Go Study Abroad- A Postcard from Provence

May 4th, 2009 Posted by Suzy Ogé

study-abroad

Dear Aunt B,

It was a pleasure to spend time with your eldest daughter while on holiday in the South of France this week. Congratulations to you for supporting her decision to study abroad. I am also happy to report that your financial contribution appears to be a sound investment. (No, she did not ask me to have you send money!)

Scrolling through her Facebook updates and photos might lead you to believe she has been on a continuous 5 month vacation, but the life lessons she is learning are unique and not on offer at her University in rural Missouri!

Having lived in Europe for the past 10 years, I am obviously biased in favour of the experience of going abroad. Observing her in her foreign environment, inspired me to list below the reasons everyone should study abroad.

While I do not share your belief that it is a coincidence she and and her long-time boyfriend chose the same small city in the South of France, I will tell you that we find him to be delightful! Her choice shows good judgement and more than any of the points mentioned below, is a positive indicator of her future happiness.

Je t’embrace,

Suzy

P.S. Here is the list of 7 big benefits of studying abroad:

1. Mastering or at least Improving your language skills is bound to happen!

2. Cultural Immersion is the best way to truly acknowledge that cultural differences exist. Learning how to identify, accept, communicate and thrive in a multicultural environment is a valuable career skill.

3. Broaden your horizons. Being away from the environment in which you were raised, creates the distance and perspective to make choices about your future. Not just choosing between A and B, but understanding what it is about a city or a culture that inspires you.

4.Humility in appreciating the generosity of a host family; acknowledging that a few peers may have lucked out in their placements; but there are always some less fortunate.

5. Finding your own way outside the bubble, that is an American University Campus, is a challenge. Budgeting daily expenses as well as planning and financing cross-border travel may push your resourcefulness to the limit!

6. Your expectations will shift as you see people operating differently in their daily lives and using resources, especially space much differently (public transportation and American McMansions are a few examples)

7. Even if you hate living abroad, you will have learned something about yourself and you will have great stories and memories that hopefully you will laugh about someday, when you get over the trauma.