PRE-DEPARTURE – South Korea, by Natalie Dacey

March 15, 2024November 8, 2024rothg2

How to Get Around South Korea

Posted by DACEYN on MARCH 14, 2024

There are several methods of traveling throughout the country, however depending on the city you study in or visit, some may be better than others. Please be aware that some options may only be available to foreigners via a website and not an app, so plan wisely.

Cross-country:

Taking a train (website)
- There are several different kinds of trains in Korea that one can take, but the fastest is the KTX. A long-distance train that you can take to travel between major cities, the KTX is the fastest way to get around to different provinces. There are other, slower trains that travel to smaller cities where the KTX does not go, which can also be accessed online. There is luggage storage available for check-in bags, but it is very limited. There is also overhead storage for smaller bags.
- Regardless of the kind of train, they will arrive at the stated time on your ticket, so DO NOT BE LATE. When you book a train ticket, there will be train car and seat number listed on your ticket – sit in your assigned seat for the duration of your ride even when other people get on and off as this will be your seat until your stop. Just before each station, the name of the stop will be stated in Korean, then in English so don’t worry too much about not knowing what stop is coming since these announcements combined with the stop time listed on your ticket will let you know when to get off.
- Booking a KTX ticket: simply look up “ktx train” or “railninja” and you will be able to book tickets after setting the city names and date. If you receive no result, then a KTX train does not take that route and you will have to resort to a different kind of train (try looking up “Rome2Rio korea trains”) or a bus.
Taking a bus (website or in-person)
- Long-distance buses are a cheaper, but longer alternative to the trains. There is undercarriage storage that can fit check-in bags, but you must do this on your own. These buses will make a singular stop at a rest stop for 15 minutes during the journey. These stops while have several food vendors, a convenience store, and restrooms. Employees here are unlikely to speak much if any English so you can check if there is an electronic order station at the stand, use a translation app, or learn how to order food. The 15-minute break is strict – they will leave without you.
- Booking a bus ticket: there are ways to book tickets ahead of time online, but it is best to just look up “city a to city b bus tickets.” An easier, but riskier way to book tickets is to go to the station and buy tickets at one of the kiosks. Another option would be having a Korean friend buy bus tickets via the app (it is not advised to use the app on your own; it requires a Korean phone number and ID, but even if you have this, foreigners usually have trouble with it).

In the city:

Taxis (app)
- Getting a taxi is very simple in Korea as the app, Kakao Taxi, is available to foreigners and is very easy to use. You just set up your pick-up and drop-off locations, pick the kind of taxi you would like to take (with estimated price), and the app will search for nearby taxis. It will show you if/when a driver has chosen your request and how far away they are. It will also display the license plate number and a picture of the driver so you can easily tell if the car approaching is the correct one. There is a caveat though – you must have a KakaoTalk account and a Korean bank card to pay via the app, so you would need to pay the driver directly if you do not have these (you will select how to pay before the app sends out the request).
- Depending on the city you are in, the drivers may or may not speak English. In Seoul, they are more likely to, but most will not in other cities, including Gwangju. Occasionally, a driver may ask for clarification of the drop-off location, so have a translation of the address ready on your phone or know how to say it in Korean.
Buses (in-person)
- In order to take buses in the city, you will need to buy a T-Money card. These can be bought at any convenience store and are usually around 5,000 to 10,000 won for the card ONLY (price varies depending on the design). You can charge the cards at any convenience store as well – they can only be charged with cash, excluding coins.
- You can find bus stops and times on Naver Maps – this will show you the bus number, stop number, and when it arrives down to the minute.
- While the price of a bus ride can vary a little based on the city, rides are usually 1,250 won. You board the bus, scan your T-Money card and find a seat or place to stand. Scan your card as you are getting off as well to avoid potentially paying more.
  - There are different kinds of seats on Korean buses: regular, elderly, pregnant women, and disability seating. These will be indicated by the color of the seat. While it is generally socially acceptable to sit in the specified seating, you must move if someone boards after you that needs that seat.
- The buses move very quickly, so find a place to sit or stand fast as the bus will move even if you aren’t sitting/holding on. In the same vein, prepare to get off at minimum a stop before by pressing the “stop” button (located on the wall) and getting ready to leave. You will know when your stop is coming via an accouncement as well as a screen that lists the upcoming stop in Korean and English.
Subway (in-person)
- The subway works very similarly to buses: you need a T-Money card to use the subway and you scan your card before and after your ride. Naver Maps also shows directions via the subway so using that for the subway too will be helpful. When on the subway, it is advised that you do not talk, or if you do, make it short and quiet as this is the local etiquette. It is also not advised to sit in the pregnant women seating unless it is super crowded. Even then, you must move if someone else needs it. Stops will be announced in Korean and English and they will tell you what side the platform is on as well.

