Studying abroad: a priceless experience

By: Christina Kostic
Posted In: News

No one can deny that a valuable experience for college students is to experience life far away from home. It’s courageous enough to choose a school in a different state, but to go study in a different country simply takes adventure to a whole new level.

More American students today seem to be realizing the importance of having learning experiences in foreign countries. According to a statistic by the Institute of International Education (IIE), the number of U.S. students studying abroad for academic credit increased 9.6% in 2003/2004.

The steady surge of American students going abroad brought the total number of pupils in foreign countries to 191,321 in 2005-and the number has most certainly increased since then.

Salve students are no exception to this rule. Our student body goes to all sorts of exotic locations, varying from Eastern and Western Europe, Asia, Central and South America, and Australia-just to name a few! Here are glimpses into the study abroad experiences of three different students who went to Italy, Spain and England.

Jonna Palermo, junior: Rome, Italy

Q: What surprised you the most about your study abroad experience?

A: “I think how quickly I adapted. I was extremely nervous about going over because the American University of Rome isn’t a program through Salve, so therefore, you have to do everything on your own. I ended up being more upset coming back to the United States than when I was leaving.”

Q: What sort of valuable lessons did you learn while abroad?

A: “My purpose for studying abroad originally was to gain independence, which I most certainly did. For all of the weekend trips I went on, I had to plan them all by my self. I had never used a map before because my parents always did the guiding, but this time I did it all. Everything in Italy was so different, from the grocery stores, to the transportation systems, so you really are experiencing everything on your own.”

Jeffrey Desautels, junior: London, England

Q: How did your educational experience there differ from Salve?

A: “I was in a conservatory style acting program at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. This means I was in class from 10 in the morning until five at night, sometimes 10 at night, Monday through Friday. I learned more about acting than I ever could at Salve, as much as I love our Theatre department. It was intense.

My classes included Clown, Singing, Stage Combat, Historical Dance, Voice, Movement, and Improv. I performed in scenes from Shakespeare’s romances, “The Duchess of Malfi”, and “Two Gentlemen of Verona”. “The Duchess of Malfi” was directed by Scott Handy, who was starring in “Macbeth” on the West End at the time (also starring Patrick Stewart).

During “Two Gentlemen of Verona” I worked with Aaron Mullen, who has worked intimately with David Mamet and Harold Pinter, two of my all-time favorite playwrights.

Also, the guy who plays Dudley Dursley in the Harry Potter movies went to my school; I saw him every day. It was exciting to say the least.”

Q: What surprised you the most about your study abroad experience?

A: “I expected to be perpetually ecstatic. The truth is, that wears off within the first couple of days. There were highs and lows like anything. However, I did not expect to change in the way I did.”

Jackie Mokaba, junior: Sevilla, Spain

Q: What did you like and dislike about the place in which you studied abroad?

A: “I loved everything about Spain. the siestas, the food, the people, the language, the daily schedule, the “Spanish sun” (seriously, almost everyday in Spain was sunny). Being in Sevilla, Spain, I truly felt like I was in the heart of this wonderful culture. I couldn’t have asked for any place better!

There wasn’t very much that I disliked in Spain, sometimes I would become a little aggravated with the feeling of being an outsider.

As much as I tried to dress “muy europea” and speak Spanish as much as I possibly could while I was over there, people always knew that I wasn’t from around there. Sometimes when I would be speaking to a Spaniard in Spanish, they’d automatically change the conversation to English. This often frustrated me but I could see where they were just trying to be helpful. I would usually continue on the conversation in Spanish anyways and then they would get the idea that I wasn’t interested in speaking English.”

Q: Would you recommend study abroad to other students? Why?

A: “I would most definitely recommend other students to study abroad especially if they want to learn a second language. It’s important for people learning a new language to be immersed in their target language’s culture in order to better understand how native speakers use their language.

The goal of becoming proficient in a second language requires the learner to hear it, speak it, write it and read it in a variety of situations that only studying abroad can provide him or her with. Regardless of whether or not the student is trying to enhance their second language skills, studying abroad is a once in a lifetime opportunity in which everyday is a lesson. These lessons not only teach about the culture, but the students learn so much about themselves in the process.”