The Journey Ahead

The main goals I have for studying abroad really revolve around getting a great education and learning from people who have a variety of different backgrounds. I have taken Arabic courses before, but I have never had the opportunity to take Arabic courses and actually be able to practice Arabic upon leaving the classroom. I have also done readings about Middle Eastern politics and history on my own, but I have never been able to actually take a formal class on the subjects. I am very excited about the educational possibilities that exist with this study abroad semester.

I have traveled before and have spent time living in a Middle Eastern culture (Egypt). What I experienced there was certainly culture shock. I will certainly experience culture shock again when I travel to the United Arab Emirates this spring and prepare to spend an entire semester there. That being said, my biggest fear is not what will happen when I am studying abroad in the U.A.E. but what will happen to me when I return home to the United States. I have experienced such a great deal of difficulty upon my return from Egypt dealing with post-travel depression. It has been a struggle for me to go about living life in my daily return after seeing some conditions that people around the world are living in. Why do I have the benefit of living in such safety? Why am I so caught up in my American ways of doing things when there are so many people around the world who need help? I will certainly struggle with re-adjusting to American life when I get back, but I feel that I have enough people and support around me to make it through the difficult transition. As far as studying in the U.A.E. is concerned, I am very excited to meet so many new people, make lots of new friendships, and learn more than I could if I had not studied abroad.

Three things I want to do to maximize my experience are:
Get involved on campus in the U.A.E.
Make friends with both international students and domestic students
Keep in healthy contact with my friends and family back in the United States

I am hopeful that following this outline will make my study abroad experience a very successful one.

Fear and Faith

       

         Going abroad has always seemed like such a faraway thought for me, no matter how badly I wanted to go as a child. I was always told that the journey would be hard, tough, and at times, “You’re too tender hearted and sensitive Are you sure?” Well, now the tables have turned, and my mother is the one crying while I check flight prices thrice a week. My father has become more serious, and my siblings just want souvenirs. I would have never thought that I could have the opportunity to travel abroad, never mind study, but I do. That thought alone has, on occasion, terrified me.

          However, as many know, I’m always well planned, a bit of a control freak, and kind to a fault. I want to go for reasons other than fun. My main purpose isn't to have a good time. It will play in, no doubt: I’m headed to the land of the rising sun. However, I have goals, business goals that I won’t let anything get in the way of, not even my own excitement. In my agenda, I have four bullet points.

Things Arieal Shall Do While Abroad:

·        Make a leather-bound Travel Journal

·         Go to church

·         Be changed

·         Intern/shadow businessmen

          Now, I don’t know about you, but if I can do that, I’ll be completely satisfied. I can come home and not cry. But if I can’t do those things, then why did I leave America in the first place? I want a journal of hand pasted pictures and quotes; I want to have some spiritual healing, immortalize my memories and meet a business man! It may sound like a weird list to anyone else and I’ve decided something: that’s perfectly fine. This is my list. It applies to me. These are the things I value and consider important: education and intelligence. I have another list of course. I want to practice martial arts, become a temporary redhead, and, of course, eat all the foods! These are my personal goals, things that come to be fulfill on an empty day, or as a reward for working hard. These are the fun things that will happen probably by accident, knowing myself.

Have Some Fun!!

·        Take a Culture Class [Tea ceremony/Hapkido Martial Arts]

·        Find [and eat] something I hate…if possible.

·        Hike a trail

·        Do something crazy to my hair

·        Visit the winter ocean [But no swimming!]

·         Sing at the top of my lungs somewhere, somehow

“Don’t be afraid. Just have faith."

