Lessons from the Study Abroad Cycle

According to the an IES Alumni Survey, 95 percent of respondents stated that study abroad has had a lasting impact on their world view. In addition to personal development, alumni responded that study abroad increased academic attainment, cultural development and career impact.

As noted by a reader of this blog, “Once a person travels abroad they are a changed person. They can’t avoid being broadened.” I couldn’t agree with this more. After spending two weeks in Spain, I came home changed. Some of the changes were noticeable such as fashion choices inspired by European style, casual references to sangria or adorning my dorm room with Spanish memorabilia. Other things were not so obvious. As part of my program, I was required to write a reflection paper upon return to school. After completing this paper, I had realized some things about myself: I was comfortable navigating a foreign country by myself, I was capable of overcoming language barriers and I really developed an appreciation for European culture.

There seems to be a cycle to study abroad. I am in the post study abroad infatuation phase. An article in The Massachusetts Daily Collegian describes this cycle of excitement, homesickness, invigoration and longing to return upon arrival home.

“Something not often discussed is the affection that one often develops for the country in which they study. Superficially, students fill their rooms with memorabilia and the country becomes the focal point of many conversations after they return. However this all points to the fact that the country has become a part of their identity.”

This article chronicles a former study abroad student’s journey back to his study abroad destination, Buenos Aires, by planning a volunteer program to make a positive difference in a place he had grown to love. “Buenos Aires felt demystified, and its warts stood out more prominently than before. I anticipated a series of epiphanies, but I found food that didn’t taste as fresh as the first time I had it, winding streets that didn’t hold any more mysteries, and volunteer work that felt futile.”

This reality is sad. I choose to take his experience as a lesson. With so many places in the world, revisiting my study abroad location should not be my priority. By exploring more corners of the globe, I will be further broadened – an exciting prospect! For now I will hold on lovingly to my fond memories of Spain, and if I choose to return someday, I will have the opportunity to form new opinions that hopefully will not put a damper on my study abroad experience.

Learning to Live in London: An Interview with Jordan

This semester two of my good friends from high school are interning and living abroad in London. Jordan and Brad are both juniors at Washington University in St. Louis. Now with Facebook I am able to stay connected with Jordan and Brad through chat, messages and looking through their pictures. Last week I talked to Jordan about his experience abroad so far.

Christine: Why did you decide to study abroad?
Jordan: My older cousin studied abroad in London and said it was amazing. I've always thought it would be really fun, especially since my school is pretty lame. Additionally, my program puts me into a full-time internship, so it's really good work experience and looks really good on my resume. Finally, unless I end up working here, this is pretty much my best chance to get to live outside of the United States. I wanted to see how the other half lives.

Christine: Why did you pick London?
Jordan: I chose London because it's the only location I could go abroad through my school that didn't have a language requirement. To go to Spain (where I wanted to go initially), I would have had to have taken a ton of Spanish, and the language courses at my school leave room to be improved.

Christine: What have you enjoyed most about your experience so far?
Jordan: I really like being in the middle of a big city. I grew up in the suburbs (Langhorne, Pa.) and go to school in the suburban area on the western border of St. Louis, so being in a major city like London has been both unique and entertaining.

Christine: Have you faced any challenges (homesickness, language barriers, cultural barriers)?
Jordan: For the most part I haven't had to deal with any of the above. Once a day, I get involved in some sort of tiff with co-workers about some sort of America vs. England cultural difference, but it has never been an actual issue.

Christine: Do you have any funny stories you want to share?
Jordan: My roommate looks a lot like Jason Biggs, the star of American Pie. We went to a small bar in Prague where the 5 locals who were there only spoke Czech, and as soon as we got in they started laughing. We couldn't figure out what was so funny until one of them wiggled their pointer finger around and started saying "Where's your apple pie?" I'm glad to know that even Eastern Europeans benefit from the finer points of American culture.

Christine: What have you learned so far while abroad?
Jordan: Most of the things that I've learned relate to living in a big city (stand up on trains if you are drunk late at night, because if you sit down you'll fall asleep and end up in the suburbs 2 hours outside of London with no way to get back since the tube stops running at 12:30 a.m. and it's now 2:00 a.m. and you have to be up for work at 7:30 a.m.), understanding cultural differences and general life lessons (sometimes you are just as tired after going to bed at 11:30 a.m. and waking up at 7:30 a.m. as you are if you go to bed at 3:30 a.m. and wake up at 7:30 a.m...so go to sleep at 3:30 a.m.).

Thanks for taking the time for the interview and for allowing me to use pictures from your Facebook, Jordan! Enjoy the rest of the semester!

