Post Program: Study Abroad Takeaways & Post Program Reflection

South Korea: Post program: Study Abroad takeaways and post program reflections, by Natalie Dacey

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Have you considered going abroad again or researching international internships and careers?

Before studying abroad, I only briefly thought about working abroad, but it was never serious. The idea of moving, even temporarily, to a place that was foreign to me seemed very stressful and honestly kind of scared me. After taking the plunge and studying abroad for a full year, I feel far more confident in myself. I explored a completely new country on my own and alongside the friends I made, flew for the first time alone (international no less), and lived in a country where the language and culture are far different from the one I came from. Now that I know what it’s like, I would absolutely love to travel abroad again, and if I get the opportunity to work abroad, that would be even better.

If you studied abroad and spent time with other US students who were also studying abroad, were you experiencing anything unanticipated related to your identity/ies?

Several of the other international students at my host university were from the US. There were students from Idaho, California, Missouri, Maine, and Texas. I believe there was one other, but I forgot to ask what state they were from. One thing that was common amongst the international students was referring to groups of students based on where they were from: the French, the Americans, the Europeans. Whenever several students of the same nationality did something, they were immediately grouped together and referred to as one. And if someone was different, they were excluded. I’ll admit that I did this myself. There was an instance where, because most of the French students preferred to keep to other French and not really interact with the other international students, the one who didn’t was referred to separately (i.e. the French were a bit standoffish except for Justine).

For myself, I am mixed ethnicity, and I found that people recognized that more abroad than they do in the US. Here, people may recognize that I am mixed, but just Caucasian and something. In South Korea, more people recognized that I was Caucasian and Asian. I don’t know if that was because I was in an Asian country and the comparison, despite not being the correct ethnicity, helped with that, it was interesting that more people realized.

This may be the first time you lived abroad as a guest in another country—a country for which you may or may not have citizenship. How did it feel to be “the foreigner”?

I don’t really have any particular feelings about being “the foreigner” other than being from the US being part of what people knew me by – I was one of the Americans. There were also instances where we would get looks because we weren’t Korean, especially by older Koreans. We even nicknamed it “the old man stare,” since a lot of the time it was elderly men taking walks that would stare as you walked past. It wasn’t annoyed though, more like staring at someone that you thought was out-of-place or just a little odd to see them there. Most people though didn’t really bat an eye and understood if we had trouble understanding something. I also understood the few who did stare, as the host university wasn’t in Seoul, where foreigners are a more common sight.

Japan: Post Program – Ethan McConkey

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Structure

I struggled greatly with how to organize my thoughts in this final post. In the end, I have decided that I will be answering some of the questions proposed in the prompts as written. I wanted to come up with something more creative, maybe some kind of timeline or something, but everything resulted in a messy string of words that seemed to do the opposite of my goal; to inform those who come after me. I’ve also included a section where I reflect on some of my travel experiences, in hopes of inspiring others to try their hand at some of the things I’ve done.

What were some of your biggest takeaways from your international experience?

I think my absolute biggest takeaway from my time abroad is that it is really important that people make efforts to educate themselves about countries and cultures that are different from theirs, as I think it can be a very eye-opening thing. Being able to escape the vacuum of your own culture and see it through a new lens really helps to make you a more well-informed and independent person, in my experience.

What advice would you pass along to other interested students considering studying abroad?

This isn’t really advice, more so just something that I wish more people knew, but studying abroad can be affordable for many people. I never would have thought I could afford to study abroad, no matter how much I wanted to, but in reality, with a bit of help from people around me (and financial aid), it was very affordable.

Is there anything you would do or plan differently based on your experience?

I wish I would’ve put myself out there a bit sooner. While I did end up meeting a great group of friends, it took me a while to adjust and move beyond the one or two people I met within my first few days. It can take a lot to put yourself out there, but I implore anyone studying abroad to make an effort to do so!

Have you considered going abroad again or researching international internships and careers?

I have wanted to teach English abroad for a long time, and spending time in Japan has made it all the clearer to me that Japan is the country I would most like to teach in. However, being able to meet people from different countries I may have never considered before has opened my eyes to some other opportunities. Namely, Taiwan. I was able to make a few Taiwanese friends, and now that I have been introduced to the wonderful culture and people of the country, I would really like to go there someday, even if it just ends up being for travel.

We have multiple identities that cross the boundaries of race, gender, sexuality, class, age, ethnicity, religion, ability, veteran status, citizenship, and more. Describe your experience exploring identity in your host community.

Japan is a country almost notorious for its rules, and its “the nail that sticks out gets hammered down” approach to individuality. However, I wouldn’t say that this reputation is necessarily true. Of course, my sample size mostly consisted of people included those specifically attending an international school, so perhaps it isn’t a good reflection of the population as a whole (I mean, I can only do so much) but I met many people at my school and throughout the country who broke the mold of traditionalism and who lived happily as truly themselves.