Mark 5:36

          I won’t lie; I can’t lie. I’m scared. Will I have all my papers? Will I remember my manners? The language? My school’s address? My shoes? All jokes aside, this is a daunting, but worthwhile task that I’ve decided upon for myself, and no matter how scared I get, I’m thrilled. I’m about to go to the foreign country of my dreams, and experience a whole new world. One day soon, I will wake up from a dream about the Daegu Floating Lantern festival, only to realize, “I get to see that, in person! Finally!” And you know what: no one will be able to ever take that away from me. It’s a powerful thought. It makes my head hurt and my vision swim, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Willkommen to Study Abroad

            Deciding to study abroad may have been one of the most difficult decisions of my life. I went back and forth all spring semester trying to decide because I knew I would be missing the last semester with my friends and graduation. Finally, after traveling Europe and stopping at TU-Dortmund in Germany, the university where I will be placed, I decided to apply. I waited until the last minute to apply (literally the day it was due), but I found out Saturday that I was completely accepted through the university and I am so excited for this opportunity. I am still a little sad that I’ll miss graduation and my last semester, but I wont get this chance again, so I’m obviously just going to have to live up my last semester at MC, so I can also live it up while abroad. 

            As for my goals while abroad, I hope to learn enough German to get around since I don’t really know any right now, but I’m working on it. Currently, I know only a few phrases like "Es ist gut" meaning "It is good" and "Ich bin eine Frau" meaning "I am a woman". On another note, I would really like to make great friends that will last. My friends that have already been abroad made lifelong friends during their semester, and I want to do the same. I think it may be a little difficult because I won’t be in classes with peers, but that means I’ll just have to work harder to put myself out there. I hope that by doing my student teaching abroad, I will make connections with other teachers to possibly get a teaching job there. I am excited to see the different teaching styles and add them to my “toolbox” as well.

            I am so excited to live in another country. When I was in high school, I caught the travel bug, and it has been a goal of mine to live in another country. I am also excited to have my own adventure. I have traveled a lot with family, friends, and school, but I haven’t really had my own experience. I want to see how this experience changes my perspective and attitudes.

            While in Germany, I want to travel to new places I haven’t seen as well as go back to the places I fell in love with.  I plan to keep a either a blog or a journal to record the things that happen, so I don’t forget even the minor details. Finally, I plan to be involved and engaged at the university and school where I will student teach in order to maximize my experience abroad. Hopefully all of these things will help me make the most out of my experience and make me love the country and living on my own.

            Throughout the semester, I’ll continue to post blogs about my preparation to go abroad, so stay tuned! :)

Jacob's Objectives

    Much of my personal agenda for studying abroad is indeed personal and will not be disclosed here.  I am comfortable discussing, however, a select few objectives of mine for my overseas study experience.  My primary motivations for overseas study are as follows:

• Fulfill the International Business major requirement for study abroad by studying abroad.
• Develop my professional and personal capabilities through intensive university study at an overseas institution.
• Progress and grow in a holistic way on a fundamental level through experience of another, very different land, people, culture, and society.

    My chief apprehension is that I will be lonely in Sweden.  I feel that there is a real probability I will feel alone even though I am surrounded by others.  I think that I am capable of overcoming this obstacle, though.

  My chief excitement is that I will fall in love with Stockholm's people and society and become a more mature and poised individual.

In order to truly maximize my experience, I will:

1. Be receptive and open-minded as much as possible; quick to listen and slow to speak
2. Strive to appreciate the seemingly small joys
3. Remember that my contributions to the host country and community are important, however small.

Study Abroad Blog #1

I love traveling.  Always have, probably always will.  Short distances, long distances, I was always excited to hop in the car and go somewhere different.  Growing up, I have dreamed about studying abroad since I learned of my cousin studying in Italy back when I was in elementary school.  Since then, it has been an ambition of mine.  I went on many vacations as a kid, mostly to places in the Caribbean while on cruises, and I have loved getting a taste of the different cultures and ways of life.  It always frustrated me, though, that I had to leave before I could really experience it!  While studying abroad, I'm excited to be able to be fully immersed in another country's culture.  I want to really experience life in that area--to see the hidden gems that only locals know about, to learn the stories and traditions inherent to the land.  Sure, I'll spend a few days doing all the tourist attractions and typical traveler agendas, but what I really want to do is just live there.  It may sound simple, but I can get so much more of out of just living there than I could touring and sightseeing.
It still does not seem quite realistic that I will be studying abroad soon, so I don't have much in the way of feelings towards the journey yet.  I know I will be excited, but also very nervous about forgetting things--I always seem to forget something!  There also seems to be a lot to do in the way of paperwork, so I am a little concerned about that.  At this stage, I'm also curious as to where I'll be going!  I'm still unsure, so there's excitement and perhaps a little apprehension for that.
One thing I want to do while studying abroad is find a favorite local little place to eat.  I want to find the places that most tourists and travelers miss!  It would be neat to have a favorite little spot to eat that I can show to other people *when* I go back.  It might be a little hard to do that, as I believe I will have campus meal plans, but I am going to try.
Another thing I want to do while abroad is look at the biodiversity and how it's different from here.  This depends on the place, as I feel like I'd be less in national parks and outdoors in England than say, Australia, but I guess I'll have to wait and see.  If it is a location with much different wildlife, I want to experience that in parks or some other outdoor activities.
A third thing I want to do abroad is to join some clubs on campus!  Most of the places I am applying to have interesting clubs that might be neat to join.  It would be a good way to meet people with common interests and maybe form some long-term friendships!

