Focus on Study Abroad, Student Writing Contest Winners and Educational Travel

Breaking with every college plan I had previously imagined for myself, I decided at the end of my freshman year that, to get the most out my college experience, I really wanted to study abroad as a sophomore. At Stanford University, we have a remarkable study abroad program with 11 foreign campuses, including two in Spanish-speaking countries: one in Santiago, Chile and the other in Madrid, Spain. Wanting an opportunity to improve my Spanish, which was not getting as much use as I wanted in college, and drawn to the opportunity to live and travel in Europe, I chose to apply to the program at Madrid. Because Stanford is on the quarter system, ten weeks in Spain seemed too short of a time to fully appreciate the experience, so I ultimately chose to study abroad for both the winter and spring quarters of my sophomore year. With half of my experience now under my belt, I would like to provide some words of advice on how to approach your own time studying abroad in Madrid...

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Over the past century, Buddhism has insinuated itself into the cultural currency of America and the West at-large. It is invoked as the guiding faith of personalities as actor Richard Gere, Los Angeles Lakers Coach Phil Jackson (dubbed the "Zen Master") and, in his recent public apology, golfer Tiger Woods. It is evoked in the glowing smile of the Dalai Lama, the images of monks protesting in Burma, and the self-help section of our bookstores. It has been described as richly philosophical, strongly ethical and scientific in its intellectual rigor; both an alternative religion and an alternative to religion. But really, what is this phenomenon known as 'Buddhism?'...

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During the first few weeks of studying at the London School of Economics, the phrase I heard the most was: "If you don't understand this concept, you should quit the class." Though this advice may seem unnecessarily intimidating, I believe it describes the LSE experience fairly well.

As a world-class institution, the London School of Economics and Political Science features bright and well-informed students, distinguished professors, and generally tough yet interesting courses. Of course, the LSE is much more than just academics. In the nine months I spent there, I fell in love with its wonderful central location, the extremely diverse social scene, and with life in London...

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...One of the many great things about WorldTeach is that they require a 3-week orientation when you arrive in your country of service. This time was invaluable to me and so helpful in my transition to life abroad. We discussed teaching techniques, went on field trips to learn more about the area of Thailand where we would be living, and bonded as a team of foreigners who came together to travel, teach, and enjoy life in rural Thailand. Among the issues we discussed in depth were patterns in culture shock and how we could recognize them...

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...You essentially need to know that teaching abroad is no vacation or year off. It is an incredibly rewarding experience; but, nonetheless, extremely challenging. The most important point for you to remember about teaching abroad is to expect the unexpected. I cannot tell you what your experience will be like, but I can tell you to be wary of cultural norms and to do your best to thrive in a completely new environment. Let go of your anxieties and predispositions and fulfill your original plan of learning and growing by giving back to the world. The Marshall Islands is a developing nation, and like many others in the world, this means you will possibly go without water, electricity, or amenities for days or weeks at a time; always keep in mind the reason that you originally signed up to teach abroad and grow...

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...Since returning to the U.S., I have realized how valuable international experience is to a job search in any field. Foreign experience sets your resume apart. Conversely, I have realized how valuable a native English speaker is abroad. Everyone wants to learn English. I mixed Buenos Aires' culture with my own, and it has only yielded positive benefits to my worldly understanding, my job search, and my social network...

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...Malta was a great choice for me as an undergraduate because I had never been abroad before. I was fascinated with their Arabic-based language, though relieved that English is also an official language and all courses at the University of Malta are taught in English. It is also an interesting place to study journalism, given its location and the influences of North Africa and Western Europe. I found my international journalism courses at the University of Malta to be incredibly challenging and rewarding. I also took culture and history courses and signed on for a service-learning experience that changed my life in ways I could not have imagined before I arrived...

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...American students often chose to live on campus in order to immerse themselves in the study abroad experience. However, I found that living in the actual city of Newcastle provided a more complete immersion into Aussie culture. Most of the Americans I knew who lived at the university, quite naturally, hung out with other Americans. Yet I believe that part of the personal growth and journey of living abroad is to leave one's natural comfort zones behind. In living off-campus I was able to make friends with my neighbors, including the Aussies who were renting apartments around us and quickly became friends...