This may be the first time you lived abroad as a guest in another country—a country for which you may or may not have citizenship. How did it feel to be “the foreigner”?

Japan is a very tourist-heavy country, so while the population is nearly 98% ethnically Japanese, being a foreigner isn’t honestly all that uncommon. In my experience, I was often painted a scene that I would stick out in any crowd as the only foreigner, but I only found this true on occasion. Of course once you leave more touristy areas this does become increasingly more true, however, I think speaking some of the language really helps to close this perceived gap.

My best experiences

One thing that wasn’t really on my radar when I started realizing I was actually going to be able to go was one of my biggest interests. If at all possible, I would highly recommend attending a sports game in Japan, or really in any country you find yourself in. It’s a great way to immerse within the local people and share a common ground, especially when the sport you go to watch is niche in the country, in my case I caught a Tohoku Free Blades ice hockey match in Hachinohe City, Aomori Prefecture. It was entirely worth the trip, even if it was a bit out of the way of the main bullet train lines.

The other thing I really highly recommend is actually something I did on my final bit of travel in Tokyo before heading home, and that was going to a concert. I attended メメタァ･ザ･ワールド･フェスティバル 2024 (Memetaa the World Festival 2024) in Shinjuku, Tokyo which consisted of many bands I didn’t know, but also one of my absolute favorites, KALMA. I was incredibly fortunate to be able to see them live, something I may never get the chance to do again, and also got introduced to another great band in the process. I highly recommend catching a concert or a festival if there’s something you’re interested in seeing. Trust me, it will be worth it for the memories!

(Small tip about concerts in Japan; Many are picture and video free! Keep an eye out for signs PERMITTING phone usage during shows, not ones disallowing it! From what I can gather, it is pretty much the standard for it to be disallowed. Speaking from experience!)

Conclusion

Now that studying abroad exists only as something in the past for me, I can’t help but wish to return to the many great moments and great people I had met along the way. I want to sincerely thank everyone who helps the study abroad programs through Western run smoothly, it was truly a life changing experience for me and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

Thank you!

Post Program: Takeaways, Advice, and Reflection, By Anna Hedrick

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Anna

Hi Readers,

I imagined that my previous post would be the final one for my blog, but it turns out that I have a post-program reflection to complete. To contextualize, I’ve been participating in WWU’s Travel Writing Program by responding to the writing prompts at each stage of my program. Today, I’ll be discussing some of my main takeaways, advice for other students going abroad, and other reflections.

Key Takeaways

  • Learning happens both inside and outside of the classroom. This is why I decided to study abroad and do service-learning (SL)! I sought to finish my last Spanish elective and fulfilled this requirement at my host university. Also, I was excited to gain hands-on experience outside of the classroom. Doing service-learning (= community service + reflective assignments) was an eye-opening experience, because it allowed me to practice my Spanish with native speakers and lend a hand within the community. My Spanish education had prepared me in terms of grammar, reading, and writing, so I didn’t come to Costa Rica to focus solely on academics. I knew that I would truly benefit from complete immersion gained through SL. Volunteering at the music center played a fundamental role in my personal and professional growth.
  • Costa Rican culture is nuanced and reflects some aspects of U.S. culture. At a surface level, I observed what a tourist might: many Costa Ricans are kind and accommodating. It’s common to smile and exchange small talk while out and about – even with people you don’t know. Also, Costa Rica is known for its biodiversity and ecological sustainability. People are aware of climate issues and take actionable measures to protect the environment. After living in the capital, San José, and traveling to five of the seven provinces, I began to notice the nuances and complexities of the culture.

    For example, Costa Ricans (“ticos”) are more flexible when it comes to time; they take their time, are patient, and adopt a slower-paced lifestyle. When I discussed this topic with my host mom, who’s lived in both the U.S. and Costa Rica, she felt that life is more fast-paced and productivity-driven in the U.S. While abroad in Costa Rica, I often felt restless when nothing was scheduled, and became impatient when things weren’t happening “on-time”. However, I gradually embraced “tico time” and learned to be more patient with others.
  • Another observation is Costa Ricans’ fascination with the U.S. Walking around the city, you’ll see shops called “Ropa Americana”, which are second-hand stores advertising “American Clothing”. Also, when I first arrived in Costa Rica, I noticed that many chain companies – Starbucks, Subway, malls with Nike and American Eagle, were everywhere. It seemed that facets of U.S. culture (capitalism) were unescapable in Costa Rica. Adapting to social and cultural norms was an integral part of my time abroad.
Can you guess what this store is inspired by?