Personal Goals for Study Abroad in South Korea, By Natalie Dacey

March 15, 2024November 8, 2024rothg2

Posted By Daceyn, March 4th, 2024

What do you hope to gain and how much research have you done on your host country and culture that will better prepare you for this experience?

When I initially thought about studying abroad in terms of what I wanted to gain from it, my mind was solely on academics. I thought about how I would meet my major and minor requirements, how I would need to choose the right number of classes to meet the minimum number of credits, things like that. Later on, however, as the departure date got closer, I thought about how I would be able to experience a completely different culture firsthand and how that would change everything. I would need to learn a new language and new customs that were unfamiliar to me in order to get around and do things.

For research, I had been interested in going to South Korea for a time now, and had watched many videos and read different articles about what it was like to study and live there as a foreigner. I wanted to be informed about differences in how classes worked to how much more fast paced certain things would be.

What are you most excited about? What are you most scared or nervous about?

What I was most excited about was the same thing I was most nervous about: visiting a new country. I had never been outside of the US. before this, and now I was going to be on the other side of the world without any family or longtime friends. I was excited to explore and experience a new culture and language and everything that comes with that, but was also nervous because that those same things could pose challenges for me.

What strategies have you implemented that will allow you to overcome these challenges and take full advantage of your opportunities?

Self-care and indulging in my hobbies. Finding ways to relax and recenter myself after exploring or trying new things has been key overcoming my nervousness about going to and being in a new country. Making friends has also been a good way find new opportunities of going out and visiting places or traveling that I likely would have never done on my own.

Pre-Departure: Goal-Setting & Planning for Costa Rica, by Anna Hedrick

January 19, 2024November 8, 2024rothg2

January 4, 2024 Anna

“My room is a disaster!” I told my friend, just mere days before I jet-set to another continent for my study abroad adventure. Recently, my days have been filled with packing and errand-running, so naturally my room is completely cluttered as I gradually fill my suitcase and carry-on. This Friday, Jan. 3, I embark on a 2-day journey to arrive in San José, Costa Rica.

*Packed and ready to go!* *I love using packing cubes.*

I’m excited to study abroad with International Studies Abroad (ISA) for winter quarter. Here are the goals that guided me in selecting this program. I questioned myself, “What am I hoping to get out of study abroad? What are my goals and interests?”

Improve my Spanish language skills and proficiency
Develop greater cultural awareness and understanding
Explore Costa Rica and visit as many places as I can
Connect with and support the local community through service-learning
Experience self-growth, personally and professionally, by pushing myself outside my comfort zone

The list has evolved over time. To this day, I continue to reflect upon these goals and how I will implement them into my study abroad experience. As a Spanish major, I aim to develop fluency in the language, especially in terms of conversation and listening comprehension. I’m grateful to take the course “Advanced Grammar and Conversation” – my final elective for my degree – and participate in service-learning, which is similar to volunteer work with a local organization.

I will be volunteering at a music and cultural center, called SiNEM (Sistema Naciónal de Educación Musical), which translates to “Nacional System of Music Education”. The center provides music education to local youth, and is located in the Desamparados area of San José, is part of a larger public park – Parque de Libertad (“Liberty Park”) – dedicated to providing opportunities for education, recreation, and cultural growth for the all ages in the community. I applied and was accepted to volunteer there, and I am grateful to learn more about Costa Rican music and traditions, and to engage with native-speakers and locals.

Throughout my studies at WWU, I’ve learned about Latin American history and culture, and I strive to deepen this knowledge. I’ve already absorbed some information about Costa Rican history and culture by reading articles online and attending my orientations. One aspect of Costa Rican culture that stands out to me is the concept of pura vida which translates to “pure life”. Essentially, it is a phrase that means enjoying a relaxed life and appreciating the simple things. In a social scenario, one might ask, “¿Cómo estás?” or “How are you?” and the other person might reply, “¡Pura vida!” The phrase evokes joy, well-being, and peace. As someone who is quite used to a fast-paced, productivity-driven existence, I think that embracing pura vida as a mindset and lifestyle is just what I need.

I’m most excited about meeting new people and practicing my Spanish every day. There is only so much one can learn within a classroom, and I believe that linguistic and cultural immersion is critical for attaining language fluency. I look forward to meeting my host mom, eating meals with her, and asking for advice. In my classes, I hope to make friends, both local and international students. We all hail from diverse walks of life, and broadening my perspectives is a fundamental part of this experience.

