroad can be a semester of fun, it is also a semester of skill acquisition that can improve performance in school and everyday situations.

Practice or Learn French Outside of France

While France is the number four destination for U.S. students studying abroad, France is not the only place to practice or learn the French language. According to Fast Learn Language, there are 136 million French native speakers worldwide. French is the official language of countries in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the Caribbean.

In Europe, French is the official language in France, Belgium, Switzerland, Luxembourg and Monaco. In Africa, French is the official language in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Madagascar, Cameroon, Mali and Rwanda (to name a few). French is also the official language of Lebanon, Haiti and Quebec, Canada.

This goes to show that French is a ubiquitous language. Even if you haven’t taken French throughout your schooling, it is possible to learn French abroad! GoAbroad has a compilation of places to learn French consisting of 182 organizations, which offer 386 language school programs.

So if you are looking to practice your French language skills (or pick some up), think outside the box! As much as I love France, studying abroad in these other places sounds just as enriching and exciting!

Hoping to "Travel" Back to Paris With Movie

While in Paris last summer, my family and I tried our best to attempt the language and assimilate to the cultural practices. This meant that my usual "early bird special" dinner time had to be pushed back until 9 or 10 p.m. So late! During one of our late dinners after a day trip to Normandy, we noticed a lot of commotion on the street. The entire street was being closed off, many people were walking around and large lights were being set up to illuminate the street. During our dinner more and more people began forming a crowd in the area. We started investigating what was going on, and to our surprise, we found out that Woody Allen was shooting a movie steps from where we were eating salad with goat cheese!

The film is titled “Midnight in Paris,” and stars Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams, Marion Cotillard and Carla Bruni, to name a few. The movie will premiere at the Cannes Film Festival and to the general public the same day. According to an article from the Cannes Film Festival’s website, “’Midnight in Paris is a wonderful love letter to Paris,’ declared Festival director Thierry Frémaux. ‘It’s a film in which Woody Allen takes a deeper look at the issues raised in his last films: our relationship with history, art, pleasure and life. His 41st feature reveals once again his inspiration.'"

To me, Paris is the epitome of a city full of history, art, pleasure and life. As a true lover of learning, I take advantage of any opportunity to learn (even when on vacation!) One of my favorite activities in Paris was participating in a walking tour of the Latin Quarter. I loved hearing the stories (both old and new) of the streets I had been casually walking for days. Hearing these things from a native Parisian made them that much more intriguing because she was able to answer our questions and point out things that a guide book would have skipped.

I know that “Midnight in Paris” will remind me of all the fun and culturally-enriching experiences I had during my time in Paris – eating pastries, absorbing views of the beautiful architecture and gaining an appreciation for its rich history by visiting churches, museums and monuments. I am so excited to be transported back (even if only for two hours)!

Learning Culture Through Experience (And Faux Pas): An Interview with Megan

Last year Megan studied abroad in France as a junior. Now as graduation is upon her, she looks back on her study abroad experience as one of the highlights of her college career. See why she liked France so much!

Christine: Why did you decide to study abroad?
Megan: Study abroad is something I always knew I wanted to do as a part of my college experience. Also given my majors, GS and French, an abroad experience seemed necessary and fit right into my schedule.

Christine: Why did you pick France?
Megan: I have really loved the sound of the French language and the French culture: food, music, art…because of this I started taking French in middle school and have continued my studies thus far into my college experience. Knowing the options that we available to me as a Lehigh student of French, Montpellier seemed like the best choice: smaller city, in a part of France I was unfamiliar with, with a unique and lively culture, with great universities. Montpellier seemed like a great choice for what I was looking for.

Christine: What did you enjoy most about your experience?
Megan: Meeting new people from all around the world at my university and having the opportunity to travel around Europe.

Christine: Did you face any challenges (homesickness, language barriers, cultural barriers)?
Megan: Yes, I did, but these challenges only enhanced my experience, allowing me grow as an academic, but also as a person. My host mother and I did not get along very well; she was a very stereotypical Parisian woman; she critiqued my lifestyle, made back handed remarks about me, and constantly debated with me. This experience only helped improve my speaking ability and challenged me to stand up for myself in another language, which is not always easy. I learned to be respectful, but to also challenge her at times. In the end I think she came to respect me more because of this.

Christine: Do you have any funny stories you want to share?
Megan: My friends and I visited Paris for a weekend. Upon visiting the Arc de Triumph, which is surrounded by a massive rotary, my friends and I, not knowing that it was frowned upon, crossed the street to the monument. The police immediately confronted us, telling us that is was illegal to cross the rotary and to walk on this sacred ground. Little did we know how close we were to heading off to a night in prison. As stupid tourists we were uninformed of this and had to spend an hour explaining ourselves to the French police. We convinced them of the misunderstanding and that we were truly sorry.