Advice for those interested in studying abroad

Consider your priorities and trust yourself. Before studying abroad, you’ll probably have many questions about where to study, what to study, how to finance your trip, etc. The planning and logistical aspects can be stressful and overwhelming, and you may not know where to start. I recommend considering your priorities for studying abroad. Do you want to fulfill your GURs or major requirements? Is there a country that’s on your travel bucket-list? Do you want to intern, volunteer, or do service-learning? Make a list of your main goals, and what you hope to get out of your study abroad experience. Creating a list of goals can help you decide on a program. And if you’re indecisive (like me), remembering the specific reasons you want to study/intern/volunteer abroad will serve as a compass and help guide you. It’s OK to listen to the advice of others, but ultimately, it’s your experience abroad and trusting yourself – throughout the entire process – is important.

That feeling when a butterfly lands on you, and you know you made the right decision to study abroad.

Other thoughts…

In hindsight, something I might have done differently is stayed longer! I went to Costa Rica during winter quarter (early January through mid-March), and while this was a good amount of time, I would have ideally traveled for the whole semester. In my study abroad program, there were students from other universities that use the semester system. When I departed Costa Rica, the other students still had several weeks left of their program. It was difficult to leave knowing that my friends were continuing their study abroad programs, while mine had ended. Since I’m already in my fourth year at WWU, I do not have time to study abroad again. However, studying abroad has ignited a passion for international travel; I’m open to the idea of interning, volunteering, and/or pursuing an international career in the future. I plan to pay it forward by continuing to volunteer in the Bellingham and Whatcom community.

My last walk in Parque la Paz. 3-15-2024.

Navigating Emotions & Identity Abroad

While in Costa Rica, I experienced a whirlwind of emotions, which is I recognize is normal. In the months leading up to departure, I was frantic and stressed with preparing for my journey. When I finally arrived, I began to experience the emotional roller coaster of study abroad. There were high points, low points, and everything in between. For the first couple of weeks, it was hard for me to try new things, and I found myself saying “no” to some rare opportunities. But I gradually began emerging from my shell, and saying “yes” to opportunities. For example, I started lifting at Gym ProSalud, and met with a personal trainer. This helped with my mental and physical health, and allowed me to practice my Spanish with fellow gym-goers. Trying new things and keeping an open mind were core aspects of studying abroad.

Raquel, my trainer at Gym ProSalud, and I after a workout.

At times, I felt like out of place as a visitor from the U.S. I was hyper-aware of how others perceived me, including my appearance and behavior. Also, I felt self-conscious about my American accent when conversing with Costa Ricans. However, I pushed myself to communicate as much as possible, even if I felt anxious. I rehearsed lines in my head, and wrote down words or phrases I intended to use. When Costa Ricans noticed that my friends and I were U.S. tourists, they sometimes switched to speaking in English, and used the word “americanos/as” to refer to us. This surprised me, because throughout my education, I’ve been taught that using the word “americanos” is viewed as U.S.-centric and offensive, because Latin Americans are Americans, as well, not just people from the U.S. However, rarely did I hear the word “estadounidense” (a person from the United States), which is how some Spanish-speakers refer to those from the U.S. I wasn’t exactly sure why Costa Ricans referred to me and other U.S. visitors as “americanos”. I’m wondering if perhaps it has something to do with Costa Ricans’ positive attitude toward the U.S., and the strong influence of U.S. culture in Costa Rica.

Also, as someone female-identifying, I had to adapt to social norms regarding gender. For example, I dressed more conservatively and avoided going out at night. I tried not to make eye contact with people of the opposite sex when walking down the sidewalk, since I was told that any friendly interaction might be misinterpreted as something more. Also, while Costa Rica is mostly LGBT+ friendly, many people still believe in the classification of gender binary. Some of my peers who identified as queer felt misgendered when others used incorrect pronouns or assumed their gender identity. The gender neutral pronoun in Spanish is “elle” (they/them), but I didn’t hear it being used. These circumstances, while not always comfortable, were things that we had to accept with patience and flexibility. Although I experienced some cultural shock, I learned that having an open-mind is what allows you to adapt to the new environment.

To conclude, my study abroad and service-learning experience was memorable, exciting, and meaningful. I achieved my goals of improving my Spanish proficiency, learning about Costa Rican culture and traditions, and engaging with the local community. Most importantly to me, I built meaningful relationships with peers, professors, advisors, and my host family. While not every day was perfect (life isn’t!), and there were numerous challenges, I survived the low moments and came back more resilient. To anyone who is thinking of studying abroad, or is currently studying abroad, my piece of advice is to say “yes” to opportunities that excite you or push you in a good way. Also, it’s okay to say “no” when you’re feeling overwhelmed or overworked; practice following your intuition when faced with a difficult choice or a challenge. You’ve got this! ¡Buen viaje!

