For students looking to travel abroad, it can be difficult to navigate to the experience they want.
Students from Sigma Iota Rho, an honor society for international affairs, offered advice in a forum for interested students Wednesday evening in the in the Global and International Studies Building. The panelists shared their experiences and offered tips for students interested in studying abroad.
Deciding where and what to study abroad
When deciding the where, what and how of studying abroad, panelists agree that faculty members are valuable resources. Senior Samuel Wilson said that reading departmental emails helped direct him towards his study abroad programs in Taiwan and China.
Senior Ryan Van Slyke said he did a lot of networking with faculty members and his professors. They helped him decide on his internship in Maastricht, Netherlands, and set up connections with professors for when he arrived.
“The connections made here at IU will get you far,” Van Slyke said.
Panel members also recommended visiting the Office of Overseas Studies where there is a wall of multicolored papers with information about all the different programs offered and lists of scholarships and financial aid available.
Preparation for study abroad
While still in the U.S., students can prepare for different aspects of studying abroad. Senior panelist Alexandria Schnurpel said that it would be beneficial to save extra money for the trip along with the federal aid or scholarships.
Sophomore panelist Kari Peiscop-Grau said students should research the country they are visiting and try to learn about as many cultural details as possible as soon as they know where they want to go.
Challenges
Homesickness was a common problem for many students on the panel. Schnurpel said she found herself crying in the grocery store one day because she couldn’t find cheddar cheese, and Van Slyke said he cried because he couldn’t find jelly for his peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
Senior Madison O’Day talked about how while she was living in Morocco she didn’t have air conditioning, even as the temperature reached over 100 degrees. In junior Kate Adams' apartment in Botswana, there was no hot water and it was winter.
“It’s important to go in with the expectation of being stressed and tired emotionally,” said O’Day.
While studying abroad
Adams said students should throw themselves into something different, go outside their element and talk to locals as much as possible.
She decided to branch off and took a few weekends to travel alone. She said it was one of the most liberating experiences of her life.
Van Slyke said that students shouldn’t just spend their weekends out drinking or participating in activities they aren’t interested in just because they want to be around other people. Instead, they should visit museums and go to concerts or find experiences that interest them more.
“Don’t be afraid to do things by yourself,” Van Slyke said.