My Goals Studying Abroad in France

I have wanted to study abroad in France for the longest time. I began learning French when I was nine, and fell in love with the language. I took French classes all throughout middle and high school, and love being able to speak and understand another language. The French language and culture are beautiful and I want to learn as much as possible while abroad.  Studying abroad in France will really give me the opportunity to relearn what I have forgotten since it has been a couple of years since I have taken a formal French class. My main goal for this experience is to become as proficient in French as I can possibly become.

            When I was in high school, I participated in a French Exchange program. I was paired with a student named Lauriane who lived near Paris. For the exchange, she came to live with me for two weeks in February and I went to live with her for two weeks in June. It was an incredible experience and I got to see what life was truly like in France for a typical French family. Lauriane and I are still good friends today and have visited each other since the first trip during our freshman year of high school. We Skype and Facebook each other regularly to keep in touch; she speaks to me in English while I speak to her in French. Another goal I have during my time abroad is to visit Lauriane and her family as much as possible and continue our friendship as well as create new lifelong friendships with the new people I meet.

            There are many aspects to study abroad that I am nervous about. Primarily, I am afraid that I will get there, forget how to speak French, and completely embarrass myself. I am also afraid that I will get lost trying to get around the city. I hope I can make many friends through clubs or classes that will help me navigate the city! While I’m in France, I want to visit other regions in the country. It would be amazing to visit the French Alps, Paris, Normandy, and other historical sites throughout the country.

            There is a lot of work that goes into studying abroad that I never knew about before. There are so many forms to sign, deadlines for paperwork, and scholarships to apply for! I really have to keep on top of everything so that I get everything done on time, but I know that it will all be worth it! I am so excited to get all of this work done and just be in France already!

Janelle Calhoun

Goals for Study Abroad

It feels amazing to be this close to studying abroad. I’ve wanted to travel for as long as I can remember, and the study abroad program was a big part of what drew me to Maryville College. During my freshman year, I remember feeling disbelief – international travel, this thing that I’d been dreaming about, couldn’t have suddenly became attainable. No way! Sometimes I still feel like that – am I actually getting ready to go abroad? Fairytale stuff is happening in my life. All of that being said, trying to describe my reasons for wanting to study abroad seems like a daunting task. I think that what initially drew me to it was pure curiosity – I want to see other parts of the world, and know what else is out there. I’d like to see for myself the amazing places I’ve seen in pictures, and get to know another way of life, another culture. How does humanity differ in its span across the world, and in what ways does it stay the same? I’m excited to begin my journey in finding out.

Another big aspect of my desire for study abroad has to do with my trouble in finding a definitive career plan – I don’t know for sure what I want to do after I get out of college, and I’ll admit that it scares me. I haven’t found my passion yet; and I don’t know what it is that I can offer to the world. Basically, I’m entering into a time in my life when I feel that the best possible thing I can do is explore. I need to put myself in unknown situations and jump at new opportunities. I have limits that need to be pushed, and horizons that need to be broadened. How else can I learn more about myself? What better way to find out where I fit in the world than experiencing it in as many different ways as I can? This may sound a little cheesy, but one of the biggest things I hope to gain from this trip is self-discovery.