Visiting the cloud forests of Monteverde might be my favorite trip I took in Costa Rica.

Last Hurrahs and Coming Home from Japan – by Jade Harding

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Going on Trips while abroad?

By Jade Harding

January 28th, 2024

I’ve talked about how most of my time abroad was spent attending school. Luckily, though, my longer-term program also allowed students to stay in Japan during summer vacation! Like many others, I did my best to make good use of that time, and went on some trips. The best one was going to Kyoto, Osaka and Nara on the other side of the country for just under a week. I think Kyoto is pretty well known even abroad, as one of the largest tourist destinations in the country and a center of traditional architecture with beautiful shrines, temples, cherry trees and markets to explore.

Yasaka-Jinja, Kyoto–Beautiful at night!

Though, I found myself preferring Uji, a just slightly-less known destination right next to the main city of Kyoto known particularly for its green tea, but also housing a wealth of shrines and historic locations. As someone who likes to get slightly away from the more bustling areas, I loved Uji for having both the big attractions like the shopping street next to Byodo-in, and the quieter places like Kōshō-ji (pictured below) where I was able to explore away from the crowds.

興聖寺（Kōshō-ji）, Uji
And of course, don’t forget the Uji Matcha! 上林三入本店 三星園, outside Byodo-in

If anyone reading this is hoping to travel to the Kansai area and has interest in traditional architecture or matcha, I recommend adding Uji to your bucket list!

Packing and Prep — in Reverse

All things must pass, and getting ready to go home was tough in a different way than preparing to leave for Japan. A lot of people have a tougher time packing, due to unavoidable accumulation of Stuff—for Japan in particular, I noticed some folks with exceedingly large volumes of manga and/or crane-game stuffed animals. Unless you came with an empty bag or two, it’s highly probable that you will be leaving with more than you came with. Depending on your budget, it may even be worth planning on bringing an extra bag home, or packing fewer things in the first place that you’ll need to bring back. Having to pack away the items I’d accumulated over my trip was a good moment to look back, but also felt like a kind of closure signaling that the trip was really coming to an end. Depending on the items, it may also be good to post a box home; I sent one full of Japanese-language books, which cost a lot less to get there, even after shipping.

One other note, depending on your program length, it may be necessary to book your returning flight separately from your departing flight. That mainly applies to programs that are half a year or more. It also depends on the specifics of the programs, such as whether you have to arrange airplane tickets in the first place. There could also be some variability in when students return home; in the case of my program you were allowed to stay until the dorm rooms had to be cleared out for the next batch of students, but could leave any time after the semester ended depending on your own circumstances. In my case, I was able to book my departure and return flights together due to knowing the start and end dates well in advance, and therefore took the exact same route in reverse on my way home, after staying at the dorm for as long as I could.

So, I packed my bags, closed my temporary bank account, said my goodbyes, and after half a year took the train back to Narita for the day-long journey home.

Being Home Again

Coming back home has been wonderful. Of course it is just nice to be home, but I also feel a greater appreciation for how different it feels to live here. Climate is one area where home definitely wins, and I was immediately happy to be free of Japan’s sweltering, simmering, stifling summer. However, I can’t help but look back and miss Tokyo. I tried my best to be appreciative of the opportunity I had and spend as much of my time as possible learning and having experiences that I could remember, and I was able to fit in more than I ever expected before leaving. But half a year is hardly enough time to take in the whole of Tokyo, much less an entire country. I hope to return in the not-too distant future if at all possible, both to see more of what Japan has to offer and revisit my favorite places once again.

To borrow the words from a presentation I heard before leaving, expect not to shut up about your time abroad.

What do you miss?

A couple of things I’ve missed since getting home,

Food!

Japanese food is wonderful, and I got used to eating it every day. But sadly, it’s much less common where I live in America, and this was a transition I felt sharply on my return. I hardly craved American food while in Japan, though there were some exceptions (see: maple bars, baked beans). But upon getting home, I wanted nothing more than some miso soup. Since getting back I have been making frequent trips to Asian markets to gather ingredients and learn how to make my favorite dishes. This has been easier than I expected. There are many ingredients like Shiso and various mushrooms common in Japan that are difficult to find, especially fresh. However, I have been able to work around that and slowly introduce those close to me to real Japanese food, from curry to tonkatsu, soba, ramen, croquettes and more. Food is a wonderful thing to bring back, a great way to experience Japan again from home, and a lot of fun!

