A Case For Studying Abroad

I am fortunate enough to coach on a high school sports team that routinely attracts the foreign exchange students. This year we have five on the team, representing Germany, Sweden, Mexico, Czech Republic and Italy. It is absolutely fascinating talking to these students to not only get their perspective on American culture, but to also hear how they begin to change their opinion of their home country.

For example, while teaching the Italian and Swedish students to Rollerblade last night we had a chat about vehicles and transportation. The Italian student was funny, saying "I don't understand why Italians are such good drivers on scooters (she has a Vespa) but so bad in our cars!" She said this in observation to a large SUV that had pulled up to the high school to pick some students up. She couldn't imagine driving something that big, even though the streets in our town are quite wide... whereas I couldn't imagine flying down narrow streets dodging through traffic on a scooter like she does. We both thought the other one was crazy.

But for reasons like this studying abroad is such a great opportunity. It can be hard to see our own cultural biases until we are brought up against something that challenges it. This isn't to say what we do here is right or wrong, it's just hard to sometimes imagine a different way of doing things or thinking about something when always presented with the same thing.

Once you're out of your element and comfort zone you will find yourself trying things you never thought you would (our Swedish student had never considered rollerblading before!) and can expand your horizons beyond what you thought possible.

Yes, I'm fully aware that's corny and cliche. But it's true- who knows what sport you might be able to try that you never thought you would if you spent 6 months or a year in the Czech Republic? And, like our Czech Republic student observed his history class is much different here. "At home" he says "We only study Czech history and what happened in Eastern Europe- I've never studied American History before". Even his world history didn't touch on it, and he was enjoying it... for the most part. "There are so many weird words in this book" he said, indicating his history book "that I have to keep looking them up and it's getting frustrating."

Frustrating I'm sure it is, but the chance to learn something from another perspective is priceless. If you college offers a study abroad program... take advantage of it!! My biggest college regret is that I didn't study abroad when I had the chance. Don't end up like me. :)