I’m also looking forward to my classes – I found some really fantastic courses about subjects in psychology that I’m interested in. That’s actually another way I’m hoping to further along my career search – these classes aren’t ones that someone in my major would usually take, but I’m excited to see how they’ll go.

My last reason for studying abroad has to do with the people I hope to meet and learn about. I want to gain lifelong friends out of this experience. I hope that I will find people who open my eyes to a new way of life and help me to embrace the unknown, but I also want to give some of that back. In some sense, I think that this may be one of the most important purposes of my trip.

To be honest, I’m kind of trying to reign in my feelings about the trip at the moment – I don’t know where I’m placed yet, and I’m trying really hard to remain carefully neutral about all of my choices. When I find out where I’m going, I want every part of me to be excited – even if I don’t get my first choice. However, I’d definitely still say I’m starting to get crazy excited/terrified/starry-eyed/nervous/over-joyed. I’m guessing that’s normal?

To maximize my experience, wherever I end up going, I want to go in with the mindset that behind every opportunity I stumble upon, I might find something great. I also want to go out of my way to find new people to meet and get to know. Lastly, I think it’s really important that I stay focused on having a full experience while I’m abroad – I know it’s going to be a challenge to balance studying, seeing new places, and adjusting to a different way of life.

My Study Abroad Goals for Greece

I spent this past summer in Athens, Greece for six weeks and fell in love with the people, the culture, and the experiences I had during my time there. I’m excited to go back now and study at a local college in Athens. 

I have a general idea of what I would like to do during my time in Greece, but my goals for the trip aren’t too specific (at least not yet). I definitely hope to revisit some of the people and places from my last trip there, and also to make new connections. I hope to travel a bit more and see different areas of the city and maybe even parts of the rest of the country. 

Academically, I am looking forward to taking courses in my major from the extensive Marketing program that the school offers. I am also hoping to take courses on Greek culture and possibly even language. The history and culture of Greece is fascinating and I am really hoping to learn as much as I can while I am there. 

At this point in my preparation, I am mostly feeling excitement. If I were traveling to a place that I had never been before, I think I would feel more fear or apprehension, but I am just really looking forward to going back. I am already fairly familiar with the city, the means of transportation, and (to a very small degree) the language. Additionally, I am familiar enough with the culture to feel comfortable in day-to-day life. There is still a lot that I would like to learn, but I won’t have to deal with as much culture shock immediately upon arrival. I also had the opportunity to briefly visit the school that I will be attending, which also helps me to feel more prepared and less apprehensive. The only fear I have at this point is the possible differences in teaching styles from what I am used to. While it is the “American” College of Greece, I’m sure there will still be some academic expectations that are unique from my schooling background. 

There are many things that I could do to maximize my experience, but there are 3 that I feel are especially important: 

1. Spend as much time as possible in the culture. I want to get to know the people, the language, the history, and all the amazing things that Greece has to offer. I also think that the experience will be eye-opening in light of recent events in Greece. The financial and economic crisis and the refugee crisis are both things that I know little about as an American. I am interested to see how the people react in their day-to-day lives to these events and how it differs from the culture that I know.
2. Take courses that I can’t take at home. The school I will be attending offers a wide range of courses that I wouldn’t have the opportunity to take otherwise. I am excited to begin planning my schedule and choosing classes.
3. Meet people. One of the most important lessons I learned during my first trip to Greece was the value of having close connections and people to share your experiences with. I hope to meet both Greeks and other foreigners alike to make the most of my time there.

I am hoping to come back from this trip with a more knowledgable worldview, a deeper appreciation for the importance of traveling, and a better understanding of the benefits of studying abroad.

Forget about my comfort zone, I get to study abroad!

Argentina is a place I’m drawn to because of the beauty of the country as well as the culture and history of its inhabitants. I want to become fluent in Spanish and learn about Argentine culture - these are my most imperative goals. There are many places I want to go within Argentina; however, I want to venture outside of the country and visit places like Iguazu Falls.