Using Japanese

A tough thing from coming back from a country that speaks a different language, and getting used to using that language daily, is that inevitably you will have less opportunity to use it. This is difficult if you, like me, want to continue to learn and grow your usage of that language. So, since getting back I have had to continue to be proactive about finding opportunities to use Japanese, as well as returning to my self study, which I mostly abandoned while being surrounded by it and taking actual courses. This is an area that depends on your goals, but I would generally advise finding ways to keep consistently engaging with the language, even if it doesn’t involve speaking. The best way to hold vocabulary in your mind is to hear it every now and then!

And that is the end of my journey. I hope that through my posts here I was able to clear up some expectations about what it is actually like to go abroad, or just convey my own experiences to anyone looking into following a similar path. Thank you to anyone who read along, and well wishes to those who go abroad!

Post Program Epilogue – Prague- by McKenzie Harris

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After four months, I’m back home.

^me with my cat^

It feels so comforting to be back in my old room, to be with my family, and to have a few weeks of unproductive mindless downtime before going back to school. I expected to feel very sad after leaving Prague, and I do miss my friends from UNYP, but I am mostly happy to be home. The glow of all my happy memories from the last few months has kept me feeling grateful, not sad.

This last blog post is what it says in the title—an epilogue, and a reflection on the whole semester abroad.

From WWU’s travel writing program writing prompts:

If I had the chance to go back in time, I would probably do almost everything the same way. I might have tried a little harder to look for an affordable program at Charles University, but my experience at the University of New York in Prague was fine. One thing I could have definitely done better was getting to know people who weren’t studying abroad. Almost all of my friends were only staying in Prague for a semester, and I neglected the chance to talk to full-time students in class. It’s hard to definitively list more things I wish I had done differently, because I know that I did the best I could with the time that I had. Sure, I could have been stricter in my plans and fit more Prague sightseeing into my weeks, but that may have taken away from my ability to be present and spontaneous. I could have spent more time with my friends, but that may have burned up my social battery.

In the future, I would like to travel abroad again. I may not study abroad again, since I graduate after next year, but I think another semi-long-term trip abroad is possible for me (ex: peacecorps). On the other hand, I’ve realized that I really like my home, and I found it hard to be away from my roots. Because of this, studying abroad has shown me that I don’t want to live abroad for a long time period. One semester was the perfect length for me. I know that my experience living abroad for several months will help me in any future trips abroad, and for that I’m grateful.

Main takeaways:

I’ve recorded my biggest takeaways in this blog throughout the semester, so to get their full scope, I’d recommend looking at what I’ve written over the last few months. Here are some of my most notable takeaways that I’ve written about, and where to find them:

Vignettes

One prompt for this post-program post was “What has this experience meant to me?” I think meaning is shown well through memory, so to sort of answer that question, I’ll record some of my favorite memories from this fall.

^ A group of strangers, soon to be friends, stand with me on the walls of Prague castle. We look out over the orange and green expanse of Prague’s skyline, feeling like we have all the time in the world to explore it.

^ My roommates and I walk together in the arched gothic halls of the St. Agnes Convent, in our fanciest outfits, before listening to a string quintet as part of Prague’s Dvořákova festival. Some of us have wine glasses in our hands, and our hushed voices mingle with the clicks of our heels in the echoing rooms.

^ The spired cathedral crowns the hill above us as we follow an overgrown cobblestone path down to the creek. A cat follows us. We’re not in a rush; we have all day to meander through the town of Kutná Hora. For once, the sunlight’s warmth is welcome as we shiver against the first breezes of autumn.

^ I sit with my friend at the edge of a pond, which we found in the midst of a sprawling wooded park. While admiring the light on the water, we gasp as a golden koi drifts out from under the lily pads and glides around us. Once it leaves, we sit for a while longer, talking softly and enjoying the reeds and swaying trees.

^ It’s hard to hear ourselves think over the waves of chatter and laughter flowing across the table at our friendsgiving potluck. But that doesn’t stop us from continuing happy conversations with the people next to us—leaning close to share jokes and loudly compliment every homemade dish. I enjoy Sea’s pasta, and no one can get enough of Todd’s lasagna.

^ After weeks of rehearsal, the school choir that “adopted” me performs our winter concert. My friends (and their friends) take up two full rows of seats, and I feel proud to be sharing our festive music with them. The Czech Museum of Music is built so that every note and chord reverberates through the space, echoing after we finish singing.

^ Captivated, bordering on reverential, I listen to Hozier’s “Cherry Wine.” The whole audience sings along, and our voices are so indistinct that they merge into one. An unspoken connection tethers us all for a moment until the song ends.

^ Reflections of streetlights glisten on the waters of the Vltava as I walk along the bank with my friends. Prague is frosted, and quiet, as if the snow muffles the busy city. A faint fog seems to bring everything closer. We wander around, half believing ourselves to be in Narnia.

