So You Want to Study Abroad...

When you think about studying abroad what are the first things that come to mind?

Some of the most common questions that often come to mind first are:

Where do you want to go?

Will your credits transfer to your home university and how?

How much will it cost?

Where you are you going to stay?

How long do you want to stay?

These are all important questions that must be answered before you study abroad. However there is another question that students and other fellow travels often do not think about or over look. That question is...

How open you are you?

You may be thinking “What do you mean by that question KoMiSa?” or “What does this have to do with studying abroad?” I am so glad you asked. J

When you are in your normal surroundings and in your normal routine you may not be asking yourself or thinking about how open you are. When I say open I mean how willing are you to experience new things, settings, places etc. without judging or rejecting something new and/or different before you allow yourself to learn and explore what’s new and/or different.

Reading and hearing about being in a different place and culture is far different from being in that different place and experiencing the culture firsthand. Doing preliminary research can often be very helpful and give great background information but there in nothing like visiting a new place and being immersed in another culture. There is also a difference between a traveler who is open and a traveler who is closed. Which one are you?

An open traveler:

Tends to experience a new place while exploring and respecting that place for where it is, its culture for what it is, and the people for who they are as the inhabitants of that place.

Examples Include:

·      A willingness to at least learn to say hello, goodbye, thank you, and you’re welcome in the native tongue of the country you plan to visit, or study.

·      Learning the customs of gift giving to those who will be hosting you during your trip.

·      A willingness to meet new people from your host country or other countries that are studying with you.

·      A willingness to take a class, seminar or go on a trip with students who are from the place in which you are studying.

A closed traveler:

Tends to be frustrated when traveling to another country with a different national language and different customs. A closed traveler is not really willing to learn about the culture of the place they are visiting and bring all of the expectations and standards from their own country without taking the culture of the foreign culture into account. Examples include:

·      An unwillingness to try the local food and local reputable restaurants.

·      Easily aggravated if it is difficult to find someone to communicate with while in a country with a different native tongue and/or complaining about someone’s accent if they are able to speak your native language.

·      Constantly talking about and referring to your native country and culture without listening and learning about the country you are traveling in.

·      As a closed student traveler you may only go to class and go back to your residence or only spend time with the students that you came with from your home university instead of taking the opportunity to meet other students from your host country.

It is often that one does not realize that he or she is a closed traveler until one travels away from home and is placed in a new place with a new culture. That is understandable. Once you realize that you are a closed traveler or want to become a more open traveler there are definitely things that you can do open up.

1.Research the country to want to visit/ study in.

·      Use your resources. The internet is a great way to start. Using Google, reading blogs like this one J, and sites such as tripadvisor.com are helpful. You can see what other people think of the place you want to go and find good deals on transportations, restaurants and lodging.

·      Reading books and magazines such as Budget Travel are also another good resource to learn more about the place, the culture and the history.

·      One of my favorites is talking to others who have traveled to where you want to go. They can give you a firsthand tourist and/or student point of view.

·      My most favorite is speaking to a native person from the country you want to study. Former students and my program administrators were really helpful in giving me names of students and professors who were living and teaching at the University of Valencia, Spain where I planned to study the following semester. From that connection I was able to secure a place to live for my spring semester. When I traveled alone to London, my friend put me in contact with her friends in London via email. When I got to London I was able to meet my friend’s friends that I had been emailing the weeks prior. That helped me to feel more comfortable traveling along in a foreign city.

2. Be receptive to new experiences, different ways of doing things, and keep an open mind.

·      Try a new dish that is native of the place you are studying in.

·      Take a tour around the city you are staying in.

·      Ask your administrators, professors, and/or other students for suggestions on where to go and things to do to. They usually have suggestions that you often won’t find online.

·      Be open to meeting new people and making new friends. They can vastly improve your experience abroad. When I made friends in Guadalajara, Mexico and Valencia, Spain I got to travel more, experience authentic meals, went to authentic restaurants, and improved my Spanish. Things I would not have been able to accomplish as successfully if I wasn’t open to making friend with local people. Friends that I still have today.

3. Enjoy the new experience!

·      Have fun

·      Be safe

·      Take lots of pictures and/or journal about the experience

·      Don’t forget to smile.

KoMiSa’s Take Away Thought:

Studying Abroad is not only about taking classes in a different place but it is about being open to all that you can learn from the experience, the culture, the language, and the people. Remember the more open you are to the experience the better the experience you will have.

Happy Travels,

KoMiSa