As excited as I am about the opportunity to study in Argentina—I am so nervous about speaking Spanish once I arrive. You could say it’s stage fright. I know how badly I need to speak, so I’m very happy I’m taking two Spanish courses this semester (every Tuesday and Thursday I have 2 and a half hours straight of speaking Spanish). But my comfort zone is speaking Spanish in class, so I need to break free from that. I need to speak with Spanish speakers outside of class. I feel that if I can force myself to do that I will have an easier time breaking out of that once I am there. Forget about my comfort zone, I get to study abroad! That’s how I feel about it.

My first choice university offers free tango and salsa lessons as extracurricular activities - that's something I will do if I end up at La Universidad Catolica de Cordoba. I will learn the tango, and the salsa would be a major bonus. How could I go to a country known for the tango and not experience it myself?

I will make friends in class by asking them to show me a nice place to eat or study after class and inviting them to join me. I will see what other people my age are doing and join in. I want to see Argentine students’ side of Argentina. Through this I hope to find a friend willing to travel with me around the country (and hopefully a dance partner because, after all, it takes two to tango).

I enjoy spending time with my family, so I want to have that experience in Argentina. So as far as living situations, I have chosen to live with a family rather than in an apartment or dorm. I feel living with a family is the best way to soak up the culture and language.

There will be many upcoming blogs that will be loaded with information about my experiences before I leave as I learn about where I will be going, applying for a visa, and finishing applications.

¡Adios!

- Bethany Headrick

Hopes and Dreams for Study Abroad

When I started this journey toward study abroad I could scarcely comprehend choosing just one place of interest as my first preference. Many emails, conversations, self-reflections, website visits and research sessions later, after weighing every bit if information that I had gathered, I made my decision. In truth, even upon submission of my application I wasn't quite sure that I had made the right choice. Maybe I should've switched my first and second... nevertheless, it was done. However, through a series of events, my perspective has changed. Now I find myself daily eager and hopeful that I will be placed at my first choice school. 

If I get accepted to China, I have many hopes and dreams for the experience. First and foremost, I aspire to learn Mandarin. Although I am well aware of the challenge that learning this intricate language will certainly prove to be, I see it as a tremendous opportunity. Being immersed in the Chinese language and culture daily will surely strengthen my motivation to learn it myself. In addition, I want to travel. I could spend my entire semester traveling within China and never experience anywhere close to all that there is to see. Thankfully, the University makes it very possible for international students to take numerous trips throughout the semester, even taking precedence over classes at times. Finally, I hope to make friends from all kinds of backgrounds and ethnicities. Fortunately, this will certainly be possible since this University has not only close to 50,000 Chinese students, but also many international students from all over the world. 

I look forward to this impending adventure with great anticipation. I hope to learn a great deal about adaption and acquisition to living in a new culture. My fear is that I may make significant cultural mistakes, or find it difficult to adjust to a new set of societal expectations. However, I plan to approach the situation with a sense of adventure and confidence, as well as humility and a desire to learn. Ideally, these attributes will serve me well on this journey.

I have made a list of 3 things that I plan to do before I go that I hope will maximize my experience abroad. I'm sure that there will be many more as time goes on.

1. Educate myself on the country and culture that I will be living in. Ideally, I can meet individuals from China (or wherever I go) who can share with me firsthand what it is like.

2. Learn a little bit of Mandarin (or whatever language I will be learning) before I go. Even if it is just a concept of the language and a few key phrases. 

3. Make a friend who has previously been to China (or wherever...) and get their advice on what to bring/expect.

My Goals for Studying Abroad

I don't think I can talk about my goals and feelings towards study abroad without discussing the roadblocks that have risen up in recent days that may or may not prevent me from going abroad at all. This past week I was informed I didn't not get accepted as an exchange student to my university of choice. Right now I am stuck between laying down thousands of more dollars to be a direct student in Sharjah next spring, studying else where, or not leaving the country at all.

Before this week all I felt was impatient and ready to leave; I studied in India last January and fell in love with travel and couldn't wait to go away again. I knew the UAE was where I wanted to be to further studied Islamic faith and culture. I was prepared for Fall semester to be filled with anticipation for the next semester. Now I feel pretty lost and anxious, because I have no idea where I am right now.