I’m most nervous about transportation and making my way around the city. Costa Rica has a bus system throughout the country, but bus stops are not always clearly marked, and arrival/departure times can vary. While I will walk to school everyday, I will need to use public transportation to arrive at my service-learning site. My plan is to ask ISA on-site staff and my host mom for recommendations. After living in San José for weeks, I think I will get used to getting around the city.

In addition, I’ve developed a “toolbox” of skills or strategies to manage challenges that may arise, including:

Flexibility when things don’t go as expected; maintaining an open-mind and adapting to the situation.
Patience with myself and others; this is a new experience and being kind to myself is important – even in difficult moments and especially when I make mistakes.
Gratitude for each experience, moment, etc.; it’s important to remind myself of how lucky I am to travel and visit another country. This is a rare opportunity and I express gratitude toward the people and places I’ve encountered.

After months of planning and preparing to study abroad, I’m thankful to be able to study and live in another country. Studying abroad has been one of my dreams since high-school, and each passing day makes my travel aspirations seem more real. This blog will share my journey and experiences while I’m in Costa Rica. Thanks for reading!

Logistical tips for studying abroad in Prague, by McKenzie Harris

January 19, 2024November 8, 2024nevitth

By: Mckenzie Harris – Prague

This post had to come eventually! It will be fairly boring to anyone who isn’t planning an upcoming study abroad trip, so please don’t feel obligated to read this if you’re just following along with my pictures and updates about my trip. The following post will include various practical things I’ve learned about traveling to a new country, including language learning, cell service/technology, packing, and shopping. My very first post (“The calm before the storm”) shares some of my pre-departure tasks and how I prepared for my trip; I will repeat some things from that post but I still recommend reading it.

Packing

I decided to bring one large suitcase, one small suitcase, and a backpack to Prague. I tend to overpack, so it took a lot of deliberating and precise folding to finagle everything I wanted to bring into that luggage. I had to be very picky about what I brought, but that being said, I also think it’s important to bring sentimental and comforting things with you. After all, when you study abroad, your host location will be your home for several months, so it’s important to make it feel like a home, not a hotel. For reference, I brought some framed pictures for my desk, some non-framed pictures to tape on my wall, a small Wonder Woman plastic figure from my mom, and my boyfriend’s oversized puffer coat.

Despite being very strict about what clothes I brought, I still have clothing items that I rarely wear. So one tip is: if you’re trying to lighten your packing load, pay special attention to your clothes, because that’s usually the category where you can remove the most things without causing problems. I know a favored solution to the packing problem is buying things at your host location, but I wanted to avoid that as much as possible. I didn’t want to spend money on redundant things and then have to throw them out or bring them home in extra luggage. I decided to only buy toiletries here (shampoo, conditioner, soap, etc), and packed everything else I needed.

The things I’m most grateful to have brought are:

my nice camera
an extra folded-up duffel bag (for the trip home)
extra bags for shopping
my pictures
a portable charger
a small padlock
winter gear
small first aid kit
my kindle

Technology

For international cell service, I decided to leave my family’s Verizon plan because its international charges were too high. I got Google Fi instead, and used its “flexible” plan so I paid monthly based on how much data I used. I recommend this option if you’ll only be away for 2-3 months, but not longer, because after around 2 months, Google Fi told me it was canceling my international coverage since I wasn’t using it in the US. Apparently, that little stipulation was in the fine print that I didn’t read carefully enough. As an alternative, I recommend trying an e-sim card, because they’re digital and they usually allow you to keep your existing phone number. Another option is to buy a physical sim card once you get to your location. A group of friends of mine did this and got a big family plan at a local T-Mobile in Prague, so they got to split the cost of the plan. They call themselves “sim siblings.”

Other technology tips:

Bring multiple outlet adaptors, or a single adapter with multiple charging ports, because I only brought one and had to buy another when I realized I couldn’t charge my phone and laptop at the same time.
A portable charger comes in very handy!
I recommend bringing any kind of camera that you have, to take higher quality pictures and avoid using up your phone battery while traveling.

Language learning:

I tried to learn some Czech over the summer to prepare for my semester in Prague. Here are the main tools I used:

On Spotify: Czech music playlists, and the One Minute Czech podcast
I kept a notebook where I wrote down everything I learned, and brought that notebook with me everywhere
Duolingo
Quizlet (after writing what I learned in my notebook, I made a ton of flashcards so I could test myself)
Czech With Katerina (youtube channel): this was the most important tool I used, because Katerina has almost 30 episodes of Czech language instruction, along with free worksheets that you can print and fill out every episode. She even has little quizzes!