Photo Recap

I’ll end this post with some of my favorite pictures from this semester. I’ll make them from most to least recent, just like my Photos page, because that way we can end this blog with the beginning. I always like a good circular ending—don’t you?

From Petřín Hill
I finally found a group of swans!
Snowy Pražský Hrad
Wenceslas Square (Václavské náměstí) in the snow on film
Swan by Charles Bridge
A lot of pictures of Charles Bridge, right? But the light in this one was too good not to include
Pigeon-feeding
Just a normal selfie, but it’s the only picture I have with Barbara and I like it
Bohemian Switzerland National Park (below pic as well)
The tree caught the light just right
Český Krumlov
Cindy taking pictures of Český Krumlov
From Fisherman’s Bastion in Budapest
Statue fountain in Budapest
Hungary’s parliament building
I like that I caught them mid-laugh!
The wall on the hill of Kutná Hora
St. Barbara’s Cathedral, Kutná Hora
The walls next to Prague Castle
On the roof of the Czech National Museum
My favorite park: Grébovka, aka Havlíčkovy sady
Basilica of St. Ludmila at Náměstí Míru
My first glimpse of Prague from the incoming airplane 🙂

Dear reader, thanks for staying with me through this whole post, and for the whole saga of my travels! It means a lot.

Now that we’re officially done: Goodbye Prague! Until next time, na shledanou.

Post Program: Spain “Study Abroad Takeaways and Post Program Reflections” – By Brandon Beyler

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Barcelona

What were some of your biggest takeaways from your international experience?

“Overall, study abroad taught me a lot and has helped frame my future travel adventures, giving me many lessons, insights, and feelings to chase.”

– Brandon Beyler, API Barcelona Fall 2022
  • First, I found that traveling with friends is the best way to go as opposed to traveling solo. Traveling solo can be fun for smaller trips when I needed a tranquil break, but overall, for me, traveling with friends makes it much more enjoyable and worthwhile for a variety of reasons. In general, having friends makes it more fun because you are with the people you get along with, be yourself with and those that you can share all the experiences you encounter with. Also, I found that traveling with friends is always safer because you have people to look out for you and help you if something happens and groups are generally less vulnerable than solo individuals. I found that I encountered more opportunities with friends, and also have more abilities because we were pooling people’s resources, knowledge, and connections. Lastly, being in a group I found that we were more spontaneous and can engage in more adventures and, in the end, make more memories!
  • I learned that it is important to engage myself in the coursework and classes, because there is great information and new understandings there, not the mention the flat-out fun I had in these courses. I learned how important an international respective in academics is. My colleagues and I only having been taught in the US, for the most part, only get the US perspective and it was very refreshing and informative to hear how other countries felt about the US, to hear about the problems that other countries, like Spain, have that we may not be aware of and how their ideas of things like marriage, globalization, capitalism, welfare and the internet are different than ours. Also, I thought professor-student interactions were much very enjoyable and casual during my causes in Spain and created for a fun and engaging atmosphere.
  • I learned that to stay safe while abroad I just have to not be stupid and also be aware of my surroundings. In my experience, I found that the only time when I was a risk of having something stolen from me was when I was stupid or not aware for whatever reason. So, my takeaway is to always be smart and to not do things that I think could put me in a bad or vulnerable situation and be aware of what going on around me.
  • I learned that people are very nice everywhere and that being a white English-speaking American does not really carry any stigma while other countries, although people often tell you it does. I found that if I just put in effort to be respectful generally and respect their language and culture I was not treated differently.
  • I also learned that it is important to manage my money while abroad. Most importantly in this, I realized I need to better financially plan for my weekend and day trips because the train/plane, hotel, and food can add up and it put me in a tight situation later on during my time abroad, so I takeaway that I need to plan better specifical for my out of city trips.

What advice would you pass along to other interested students considering studying abroad?

  • Foremost, study abroad is a great opportunity to try new things and meet new people, so I would tell people to take initiative, try new things and go with the flow, because there is always something happening in the flow.
  • I would suggest making friends early on because it gives you a base friend group that you can do things with. In study abroad you will naturally meet lots of people at the beginning of the semester through your program so make an effort to hang out with them and find the people you like, because this will give you opportunities to explore a lot of new things around the city with them and have a solid group from the rest of the semester, and for life!
  • Make the most of your time because it flies by. It is important to do everything you can because time will seem to move fast during study abroad, and you don’t want to try to cram too much stuff in at the end. You will be busier than you think we all the classes, homework, hanging out with friends and going out, exploring, and all the other stuff like buying stuff you need, making food and eating, and laundry. I would suggest slating out a couple of things you want to try to do outside of the stuff that you are going to do inevitably, like see a park or go to a coastal city an hour away, so that you stay on top of your bucket and to-do list. This doesn’t however mean that you should be going 24/7, let yourself rest and relax so that you feel good but motivate so you don’t sulk in your resting…. that can be done back in the US.
  • Make an effort to speak the native language, even when people respond to you in English. Like I have said earlier it will often happen that when you try to use your Spanish, the Spanish speaker who can speak English will choose to speak in English because they think it will be easier to communicate, but as long as your Spanish ability is functional, try to continue to use it even if they respond in English, its great practice!
  • I would also say try to get involved in different activities that are offered or not offered to you and engage with your classes. For example, my study abroad soccer league was super fun, and I met a lot of people through that. Early on try to sign up for things that will get you out there doing stuff and meeting new people.