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...Druk Yul, the "Kingdom of the Thunder Dragon," otherwise known to the Western world as Bhutan, is a small country the size of Switzerland with approximately 700,000 inhabitants. It is the last surviving Himalayan Buddhist country, and it sits above India and below China, with Nepal not too far off to the West. Until just a few decades ago Bhutan was a very isolated country, closed off from the rest of the world and uninterested in international politics. In 1971 Bhutan joined the United Nations, entering the world community. Hiram College offers countless study abroad opportunities for students. Three and a half years ago, I sat in my Freshman writing course listening to our teacher's assistant describe her magical, life-changing experience in Bhutan, a small country none of us had ever heard of. After seeing her photographs and listening to her stories, I knew I had to go to Bhutan. That opportunity presented itself during the fall of 2009...

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...One weekend we decided to take a break from the city madness and escape to Siwa Oasis, a 7-hour drive from Cairo. We spent our days sand boarding down giant sand dunes, pruning ourselves in bubbling hot springs, and absorbing the magic of Bedouin camps. Sitting on a sand dune one evening, I watched as the sun burned orange and purple into the dunes as it retired for the night. I looked out across the hundreds of miles of desert surrounding me, and knew that this was a perfect moment...

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I chose to study in Prague for a slightly different reason; the Czech author Milan Kundera changed my life. And I wanted to see for myself the political, geographical, and cultural conditions that inspired Kundera’s novel — and my literary Bible — The Unbearable Lightness of Being, which is deeply set in this region. And after living in Prague for a semester, I can understand why this novel works, and could only work, here...

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...One of the most interesting aspects of the SIT program is that we had the resources of the University of Ghana at our fingertips, but we were able to travel with the program directors' guidance. We had the opportunity to stay with three different families in three areas: Accra, Kumasi, and a small village approximately two hours away from Kumasi. For one month after our three consecutive home stays, we traveled with the group from Kumasi to Tamale for a week of lectures and a weekend stay at Mole National Park. From Tamale, we traveled through Ghana to Cape Coast, the capital of Ghana prior to Accra, for just over a week. Finally we traveled to the Volta region and then back to Accra for our final 1-month independent research period. The program gave all 15 students freedom to experience Ghanaian culture independently but at the same time a structure to enable these experiences...

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...The year before, as a sophomore in college, I somehow decided that I wanted to make study abroad a reality. When my roommate randomly sent me a link for a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) certificate program through Kent State University, I began to research in earnest. I had just recently switched my major to sociology, but was also very interested in English teaching overseas. While there are many programs that offer TEFL certificates in record time, I wanted something that would give me college credit and be more comprehensive than what a four-week program could ever promise. As it turned out, the website my roommate sent to me proved the best option..

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...As a "Visiting Student," you are also allowed to visit the other colleges and halls free of charge (most tourists have to pay a couple of pounds to get in, if the college allows visitors at all). Because Oxford is such an old city, its buildings are beautiful and full of historical significance. They have seen the likes of Oscar Wilde, John Locke, Albert Einstein, and countless other brilliant minds. To walk through the same halls, eat at the same pubs, and even walk on the same stones as they did was an experience I never tired of, even after nine months...

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After consulting countless volunteer programs all throughout South America, I chose Road2Argentina for several reasons. First, it was the flexibility of the program. While many placements listed on teachabroad.com, for example, require a long-term commitment or have rigid program dates, Road2Argentina is entirely flexible-you choose the start, end, and duration of your program...

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Founded in 1977 by Dr. Clayton Allen Hubbs, Transitions Abroad magazine was the only print publication dedicated to work, study, living, volunteering, and immersion travel abroad. Its purpose — in print and now as a Webzine — is the dissemination of practical information leading to a greater understanding of other cultures through direct participation in the daily life of the host community.