I learned quite a few words/phrases over the summer, but interestingly, I’ve hardly learned any more since I got here. For one thing, since I’m at an English-speaking school, I’m not surrounded by Czech-speaking people. In addition, after I learned basic greetings and etiquette over the summer, the sheer volume of vocabulary and grammar rules beyond that was so overwhelming that I haven’t really made any progress since I arrived. I have gotten to use the Czech that I do know, however, which has been fun. One thing I like is that the Czech locals will usually begin a conversation in Czech, not English, even if they can tell I’m a foreigner. I appreciate that they let me initiate a conversation in Czech, even if I then follow it with an embarrassing display of my ignorance of the language

Some miscellaneous tips

Public transport may seem overwhelming at first, but google maps and apple maps have a transit feature that will tell you exactly how to get where you need to go. Follow them, and pay attention to which side of the street you need to be on depending on the direction you’re traveling.
If you’re coming to Europe from the USA, you may need to get used to shopping more frequently and in smaller “batches” than in America. Since I’m sharing a small food storage space with 5 roommates, I can’t buy very much food at one time, so I shop more frequently than I do at home.
Seeing everything labeled in a different language can be confusing, but google translate has a photo option that translates the words in your picture. I use this almost every day for shopping, cooking, etc.
do some research on your host area ahead of time, so you can prepare for the climate, understand the locals, and start a list of things you want to do (especially things that will require planning).

If there are any students reading this who have further questions about preparing to study abroad, feel free to reach out to me!

Before Leaving for Japan, by Jade Harding

January 12, 2024November 8, 2024rothg2

By: Jade Harding

This week, I’m going to talk about my single largest point of stress before going abroad: the trials and tribulations of getting a VISA. My study abroad program was my first time abroad, so this was completely new territory for me with a lot to learn, and I made mistakes. I’ll leave this record in the hopes of setting some expectations about the pathway to actually getting abroad.

I haven’t been abroad, how do I schedule my flight?

My study abroad program wasn’t just my first time abroad, but also the first time I had to arrange a flight. That made me quite nervous. Some programs may arrange this for you, but if you have to, you mainly need to know the destination airport, your nearest airport and how many checked-bags you want to bring with you. The biggest tip is to reserve your flight at least three months out from departure. The closer you get, the more expensive the flight is going to be, particularly within about two weeks. However, you also cannot reserve the flight until you are accepted into your program and know the destination, so some patience is involved. Additionally as I’ll talk about below, you are likely not going to receive your VISA until close to departure, so expect to reserve a flight before that process is finished.

How Tough is it to Get a VISA?

For shorter programs, a VISA often won’t be needed. Assuming you aren’t working, you can be in Japan for three months without needing to get one. But, for programs over three months, getting a hold of one can be a primary point of concern (and stress). The exact process is going to vary by country and consulate. For programs in Japan originating from the US, VISA procurement goes thus: apply to your program in Japan, if you are accepted and there aren’t any sudden global disruptions the host institution will get a Certificate of Eligibility (CoE) from the Japanese government. The certificate certifies your eligibility for a VISA, as well as setting the duration you can stay in the country. The host institution will send this certificate directly to you, in the post. This certificate must then be sent or carried, along with all the other necessary application materials, to your local Japanese consulate. If that process goes well, they will send you a VISA (after a 5 day processing time in the case of my local consulate) and you will be able to be in the country for the period of your stay. This process has a decent number of steps, but is fairly simple as long as you submit the right forms. The constraint is time; the process is entirely dependent on the timeline of the host institution, government, and local consulate. This can be stressful, especially when something goes wrong because a lot is simply out of your hands. For me, the most difficult part of the process was patience.

Double Check your Paperwork

The easiest place to mess up this process, and where I did, is the paperwork. In the paperwork given to my host institution there were some mistakes in my shipping information. They didn’t catch the mess-up, and it translated into the CoE getting held up in shipping for about five days. Now I must stress, the timeline from when the CoE arrives to departure can be tight; even without being held up, it would have arrived just over two weeks before my planned departure. A delay in shipping means a delay in it arriving at the embassy, delaying the VISA arriving to your waiting hands. In my case, the CoE arrived a week and a half before my departure. My only option was to send it to the embassy the same day, which I did. After arriving there it took a week or so to process, and arrived on the afternoon of my planned morning-departure day. Where I live, delaying flights is expensive and would use up a decent chunk of the savings I was intending to use while abroad. But after going back forth worrying while staring at the shipping info, I decided to push the flight back by ~3 days, the most I could without impacting the program. They generally outline a period during which you need to arrive, such as during a particular week, and I ended up entering the country at the very end of that period.

