"The Experience"



Consider Taking the Road Less Traveled

Author: petersons, Category: College Search

The world is an enormous place, full of cultures and languages that many of us hope to see but which most of us will never experience except through National Geographic magazines and Travel Channel documentaries. And yet, when given the opportunity to study abroad in an unconventional location, many American students choose to stick with the familiar, choosing Western countries and cultures located primarily in Europe.

Why is that? Perhaps students fear the unknown, the uncomfortable, or the inability to communicate — or perhaps they just fear not having access to modern plumbing. Whatever the reason, maybe that’s not the case with you…or maybe it is. Wherever your thoughts lie, there is no better time than now to choose a study abroad location that will broaden your horizons far beyond traditions and cultures that you already know like the back of your hand.

The future is not for the culturally-challenged
Globalization and multinational collaboration are modern-day realities and our world is ripe for intercultural exchange. Hoping to spur the development of educated, culturally savvy global leaders and innovators, new study abroad programs are popping up everyday. Students (and non-students, too!) have more opportunities than ever to study in areas where ancient cultures still exist and the contrast between rich and poor exists on a scale unlike anything we might see in the United States.

Global connectedness
More than 80 percent of the world’s population resides in Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, the Middle East, and the nations and territories of the South Pacific. Most of these countries and their varied regions boast some of the oldest cultures known to man, the cradles of civilization, the origins of the world’s great religions, and the historical basis for much of modern learning and technology.

Many of these countries also reveal the global interconnectedness of problems once thought to be isolated, but which we now know to be universal —environmental decay, population growth, immigration, human rights violations, and the use of force and weapons of warfare. Rather than learning about these problems through our nightly newscast, a semester abroad in an area where you can learn firsthand about the experiences of other cultures may be one of the most challenging and life-changing things you may ever do.

Challenge yourself
Fear keeps many of us from venturing outside of our comfort zone. If you think that the most difficult part of studying in a nontraditional location is leaving the familiar behind and stepping into the unknown where every aspect of life seems different, then consider this — it is that very difference that can make study in such a place so exciting and attractive.

You can examine political change in South Africa, rural healthcare in India, wildlife conservation in Botswana, economic development in Japan, Arabic in Egypt, agriculture in Cuba, or urban planning in Mexico City. If you know some French, why not study it in Morocco? If you’re interested in learning about post-colonial nations, Ghana and Indonesia are living laboratories. What better place than Jordan to study early Christianity, Islam, or Judaism? The art collection at your college or university may be excellent, but imagine viewing Chinese art in its intended lodging — the imperial palace in Beijing.

Give it some thought. The road less traveled often makes all the difference.

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