So, a friend just came back from a semester abroad. They are talking oddly, calling things the wrong names and have taken a keen interest in foreign affairs out of the blue. Many find themselves wondering, what has changed? What is so great about studying in another country? When a student studies abroad, they are still studying and learning like at Northwestern, but it is completely different. They are not just learning inside of the classroom. They are taking their experiences outside and learning from everyday people.
A common thought is that if a student wanted to see another part of the world, they could just take a vacation and visit. While vacationing abroad is wonderful, it does not capture the vivacity of living in a new country for a full semester. “Living and breathing the culture enhances and deepens the understanding of said culture, developing a true understanding of what makes the people tick,” said David Soundarajan, a student who studied in Romania last semester.
College is the most formative time of life, and experiences suddenly have a greater impact. This is especially true for study-abroad students, who cannot seem to shut up about their semester abroad.
There is an old proverb, “Absence makes the heart grow fonder.” Leaving the United States is a surreal experience and leaving for four months makes many of the comforts of everyday lives so much more apparent. “I missed consistent hot water, gas heating and convenience stores,” said David Soundarajan. Another study abroad student, Adeline Smerica, said, “I missed being able to just talk to everyone and knowing how to find my way around.”
While all of the comforts and conveniences of home are made much more apparent, so are all of its flaws. “America makes things way bigger than they have to be. America also makes efficiency way too important,” said Smerica. It can be refreshing to step away and take a break from the known and comfortable.
Studying abroad is also a great way to build confidence. Confidence grows when challenges arise, and it is extremely challenging to enter an unfamiliar environment and be forced to live alone and thrive. It makes someone less scared for the future when they will have to do it all over again.
Another benefit of studying abroad is that it can reveal new interests. Soundarajan experienced this when he found out, “I really enjoy political science.” Students never lose anything by learning a new skill, and studying abroad provides tons of opportunities to learn new skills. While being forced to cook is a great skill to learn, learning a new language is even more amazing. Students will not learn the whole language right away, but they learn a language better when they are surrounded by it. A language can be learned in a classroom, but the classroom misses the practical use aspect. Memorizing basic phrases is great, but students do not lean into learning until they are at the grocery store trying to say, “I need normal water, not sparkling water.”
In the end, studying abroad is phenomenal, and highly recommended. The chance to be a part of another country and another people. Learning the language and living the culture is an experience that is incredible for experiential learning and self-development. Leaving the United States provides unfamiliar experiences and lessons to learn, which will give students a greater appreciation for their home, their home abroad and the world.