Read Your Insurance

Important fact, most study abroad programs require or encourage the purchasing of study abroad travel insurance. The primary purpose of the insurance is to help you in case you are injured or have some kind of accident while abroad. But, I noticed a clause in my program to pay for remedies in the case of delayed departure due to VISA procurement issues. The pushed back flight cost about four times as much as the original, so this was a delight to notice afterwards and retroactively reduced my stress level by about half, putting the finances back on track.

tl;dr: If your study abroad program does not require you to get study abroad insurance, it is worth the cost. If you have it, read through what the policy covers!

Why Study Abroad? by Jade Harding

January 12, 2024November 8, 2024rothg2

Who is this for?

By: Jade Harding

Studying abroad lets you grow as a person by allowing you to experience living independently in a new culture, and is highly dependent on both program and location. Today, you can study abroad anywhere on the globe, and all programs are different in terms of factors like length, rigor and cost. I’m hoping to give some specific information on the kind of program I attended, along with my thoughts on why studying abroad is good. If you are curious about what kinds of options are out there, looking into something similar, or just want to hear someone’s experience, I hope I can answer some questions!

Here, I’ll be covering why I think studying abroad is good and introducing how exchange programs work.

Hello World!

Should I go Abroad?

A lot of students worry whether they can or should study abroad, so I think that’s a good place to start. I’d recommend it, and there are many reasons to do so. You may have heard some of them from your local study abroad department or other students already. The reasons I’ve heard are:

I’ll be breaking them down below.

By studying abroad, you can learn and gain new skills. A lot of this comes from immersion in a new culture, but a lot comes from the classes you’ll be spending most of your time on while there. If you have a destination or destinations in mind, it’s important to research what you will actually be doing. What courses can you take? Are there any courses you would take at your home university that you won’t be able to by studying abroad, or any that you could only take abroad? Always keep in mind that studying abroad is education, not a vacation.

The most common subject to learn abroad is language. If you are interested in traveling to an area that speaks a language you don’t, be aware that many universities have courses for exchange students that are taught in English. In my experience, these are generally language courses or about the host country’s culture. These classes are a great option if you want to learn a language by going abroad, but need some structured learning to supplement the pure immersion. If you do speak the language and aren’t interested in strengthening it in class, taking courses that apply to your major or minor may make a study abroad program easier to fit into your college path.

You can also apply study abroad experience to your career. This is true even if none of your classes are directly applicable to your major—as was my case. Studying abroad can give you more diverse skills outside of your major, like language ability. Some use their time abroad to do internships and gain work experience, although that is highly dependent on the intensity of the main abroad program and the destination. More generally, cultural understanding, communication, and the ability to adjust to new circumstances are all valued soft skills that I learned abroad!

How Does an Exchange Work?

I studied abroad on an exchange program in Japan for six months. I’ll be speaking more about life there later, but to describe the program type in more detail, an exchange program means that two students, one from each university, study abroad for a semester or full year, generally each paying the others’ tuition for that period. Therefore, the tuition for an exchange program is equal to the tuition of your home university, unlike short-term or independent programs which often require the student to pay tuition while abroad in order to hold their place as a student. Because the cost of tuition is the same, it is actually possible to save money by going abroad instead of studying at your home university.

An exchange program is longer term, so they offer a lot of opportunity for taking a variety of classes and experiencing a high level of immersion in a new culture. Because I went to a country where I speak the language, I was able to take courses aimed at local students, as well as the language courses set aside for exchange students. This, combined with living in a dorm whose residents included local Japanese students, allowed for consistent contact with locals. This interaction, as well as a focus on exploration and trying new things, helped me change a lot as a person over the course of my program, becoming more outgoing and able to handle myself in unknown situations. And of course learn some Japanese too!

Pre-Departure: Czech Republic “The Calm Before the Storm”- A week before departure – by McKenzie Harris

September 6, 2023September 7, 2023nevitth

Prague – White bridge over river in daytime – Unsplash Photo @leachmar

“The Calm Before the Storm”- A week before departure

Hi everyone!

This first entry in my study abroad record will hopefully orient you to where I am in my preparations for studying abroad, as well as go over the main steps I’ve taken up to now. For those of you who are here for fun pictures and stories about what I’m up to in Prague, you will be sadly disappointed by this post, as it will hopefully be very dry compared to my future ones. This post is also partly to test if I know how to post things on WordPress. As of right now, I don’t really know how to use this website, so fair warning: the formatting of my posts and pictures will be quite lackluster.

