On Studying Abroad

An obligatory photo with a red telephone booth in London.

by Jessica Chan

“Study abroad” – a selling point for colleges, and a phrase which promises adventure.  Here, I shall discuss what I consider to be beneficial aspects of being a student in a foreign country, primarily elicited from my experience of studying in Austria for a semester.

The glorious Salzburg Alps!

·         You are in a new environment.  Transitions and changes often call for growth, allowing you to gain perspective from doing things you wouldn’t normally do.  Figuring out how to manage, surrounded by a foreign language, can be challenging, but you will figure out how to do public transport, hostels, restaurants, shopping, and things of the like, all the while building friendships from these shared, often somewhat embarrassing experiences.

·         Travel is made easy!  Perhaps this should go without saying, but weekend trips during your time abroad are rather accessible.  A three hour drive can have you across two neighboring countries, in a rich culture very different from the one a half hour drive away.  Flights are fairly inexpensive, and such trips are prime opportunities to visit landmarks of history you have always been curious about – be it Paris, Rome, Salzburg, Berlin or Budapest. 

·         Immersion in culture.  Certain travel abroad programs have students taking classes in a language other than English while being housed with a host family.  While this may be somewhat intimidating, it is an excellent opportunity to be humbled and to learn in depth of the language, traditions, and culture of the people around you.  It will be uncomfortable, but it will add meaning to your time and prompt growth.

·         Learning from a different point of view.  In other words, learning European history from a European point of view with classmates from Europe will lead to discussions quite different from those had with a different set of people.  Additionally, the effects of history on the development of cultures and tensions among countries can be seen with better clarity.  This clarity can form your perspective, and can even be brought back and applied to develop your views of social issues and the like.

·         It is a time to be personally driven!  Many study abroad programs offer a less structured set of classes to choose from, allowing you to pursue studies which may be less intense and not directly related to your major.  Instead of being career or academically driven, you have the freedom of studying for the sake of knowledge and understanding, and also to strive for personal growth.  I encourage you to do just this: to truly dedicate yourself to your studies, and also to relentlessly pursue experiences which offer the potential to develop personally.

Lastly, studying abroad may sound like the perfect actualization of your wanderlust, so how financially feasible is it?  Many schools allow students to apply scholarship and financial aid towards studying abroad, and there are often additional scholarships that one can apply for.  If not, though, or if your particular school does not offer a program of its own, many European schools have programs where foreign students may study on their campus for a semester or year, at a price comparable to or less than that of an American university.  Whatever the cost may be, though, remember that it is an incredible, unique experience, which may very well invaluably shape your character for years to come!