An American Studying Abroad

One of the more attractive qualities of my internship abroad is that I also get to take a course. The best part about being able to take my course is that I will still be under a United States system. Anglo-American University is an American college in Prague. The difference between Maryville College and Anglo-American University is the number of people who are from different nationalities. The university uses the same credit system, the same grading system, and similar workloads.

I will be exposed to multiple cultures and approaches to scholarship. The faculty is composed of instructors from twenty different countries. It is possible that my professors will be from Czech Republic, Israel, or Austrailia. Their class sizes are capped at twenty-five, with some courses being capped at twenty or even fifteen.

The school is a much younger institution than Maryville College, so it does have fewer programs. The programs, however, are all geared toward students learning within an international community.
It is encouraged that students interact with students from countries other than one's own. There are over seventy countries represented in the student body. Interacting with those who are from a different culture seems as though it will be very easy at AAU.

Another difference between my home institution and my host institution is the operation of academic services. While tutoring is student-led at Maryville College, tutoring is done by professors. There is a set of lecturers who offer their time in their areas of specialization. They have a set schedule for them to be present and available for students. I look forward to taking advantage of this while completing my full-time Summer schedule of six credits.

An American Abroad

My internship in Prague will be my first time abroad. In the beginning, I was nervous about how I would fit in while abroad, but as I have learned more about myself through the culture assignments, I realize that I will be fine. Based on my self-audit, I am more independent, open, and flexible than I thought. I am able to do things on my own and take charge in situations where that is needed. I have always been open to trying new things and having new experiences. As much as I like having a plan, I am able to improvise and be flexible based on the circumstances. When traveling abroad, there may be many unexpected happenings that you may not be completely prepared for, so there is a need to keep an open mind.

Even though I am open to different strategies when it comes to learning to exist in a different culture, the culture I am going to be working in is somewhat similar to my own. The Czech Republic is a low context culture. The culture has an appreciation for individualism much like the United States. It matches my personal cultural context and it somewhat resembles what I am used to. Although I would be comfortable working in a culture that is different from my own, the similarities will make the transition much easier. Being an American abroad in Prague is looking like it will be a great experience.

The Purpose of Going Abroad

The primary purpose for going abroad is to have an experience. Experience another country, experience another culture, experience being on your own. Studying abroad is a great opportunity to not only travel but also learn. You may learn a lot by going on a vacation somewhere you have never been before, but when the objective is to gain something academically or professionally, you are almost guaranteed to learn something you add to your professional and academic career. You could also learn something about yourself.

My goal for going abroad for an internship is to learn. I want to gain skills for my chosen career path and apply what I know in a professional environment. I could do this with an internship at home, but going abroad pushes you a bit further. It would challenge me by forcing me outside of my comfort zone.

I will not only have the task of completing the work or jobs assigned to me by my site supervisor but also adapt and interact with those who live in a different cultural context. Along with learning from them, I will be teaching them and acting as a representative for those who share my cultural background. That could include my nationality, ethnicity, race, or socioeconomic status. Regardless of what population I am perceived to be a part of, I will be an ambassador. As uncomfortable as they may be for me, this will challenge me to be a voice for a larger group of people.

My goal for interning abroad is not only to gain skills for a career but also be a student, a teacher, and become a more well-rounded individual. It is possible that I may have some abilities that I am not aware of and this experience can bring them to light.