My completed pre-departure tasks from earlier this year:
– Visa application
– register for classes
– buy plane tickets
– register with STEP
– paperwork both from my host school and home school’s abroad department
– make a budget estimate with my advisor
– figure out how to switch my cell service provider to get a better international plan

As summer made its way into the year and my abroad trip got closer, I switched my focus to the more exciting things—learning the language, deciding what to bring, and researching the Czech Republic.

The notebook I’ve been using to record what I’ve learned of the Czech language.

An example of an average ill-organized page!

I think part of being a respectful traveler is making an effort to learn some of the country’s language. Since I’ll be in Prague for 4 months, I’m trying to learn as much Czech as I can before I leave. I’m focusing more on learning common words and conversational phrases than grammar, thankfully (I’m not going anywhere near the seven Czech cases any time soon!). My main resources for language learning have been youtube (mainly Czech with Kateřina but there are many good channels!), duolingo, a podcast (One Minute Czech), and quizlet flashcards.

Part of my packing list.

Ideas for the things to do in Prague!

In addition to learning Czech, I’ve also had fun researching Czech history, customs, geography/things to do, and food. For these things, youtube has been my best source (travel vlogs, tour guide videos, etc). As you can see above, I made a list of ideas for things to do and places to go while I’m there, and nearly all of these items came from videos I’ve watched. There are so many places in Prague itself that I want to see, not counting all of the cool places outside it. I’m very excited to try some Czech dishes, like knedlíky (dumplings), svíčková (cream sauce over a roast), bramboráky (potato pancakes), and trdelník (a swirly pastry!).

I leave for Prague on Sept 2, which is a week from tomorrow. As the date looms closer, Prague feels no more real than it did when I applied to this program, but I’ve gotten some nerves about the trip that I didn’t feel until now. I’m nervous about being lonely in a new country, and about the way that every simple task feels complicated in a foreign place. I’m also nervous about things like my safety, transportation, and the immigration process.

But I’ve prepared as best I can, and I hope that will allow me to be flexible while I’m traveling and adapt to the inevitable complications that may arise. During this trip, I hope to lean into the experience of being alone in my dream city, because there’s freedom in being my own company, I think. I also hope to meet interesting people, participate in my interesting psychology classes, take too many pictures, and share them here with all of you.

Na shledanou!

Pre-Departure: Japan ” Waiting, Waiting, Waiting” – by Ethan McConkey

August 3, 2023August 3, 2023nevitth

Akita International University’s Nakajima Library – Wikipedia

Waiting, waiting, waiting.

To say everything has gone smoothly in preparation to study abroad would be a vast overstatement.

Frankly, I’ve spent most of my summer being worried about whether this will even work out. Regardless, I remained in good spirits. It was nice to know that the things I was worrying about then were leading up to a (hopefully?) rewarding experience.

At the risk of sounding like all I do is complain, I’ll say that pretty much everything from getting medical forms signed by a doctor, to getting required and requested vaccinations, to getting plane tickets has been downright stressful. This was by no fault of anyone involved, of course; It was just the way things unfolded.

Both Western and my host school have been very accommodating and helpful throughout this whole process, and I don’t want this to sound like I am discouraging anyone from studying abroad.

What’s important is that all of the difficult stuff is in the past now.

*Front Entrance to Akita International University* – Wikipedia

My Goals for Studying Abroad

The thing I hope to gain most while abroad is experience in, and knowledge of, another country. My career goal is to teach English in Japan, either through a program like JET or Interac, or through manual job search, with help from connections. One of the things that can really strengthen an application to these types of programs is lengthy experience in Japan (or any country other than your own.)

I am an over-researcher at heart. I tend to plan things out a little too much. It’s out of excitement usually; Preparing to be in a new place surrounded by new people gets me thinking about what I can do while I’m there. When I was a kid, I loved researching other countries, geography, language, vexillology, religion; Anything you can think of related to countries and their identities, I probably had a stint of being really into it.

I took a year of Japanese classes at my local community college when I was in high school, and since then I’ve done self study of the language to get up to the level I want to be at before I arrive. I plan on taking language classes while at AIU as well, so I need to pass a certain level of exam to test into the right class. This is definitely the largest part of my Strategy to Overcome Perceived Challenges that May or May Not Happen. (Title is a WIP, more on this later.)

I’ve also done a lot of research on Akita city and the surrounding area, and I really hope to meet someone with a car so I can do some proper exploration.

What am I excited about?

What am I not excited about? I get to experience something that not everybody gets to, and I am incredibly fortunate to be able to do so.

I’ll get to meet all sorts of new people, see things I’ve never seen before, go and do things I’ve never done before, all while learning firsthand about the language and culture of a country so different from my own.