Christine: What did you learn?
Megan: I learned how to communicate with a variety of different people, overcoming linguist boundaries, depending on the region and generation of the people of whom I was speaking to.

It sounds like you had a great time, Megan! Thanks for your help!

Destination Profile: France

Population: 62.6 million

Capital: Paris

Major language: French

Number of students who studied abroad in France during 2008/2009 academic year: 16,910

Popular cities with study abroad programs: Paris, Aix-en-Provence, Grenoble, Nice

What to see

Paris: Some of the most famous and notable tourist attractions in Paris include climbing the steps of the Eiffel Tower; viewing DaVinci’s “Mona Lisa” at the Louvre Museum; shopping on the Champs-Elysées, where the Tour de France ends; and seeing the gargoyles on Notre Dame Cathedral from the bell tower. In between enjoying pastries, other things to do include visiting the Arc de Triomphe, viewing the stained glass at Sainte-Chapelle and taking a boat ride along the Seine.

Aix-en-Provence: In the hometown of Paul Cézanne, visitors can tour his studio and view artwork at the Altelier Cezanne. The Cathedral of the Holy Savior presents Gothic and Renaissance architecture and dates back to the fifth century. The Sextius Baths are Roman baths that now have a modern spa on site. Other ways to absorb the culture of this area include taking in an opera performance and visiting some of the outdoor markets.

Grenoble: Top attractions here include the Cathedral Notre Dame of Grenoble; La Blanche waterfall; the Vercors mountain; the Saint Laurant Church, famous for its crypt; The Museum of Grenoble, which features masterpieces of classical painting and of 19th-century painting; and the fortress Bastille.

Nice: Being immersed in the hustle and bustle of Promenade des Anglais and the Cours Saleya Flower Market will give visitors a true taste of the French Riviera. Other things to do include taking in a panoramic view of the city from La Chateau, appreciating Matisse’s art in the Matisse Museum and experiencing the Russian influence with Saint Nicholas Church.

With so much beauty and culture, it is no wonder that many students choose to come to France to study abroad. I was only here for a two-week vacation, but I absolutely fell in love with the city of Paris. Maybe you will too!

Passionate and Excited for Opening of Bethlehem Spanish Tapas Restaurant

I never expected traveling to have such an impact on me. Last summer I went to Paris with my family for two weeks. When I first got there the culture shock was enormous – I felt so out of place, I thought I would never grow to like the city, let alone, love it. On the last day my entire family was so sad to be leaving the beautiful city we had so quickly grown to love. I came home passionate about Paris. My favorite bakery at home, What’s for Dessert, starting making macarons, and we started taking weekly trips there to pick up our new favorite dessert. During back-to-school shopping my mom, sister and I could not resist buying notepads and decorations featuring the Eiffel Tower from Pier 1 Imports and Target.

I came back from Spain with just as much passion. While browsing the website of Lehigh’s student newspaper, The Brown and White, I found an article about a Spanish tapas restaurant opening in Bethlehem. I am so excited to be able to feel a sense of Spanish culture in my own backyard! My study abroad trip friends and I still organize lunches and sangria get-togethers. Our two week trip had lasting effects on all of us. The individual growths we all experienced as well as our appreciation for the culture have bonded us. This culture is something we want to continue experiencing. Since it is not practical or feasible to return to Spain yet, it is exciting that we will be able to enjoy food and an atmosphere reminiscent of our trip. No matter how many times we reunite, we still laugh at the same jokes and talk about the same stories. The magic and beauty behind our trip seems to be getting more intense the further away we are from the trip.

Seeing Seville: An Interview with Marco

Just days after I returned home from my study abroad trip to Seville, one of my good friends from both high school and Lehigh embarked on his semester-long study abroad program to Seville. Marco is loving his experiences abroad from living with a host family, to taking weekend trips to other European countries, to immersing himself in the history and culture of Seville. He and I sometimes chat on Facebook and talk about places we both went, experiences we both had, and how (to our surprise) the gossip and silly activities from high school Spanish class actually prepared us to live and survive in a foreign country!

Christine: Why did you decide to study abroad?
Marco: I wanted to study abroad because I’ve taken Spanish for five years in high school and three years in college, and I wanted to actually try and use it. Also, there isn’t really any other time in your life when you can just go to Europe for four or five months and travel around on weekends wherever you want with your friends.