Since last winter, all I've thought about was going somewhere new and even further expanding my intellectual and personal perspectives. I had fought so hard to convince my family to let me go to the Middle East, a place they all had, within some reason, viewed as too dangerous for me to be living in alone. The thought that the opportunity I fought so hard for is possibly slipping away is heart-wrenching.

Nevertheless I will keep fighting, as hard as I can, to have some sort of study abroad experience this year. It's something that is important enough to me that I won't go quietly. I fear though, that maybe despite my fighting, in the end I won't get to go.

((also sorry for the drama but this is all i can think about right now though soooo))

My Goals in South Korea

“What? South Korea? You are from South Korea” that was my friends’ reaction when I told them I am planning to study abroad in South Korea. As the sentence says, I am from South Korea. While I will be in South Korea, I want to spend my semester just as like normal Korean students. Since I was 15, I spent my life in U.S. and I felt I lost the chance to experience Korean college. But when I heard Maryville College offers study abroad opportunities to student, I was really excited. I want to experience Korean College life and tell my American friends how it was and recommend them.

Since my first choice Yonsei University is not that far from my grandparents’ house. I am expecting to visit them at least once every two weeks. My heart broke down when my aunt called my mom last week telling her that my grandmother will have a surgery on this coming Monday. So my second goal is to have some time with my grandparent. And my main goal is learning more deeply about Management and Economics under amazing professors from Yonsei with Korea life experiences.

To maximize my learning, I will join clubs. I am expecting to join English writing club. Also I will take some English lecture courses and some Korean lecture courses too. If I get a chance, I would love to visit other Korean cities too. I had lived in Seoul for 15 years and didn’t get many chances to visit other cities. Traveling always gives me something that I didn’t expect like great views, great feelings and great understanding of that area.

I have lots of fears about leaving U.S. and living in South Korea. I had amazing memories in MC and this made me worry about “What if life in Seoul is not what I thought it would be” but I know everyone at least think of this before they leave. And this is healthy-worries that would make my journey even more fantastic and make me totally prepared for the journey.

My Goals Abroad In England

Whenever I first decided that I was going to pursue studying abroad, I was a junior in high school. One of my requirements for the college I was going to back then was that they had a strong study abroad program or more programs if possible. The moment I found out that their programs were weak or hadn't been fully developed yet, those colleges were out.

With that in mind, it becomes clear to me that I have always wanted to travel. While books and tv shows are nice, they don't sate the hunger that I have to experience the world that's out there. Watching heroes find the clues to their mysteries is all fine and good until I am left with nothing but the familiar walls around me. To sate that hunger, even if it is only for a semester or a break-time, would make going abroad worth all of the stress that I currently have about money and deadlines.

Beyond that, I recognize that the world is becoming more and more interconnected. The internet, Skype calls, and blogging have made asking questions, getting answers, and making connections easier than ever before, even if it is not always at the fast pace that I have come to expect. Having a connection in another city is nice, but having a connection in another country implies that not only have you made an attempt to travel, you have done so to further pursue your career. I have been taught for a long time that networking is the most important thing you can do for your career path and I hope to utilize that lesson while I am abroad.

As mentioned before, most of my feelings at the moment revolve around my stress levels and the questions that I have. Where am I going to get placed? Where am I going to get money to go abroad? When am I going to leave? When am I going to get back? How am I going to pack my life into a suitcase? Is my family going to be okay while I'm abroad? Are my friends going to be okay while I'm abroad? Is the metal detector going to go off because of my braces?? I only have the vaguest of ideas for most of these questions and a definite "no" on the last one, which is slightly comforting. I know most of these questions will be answered by the time I leave and in the months to come, my stress levels will hopefully come down to Defcon 5 instead of around Defcon 3 or 4 depending on the day.

In addition to that, I want to see what I can do while I'm on my own. While being in college gives me a "test run" into being an adult, being in another country with a slightly lower safety net truly puts everything that I have learned thus far to the test. I know in my the pit of my heart that I'll be fine and I'll look back on my journey fondly, but right now it is all in a future I can't fully imagine yet.