Something that has been echoed to me throughout my journey to getting all of this sorted out so far as that most people have one of two responses to studying abroad. “I studied abroad and I loved every second of it!” Or, “I really wish I had done study abroad.” The last thing I want is to regret not going.

What am I worried about?

What am I not worried about? I’m flying halfway across the world when I’ve never even left the country before, and there is a lot of uncertainty involved about how everything could go.

I think that if I wasn’t worried about anything, that would be more concerning than how I feel now. I’m not worried to a point where I’m scared of going, and the thought of changing my mind and staying here has never really crossed my mind. Again, if I were to change my mind, I think it would become my greatest regret in the future.

So, although I am worried about a lot of things, I am sure I will be able to adapt and overcome.

Strategy to Overcome Perceived Challenges that May or May Not Happen

Continuing to learn Japanese and study as much as I can about Akita and the surrounding area has left me feeling pretty prepared for what’s to come. (I think) I understand how to get around the city, what it will cost to get from place to place, and whatever a Suica is.

Plenty of introspection has also helped me come to terms with the fact that I am going to have to put myself out there. At the risk of sounding shallow, as a peace offering I have purchased a bag of a local Washington State sweet, Chukar Cherries. I’ll be living with anywhere from 1-11 other people (though I think it’s probably pretty unlikely to be at either end of that spectrum) and nothing brings people together faster than sweet stuff.

I’ve also been accepted into a themed living program, in which I will essentially be living with my club-mates in the Japanese language club. In addition to that, I have reached out to a sports club, Kyudo, which is a kind of archery.

Conclusion

I am equally as excited as I am worried, and I think that’s a good thing. This phenomenon has lead me to do lots of research, and I don’t think it is possible to do too much in a situation like mine. I have less than a month to go and I couldn’t be more happy. I know I am going to have to put myself out there to make the most out of my experience, and I am not afraid to do so.

I am ready to do everything in my power to make the most of this experience!

Pre-Departure – Spain – “Epiphanies” by Anna Sutherland

September 27, 2022October 13, 2022Anna Sutherland

T-minus 4 days until I depart for Spain. I have always been a planner, plain and simple. Studying abroad is no different and has required patience and most importantly research and preparation. For anyone who is planning to study abroad I cannot emphasize enough not to leave things for the last minute, specifically packing. This I found out when I packed the last three days before leaving for Miami to spend a few days relaxing before I leave for Spain. I’m currently write this blog at 8:05 pm sitting on a hotel balcony in Miami Beach with a beautiful view overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and the bright lights of the hotels around me. I’ve had a few epiphanies over the past few days.

Epiphanies

Pre-Departure: The Start of a New Journey in Granada, Spain by Anna Sutherland

September 27, 2022October 18, 2022Anna Sutherland

What does study abroad mean to me? Study abroad represents to me opportunity, growth, and new experiences. It is an opportunity to continue my education in a different country while experiencing a new environment and learning more about myself simultaneously. It is the start of an exciting and new chapter of my life. This fall I will be studying abroad in Granada, Spain for three months. I had a decent amount of knowledge on Spain prior to deciding to study there partially because I have friends in Spain and learned about aspects of their culture. I am a double major in Spanish and Political Science and Spain is the obvious country to study in to master my Spanish skills even though they technically speak Castellano. Once I narrowed down the country the city was next and was chosen through careful consideration of classes offered. Another consideration was the region being that in Spain there are more languages spoken than just Castellano. Catalan in Barcelona, Euskera in the Basque Country, Galician in Galicia, and Valencian in Valencia each autonomous community with their own language and culture. This was an important aspect to consider unique to Spain. Each country is different, and the research involved may vary for each individual study abroad experience.

Pre-Departure: The Start of a New Journey in Granada, Spain

Pre-Departure: What are your goals for your international experience? By Brandon Beyler

September 1, 2022October 13, 2022wwuedabroad

My main goals are to engage in countless adventures, become a better Spanish speaker, learn about Spanish culture and history through various experiences and coursework, and begin to understand what it is like to live in a foreign country. I want to understand various aspects of Spanish culture, uncovering historical and contemporary perspectives, and as a result become a more thoughtful, aware, and compassionate person.

In my academic pursuits while abroad I not only want to learn about topics that concern Spain and Europe to strengthen my understanding of geography and related disciplines but also be exposed to the character of higher education in other countries. As a geography major, I would like to further strengthen my ability to solve complex issues through the UPF human and social sciences program, giving me unique and diverse perspectives on new issues and issues I may have already encountered. Through my studies, adventures, and experiences I hope to meet new people, especially like-minded travelers. Not to say that Spain is not enough for me, I would like to also travel elsewhere in Europe and beyond so I can experience a variety of cultures and landscapes. I hope to visit the places that I have always wanted to visit in Spain and Barcelona, like that of the basilica, the skate plazas, the mountains, and the Barcelona beaches. In the end, I aim to expose myself to many things that will force me out of my comfort zone, especially the comfort zone that I have cultivated in the US.