Is there anything you would do or plan differently based on your experience?

  • I would try to better plan trips to other places in Europe because it gets expensive when you plan last minute and the planning itself can be taxing when you are busy during study abroad. I didn’t get to travel out of city as much as I wanted to and had I planned a little bit better I could have gone on one or two more trips.
  • If I did study abroad again, I would choose a homestay again, but I would like to be closer to the action. My homestay being far away from the main student apartment and club area made my commute difficult and it made it harder to go out, so I would try to find a homestay that was closer to my friends and the nightlife.
  • I would have tried to learn more Catalan; even though I was thoroughly prepared with my Spanish I wish I learned a little more Catalan because there were people who spoke it in their daily lives in Barcelona that I couldn’t communicate in their borne tung.


Have you considered going abroad again or researching international internships and careers?

  • I have considered going abroad again, and next time I think I would try a different and colder country like Germany or Sweden. I have also thought about trying to find an internship abroad as I think it would be a great opportunity to get some work experience in a different country, which would further broaden my perspectives, especially in the professional sphere.


How do you plan to “pay it forward” to the greater local community?

  • Since Spain has given me such a great international experience, I feel the need to repay them and let them know I apricated my stay.
  • I plan to tell people how great my experience was in Spain and how wonderful my study abroad experience was in general so that more people visit Spain and also might choose Spain as their study abroad destination. I will suggest to people my favorite restaurants, stores, clubs, and areas in Barcelona so that I can help support the local economy of Barcelona. I will also pay it forward by trying to share some of the language, food, and culture of Spain. One thing I want to do is make some Spanish tapas for my friends like that of Spanish tortillas, bread and Manchego cheese, stuffed peppers, and calamari, along with trying to make the famous patatas bravas. I will continue to speak Spanish with people in my community and while I’m around my friends when if it annoys them. Also, I will try to review some of my favorite places on google so that future travelers can know the best sports. Lastly, I will spread great word of praise for the people of Barcelona, their food and culture, and their nature so that people can know what makes Spain and Barcelona such special places.


In reflection of your experience before, during, and after your program, can you put into words what this experience has meant to you?

  • Overall, study abroad was a dream, I got to explore a new and amazing place with wonderful people while making mistakes, moments, and memories.
  • It has helped me be extra social and meet a ton of new people, both people with very different lives from mine and those from different countries, and it has helped me to make a ton of new friends that I will truly have for the rest of my life.
  • I love knowing that I got to learn about a new culture and actually be able to live in it. I am so fortunate to have been able to live in Spain for 3 fully integrated months rather than something that would equate to more of an extended vacation. Part of this can be attributed to my homestay situation where living in the middle of the city in a very cultural part of Barcelona made me feel like I was living like a Spaniard and also that my homestay mom made me feel like I had a family while in this new and strange place, with her teaching me many things about Barcelona and giving me a taste of Spanish cuisine, activities, and formalities.
  • Study abroad also gave me many wonderful opportunities to learn new things about traveling, making mistakes like missing my train stops, using the wrong metro or train lines, ordering the wrong way, or getting sucked into tourist traps, and it has made me a much better traveler.
  • After I am so grateful that I got to live in Europe because I know not everyone has the ability or opportunity to do this and it has meant so much to be able to explore Europe, including Spain, France, and Italy, and all the history, landscapes, people, foods, arts & culture and feelings it had to offer.
  • Lastly was also super happy that I got to open my wings and fly around, because during study abroad I felt so free, energetic, passionate, and happy to do new things and engage with life which was refreshing!


Describe your experience exploring identity in your host community.

  • My citizenship as an American played a part during my time in Spain and my being white. Being American-looking people spoke English to me even when I spoke Spanish to them. Other than that, my identity seemed to thrive in Spain.

Did you study in a host country where you felt or had more or less freedom as a person of your identity/ies? What has this experience been like?

  • I felt like I has about the same expression of my identity in this country, my identity is quite easy, but it still seemed to thrive in Barcelona, Spain, and Europe more generally. But for people of more persecuted identities that I knew, I felt that they had great freedom, inclusion, and encouragement in Spain.