Destination Profile: The United Kingdom

The United Kingdom consists of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Population: 61.9 million

Capital: London

Major language: English

Number of U.S. students who studied abroad in U.K. during 2008/2009 academic year: 31,342

Popular cities with study abroad programs: London, England; Oxford, England; Brighton, England; Edinburgh, Scotland; Glasgow, Scotland; Belfast, Northern Ireland

What to see

Below are some of the most notable tourist spots in the respective countries of the United Kingdom. Many programs include day trips to see cultural and historical spots. Find out what you might experience!

England

Stonehenge: While still widely misunderstood, this nation icon is a must-see. Some have claimed the site was built to serve as a temple. Others believe it relates to the prehistoric calendar, and still others think it was a burial site.

London: Many of the quintessential sites of England are located in London such as Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace and Shakespeare’s Globe Theater.

Bath: The roman baths, museums and theaters in this town, located 97 miles outside of London, are rich in early history.

Cotswolds: The beauty of the 500-600 year old limestone towns and villages in this part of England make it a frequently toured destination.

Stratford Upon Avon: William Shakespeare’s hometown will provide a glimpse of life during the time of the poet and dramatist.

Scotland

Loch Ness: Looking for a day full of mystery? This is one of Scotland’s most visited destinations because people yearn to catch a glimpse of the Loch Ness monster.

Edinburgh castle: The location of this castle on a rock has history tracing back 3,000 years. It was the royal castle during the Middle Ages.

Glencoe: This area of Scotland is surrounded by mountains on all sides and full of history.

Melrose Abbey: This first Cistercian abbey in Scotland was established in 1136 but destroyed by 1385 by Richard II's of England army. The ruins are still a tourist attraction.

Wales

Some of the most visited places in Wales include castles (Cardiff Castle, Conwy Castle and Harlech Castle). The coast of Wales includes many beautiful beaches such as in St. David’s, Llandudno and Gower Pennisula. Brecon Beacons National Park is one of the top inland tourist destinations.

Northern Ireland

Ulster museum: This museum boasts to be “Northern Ireland’s treasure house of the past and present.”

Marble Arch Caves: This underground system of rivers, waterfalls and chambers can be explored by foot or boat.

Down Cathedral: It is believed that Saint Patrick lies buried here.

Giant’s Causeway: This collection of basalt columns formed from volcanic activity is often called the Eighth Wonder of the World.

With all these exciting choices, how will you decide?!

Lafayette College Offers First Program to North Korea

While I still deeply foster my Lehigh pride, I guess I should applaud Lafayette for their study abroad accomplishment: They are offering the first for-credit American study abroad experience to North Korea.

This summer a group of Lafayette students, accompanied by two assistant professors, will travel to North Korea, South Korea and China, where they will spend five days each. The purpose of the trip is to “gain an understanding of the history and politics within East Asia since 1945 and examine how the countries’ contemporary politics, economies, and cultures fit into an increasingly interconnected world,” according to a Lafayette news release.

“Due to the political climate in North Korea, a number of precautions have been put in place to secure a safe learning environment for the students. All students must have their visas and proper documentation in order to participate. At any time the North Korea portion of the course can be cancelled and the Chinese and South Korean portions extended.”

While the country may not be completely stable, this is a great opportunity to broaden students’ opportunities and personal views. This is quite a unique experience for these Lehigh Valley students to partake in.

On an unrelated note, just because it’s Lafayette.

U.S. Universities Cancel Programs to Japan

In light of recent events in Japan, numerous U.S. universities have canceled their programs to Japan or relocated students who had begun their travels or studies. These schools include the University of California and California State University, Boston University, Notre Dame, George Washington and the University of Pittsburgh.

The main reason for these cancelations revolves around the safety of students. Many of the students were preparing to leave for their programs in late March. The universities will work with students to possibly refund programs and accommodate credit hours needed in order to graduate. The universities will also be monitoring the state of Japan in order to determine when their programs can begin to travel to Japan again.  

Top Study Abroad Destinations

As mentioned in yesterday’s blog post, study abroad is slightly increasing across the nation, as reported by more than 3,000 universities. Where are all these students going? Here is a list of the 25 most traveled to countries for academic credit by American students.

1.       United Kingdom

2.       Italy

3.       Spain

4.       France

5.       China

6.       Australia

7.       Germany

8.       Mexico

9.       Ireland

10.   Costa Rica

11.   Japan

12.   Argentina

13.   South Africa

14.   Czech Republic

15.   Greece

16.   Chile

17.   Ecuador

18.   Austria

19.   Brazil

20.   New Zealand

21.   India

22.   Netherlands

23.   Denmark

24.   Peru

25.   South Korea

Where will you go?

STAY TUNED! Over the next few weeks, my blog will feature in depth looks at the five top countries: United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, France and China. Plus I will be conducting interviews with students who are currently studying abroad in those places or did study abroad there. Check back to read about their successes, challenges, funny stories and tips!