What do you hope to gain and how much research have you done on your host country and culture that will better prepare you for this experience?

I hope to gain travel skills, many memories, Spanish speaking skills, and much more. I would like to leave Spain knowing that I am a stronger traveler, a better Spanish speaker, and knowing that I have made many memories that I will never forget.

I have done a good deal of research about the country and on top of this, I already have a good deal of knowledge about the country from past Spanish coursework and my exploration of Spanish literature like Don Quixote. I also listen to lots of Spanish pop music so I have gained some cultural experience through this and I think it will help me to connect with the people and culture of Barcelona and Spain once I’m there.

My program, API- Academic Programs International, provided me with a handbook with a bunch of information about Spain and Barcelona that I found really helpful. They highlight things like that Spain is generally a safe country and that most incidents that do occur happen late at night with inebriated travelers. They do state however that to protect yourself you must be cautious, aware of your surroundings, and keep your eye on your belongings, among many other tips. Through this, I have also learned things like that socialization usually happens outside the home in Spain, Barcelona has an extensive public transit system, they have an obsession with soccer and I received information about the many events in Barcelona.

I also have done some research online trying to hear from people who have lived and traveled in foreign countries and specifically Spain, through sites like Reddit, I think these are really helpful because you get, for the most part, to the point and relatively accurate information and tips from a verity of people. Some highlights from Reddit are that it is important to keep your valuables in your front pockets as pickpocketing is the most common danger in Barcelona and Spain, to stay extra safe in transportation areas because they attract thieves, and to not make yourself look a target! I think these safety tips will help me become a better traveler so that I can do all the things I want in Spain and still be safe while doing them!

I have also researched skateboarding in Spain in that it is a popular destination for its unique plazas and skateparks that serve as good skate community hangout sports and great skate playgrounds.

I have learned from a website called donquijote things like that physical touch during communication is not an invasion of privacy, Spain’s way of life is generally relaxed, flamenco music is popular, and most people take a nap for a siesta after lunch between 2-4 PM, among other things.

Reddit also gave me some good spots to go to like the Boqueria and various clubs and said not to be alarmed by the fact that people smile less and stare more in Spain and that dinner is late.

What are you most excited about? What are you most scared or nervous about?

I am most excited about exploring Spain and Barcelona and meeting the great people of Spain and those from other universities. Being in a foreign country for a long time, something I have never done, offers me a unique opportunity to truly interact with the environment and culture on a deeper level, creating relationships with people and places and apprehend the many things that form Spain and Barcelona, like that of the Spanish wine drinking and Mediterranean beaches.

I am most scared about using my Spanish because it is not full proof, and I know I will make mistakes when conversating with Spanish speakers. In this, I am also nervous about trying to learn and use the Catalan language of Barcelona and the surrounding region. Lastly, I am worried that I might not know or observe some cultural customs and may disrespect or discomfort people.

What strategies have you implemented that will allow you to overcome these challenges and take full advantage of your opportunities?

As for working past my fear of misusing or coming up short with my Spanish or cultural competency, I think, first of all, I need to understand that there is no need to worry as long as I put in effort and use the many tools that are available to me. Generally, I think being spontaneous will help me become a better Spanish speaker and force me to learn by trying, making mistakes, and making corrections. I also think that approaching, interacting, and communicating with people with the proper greeting, respect, and sincerity can help people be more understanding of any cultural or linguistic mistakes I may make.

For taking advantage of my opportunities, I think that it is important for me to just do things even when I don’t feel like it or am too tired or something because I will never know what the next moment will bring, how exciting. Also, I believe that having good people around helps me find more opportunities and makes the ones I have that much better when I can create memories with others. I think it is important to have a general plan but not be too strict on what I do in terms of activities and adventures; saying that I find being spontaneous and going with the flow tends to make the most of opportunities presented to me at each moment and will help in capitalizing on the study abroad opportunity as a whole. Lastly, both in trying to speak Spanish and the Catalonian language and in doing anything abroad, I have learned to not be afraid to make mistakes or make myself look stupid because I know both will in the end make me grow more whole.

donquijote Spanish culture website: https://www.donquijote.org/spanish-culture/

Reddit post: https://www.reddit.com/r/TravelHacks/comments/u76dha/tips_for_traveling_to_spain/

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Pre-Departure: What are your goals for your international experience?