If you studied in a country where you reconnected with your heritage, what was that like? Is it what you expected? How were you treated by locals in that country? Do you feel like it was a homecoming or did you feel out of place, or perhaps both?

  • In terms of connecting with something similar to heritage, I felt I had allegiance to Don Quixote and Cervantes, and I felt like my love of Don Quixote was received very well by the people of Spain; it felt like I was accepted into a brotherhood of Don Quixote lovers, which is, of course, extensive in Spain. My host mom and teacher were very happy to know that Don Quixote was my favorite book, and even that it was part of the reason I came to Spain. My host mom and I even got to talk about the book a little bit in Spanish, which was very cool. Many people in La Mancha were happy I made it out to The Stain to see the land of Quixote and all its glory.


If you studied abroad and spent time with other US students who were also studying abroad, were you experiencing anything unanticipated related to your identity/ies?

  • Many of us were surprised by how many people spoke English to us initially in conversations in public if we were very white looking, even if we spoke Spanish initially. The study abroad students who were fluent in Spanish, because they grew up around it, found that they were very respected when compared to the non-fluent study abroad students, for good reason.
  • We were pleasantly surprised by the fact that people were always interested to talk to us even though we were Americans typically asking us what state we were from, why we were in Spain, and how we were liking their home country and/or city and always seemed to like that we tried to speak Spanish with them, so that was cool to see.


How did it feel to be “the foreigner”? If you hold US citizenship, did you observe that your citizenship is treated differently than others?

  • Overall, because I believe I dress and look like an American people often knew that I was in fact American, and this is further reinforced by the way I spoke Spanish or English, in that neither was in the Spanish tung. The main thing was that people often spoke English to me either from the beginning of the conversation or during to conversation even if I tried speaking Spanish to them. Other than that, I did feel like I was often a target for tourist scams, including those at restaurants, markets, and street vendors, and even clubs and bars, giving me high prices or lower quality products and such. Lastly, I feel like I was probably judged for not knowing what I was doing in lots of situations in Spain like doing stuff in the grocery stores, using the train, and using school services, but I learned quickly and believe I was more accepted later on. For me being a foreigner was not a problem, it is just part of traveling and often it can get you into some fun and interesting situations as well.

Thailand & Indonesia: Post-Program: “Coming Home” by Kylund Prior

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A view of small boats beached at the edge of the water in Sulawesi.
I posses a much better awareness of the cultural differences between my culture and that of Thailand and Indonesia which has helped me reevaluate what I have assumed are “norms”.

 

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Costa Rica: Post-Program Reflection: “Being Back” by Alexis Bryson

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A man stands on a surfboard in shallow, tropical water
Because of everyone I encountered who tried really hard to ensure that I had a good experience, I would love to pay it forward any way I can from just helping an exchange student find something on campus to reaching out and being their friend to maybe eventually being a host myself.

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Portugal: Post Program Reflection: “Acabado ou Comecado” by Jeremy Caldeira

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Acabado ou Começado

The title of this final post detailing my experience in Portugal is fitting. Acabado means finished in Portuguese. But, am I finished with Portugal? Most definitely not. Although I cannot determine my own future, my goals for it have changed. I’d like to think that maybe the other proper term for this post should be começado, because I’ve only really just started.

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New Zealand: Post Program Reflection by Emily Webster

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Takeaways and Final Reflection

As I have said over and over again, I truly feel so grateful to have had such an amazing opportunity. I remember sitting in the advisors office over two years ago talking about my upcoming schedule and the future student teaching requirement. On a whim she mentioned the option to complete the student teaching requirement abroad. There had only been 2-3 students who had done so in the past so I really didn’t know what to expect. I turned the idea over and over in my mind and talked to friends and family who I knew had my best interests in mind. Once I came to the decision to go, I was excited! I was still nervous and knew it would be challenging but I also knew that if I didn’t take this opportunity I would regret it for the rest of my life.

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Senegal: Post Program by Sage Romey

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I landed at JFK the day after Christmas. Speaking English with the immigration officer I rattled my list of 9 countries I’d been in in the past four months, and was surprised by the lack of reaction. (For those keeping score, Canada, Morocco, Senegal, Portugal, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Russia, USA.

 

 

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England: Post Program Reflection by Luke Griffin

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I want to stay connected to my friends internationally as much as I can, which is far easier today than it’s ever been before thanks to the internet (but I still want to send a postcard here and there, because I’ve always thought they were fun to get)

 

 

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Ireland: “Post Program Reflection” by Brittany Mureno

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I improved my language skills to a point where I can get by in most daily conversation. This has connected me to a unique group of people who I never would have known if I stayed in the United States. The world seems a lot smaller to me now. I learned that I can form friendships and find community anywhere I go.

 

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