Open Doors Data Shows Trends in U.S. Study Abroad

As part of the Open Doors Data, the Institute of International Education conducted research through more than 3,000 institutions regarding international students studying in the U.S. and U.S. students studying in foreign countries.

The 2010 study found that study abroad rose by 0.8 percent with more than half of the universities surveyed reporting an increase in study abroad enrollment. While enrollment increased, the type of programs differed: More students chose shorter, less expensive trips to less expensive areas of the world. Study abroad to China increased in 54 percent of schools.

As stated in the press release, “Allan E. Goodman, President and CEO of the Institute of International Education, said, ‘International experience provides key skills needed by American graduates to succeed in the global workforce. From this survey, it is clear that U.S. students continue to be deeply interested in studying abroad, and that students and campuses are working together to find ways to enable them to take part in these important opportunities. As educators our challenge remains one of making international a part of what it means to become educated.’"

In these tough economic times, universities face the problem of providing sufficient financial aid to provide these opportunities to students in hopes of further increasing the reach of study abroad.

Spring Break Visit Shows Difference Between Short-term and Semester Programs

Returning to classes and homework is always rough after spring break. I went home and relaxed with my family. You would think that being caught up on sleep and school work would provide for a stress-free reentry – nope! For people that went on vacation for spring break, getting back into the swing of things must be even harder.

Over break, Allie Einsidler visited six friends studying abroad in Barcelona, the second largest city in Spain. Barcelona, a coastal city, was founded by Romans and has maintained its historic Gothic center. Many students choose to study abroad in Barcelona for its Mediterranean influences. According to the Open Doors 2010 Fast Fact sheet, Spain is the third most traveled to country of U.S. study abroad students.

Allie had the opportunity to study abroad in Paris over the summer and had a great time. While she misses her friends abroad this semester and is jealous of them, she said her short Spanish visit taught her about semester-long programs: “While visiting my friends abroad, I realized that being away for an entire semester is a huge commitment that takes a lot of courage. I was proud of my girlfriends for seeing how independent they were and how well they carried themselves.”

While studying abroad for an entire semester can seem scary, Allie advices, “Studying abroad is an incredible experience, and if you do have the opportunity to do it, then definitely take advantage of it!”

Spring Break Offers Chance to Visit Abroad Friends

Today was the last day of classes before spring break. While some students like me are going home to relax, some students are traveling. Many plan trips with their friends to travel together, but others travel alone to meet friends who are already abroad. Lindsey Martin plans to visit friends studying abroad in Spain.

Christine: So what are your plans for spring break?
Lindsey: I am really excited because I am going to Spain to visit two of my friends who are studying abroad there. We are spending two days in Madrid and the rest of the time in Seville. I can’t wait to see them, but I am also really excited to see the culture. Since my friends have been there for awhile now, it will be like having my own personal tour guides. They will know all the highlights for me to see and do.

Christine: Did you study abroad at all?
Lindsey: Because of my school commitments and because I am a class officer, I can’t go abroad for a semester, so I did a summer program. I went to Ireland and interned with a music festival. My program really focused on showing us cultural aspects of Ireland so it wasn’t just about the fun. I am really jealous of my friends that can go abroad for the full semester – that’s why I’m going to visit!

Christine: What did you take away from your experience?
Lindsey: I really enjoyed being introduced to the culture of Ireland. We saw historical things, traditional dancing and social customs. I also made some good friends that I stay in contact with. I’m also visiting one of my friends in Ireland over this break!

Christine: What are you most excited about for your spring break trip?
Lindsey: I am so excited to see my friends. I miss them a lot, and it will be really fun to explore Spain with them! I’m only going to be there for a few days, so I want to see everything possible!

Arcadia Leads the Nation in Study Abroad

If the map of study abroad opportunities of Lehigh Valley colleges and universities did not yield what you are looking for in terms of programs, maybe you should try exploring Arcadia University’s offerings. Arcadia was ranked first in the nation in undergraduate participation in study abroad in 2010 at 132.2 percent.

While Arcadia offers fewer programs than Lehigh, Arcadia attributes its popularity of study abroad to the Preview program, a faculty-led spring break trip for freshmen to get a taste of study abroad.  This trip, which costs $495, is designed to get students excited about further study abroad opportunities.

According to an Arcadia press release, “’It’s no accident that we have this distinction,’ says Arcadia University President Jerry Greiner. ‘We have intentionally set out to make the world our classroom, to prepare the leaders of tomorrow for a rapidly changing global marketplace.’”

This is such a cool opportunity for students that obviously does make them excited about studying abroad. I never thought I wanted to study abroad for a full semester because that seemed so long, but after my two week trip, I wanted to extend my stay. As more universities look to expand study abroad, I wouldn’t be surprised if we start seeing more programs of similar nature.