Christine: Why did you pick Spain?
Marco: I picked Spain because I’ve always taken Spanish classes, so it was either Spain or somewhere that speaks English, which would be a lot more boring.  Specifically I picked Seville because it’s a smaller city than Barcelona and Madrid, but it’s still decently sized with so much to do.

Christine: What have you enjoyed the most about your experience so far?
Marco: I’ve enjoyed seeing all the different cultures of everywhere I’ve been. Southern Spain is so different from Madrid, which is so different from Barcelona. Also, after a trip to Paris I realized that was a completely different culture as well – just the way people interact, what they do in their spare time, as well as the different types of food they eat.

Christine: Have you faced any challenges (homesickness, language barriers, cultural barriers)?
Marco: Every day at lunch and dinner the challenge I face is figuring out what I’m eating. luckily, I’ll eat anything, so I like it all. But I ask my host mom what it is, and she rattles off some Spanish name and some Spanish ingredients that I don’t know because I’ve never learned half the food words. So I just say, “Ohhh sí, sí” and eat it, clueless as to what it is. One day I looked it up afterwards – it was pig’s cheek!

Christine: Do you have any funny stories you want to share?
Marco: Our orientation group taught our guide and his best friend a few things about America, like how to pound and be 'bros' so now when we see them they say (in a weird Spanish accent), “What’s up, bro?” It’s hilarious.

Christine: What have you learned?
Marco: I’ve learned a lot about food; I can look at a menu now and know what everything is (quite the accomplishment since I didn’t even know the word for menu when I got here)! Also I’ve learned about the culture here: how it’s not normal to say yes please or no thank you. It’s just yes or no. When you say por favor (please) or gracias (thank you) you get weird looks. Also, when ordering at bars here, they all speak to one another with commands, which would be considered rude in the U.S.

Thanks for sharing your experience, Marco! Enjoy the rest of the semester in Seville! (Check back in a few days to read about some exciting news in Bethlehem.)

Destination Profile: Spain

Population: 45 million

Capital: Madrid

Major languages: Spanish (Castilian), Catalan and its variant Valencian, Gallego (Galician), Euskera (Basque)

Number of students who studied abroad in Spain during 2008/2009 academic year: 24,169

Popular cities with study abroad programs: Madrid, Barcelona, Seville and Granada

What to see

Madrid: The capital of Spain offers a variety of bustling plazas, museums and historical landmarks. The Paseo del Prado, Puerto del Sol, Plaza Mayor and Plaza Oriente offer views of contemporary Spain in historical contexts. Museums display many famous masterpieces such as Vélazquez’s “Las Meninas” in El Prado Museum and Picasso’s “Guernica” in the Reina Sofia Museum. Another top attraction is the Royal Palace, the former house of the royal family that was modeled after Versailles.

Barcelona: The Plaça de Catalunya is the one of the most crowded streets and is connected to La Rambla, which is always busy with street performers and kiosks. The Cathedral is located in the heart of the city, the gothic district. The Montjuïc is a hill with many things to see from the 1929 International Exhibition and the 1992 Olympics.

Seville: One of the most famous attractions of Seville is the Plaza de Toros, the bullring. My favorite attraction in Seville was the Cathedral and Giralda tower. Another favorite activity of mine was getting lost in the gardens of the Alcazar, the royal palace. The Plaza de España in the Maria Luisa Park has many buildings from the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929. Flamenco shows are also popular here.

Granada: The most famous attraction here is the Alhambra, the most characteristic example of Islamic architecture in Spain. At Alhambra, Generalife was the palace of rest and boasts amazing gardens and the Albaicin neighborhood is the oldest section of Granada. Other attractions include the Cathedral and Royal Chapel and the museum Casa de los Tiros.

Spain (specifically Seville) is where I did my study abroad trip (so I may be lightly biased), but this is a country you cannot pass up!

The Social and Personal Benefits of Study Abroad Writing: An Interview with Corielle

The other day I came across an article about the benefits of travel writing for study abroad students. The article lists six reasons as to why travel writing is ideal for students abroad. The most attractive of these reasons include possible monetary compensation with a flexible schedule, writing improvements and the compilation of a portfolio or diary to remember the experiences of being abroad.

In keeping with the Italian theme, one of my sorority sisters studied abroad in Rome during the fall semester. While she was there she wrote for a newspaper in her hometown of Chicago. Although she was not paid for her weekly column, the personal benefits and improvements she experienced far outweigh any monetary compensation she could have received. Listen to hear Corielle’s experience!

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