Why Study Abroad Benefits EVERYONE!

Good news for people who get excited for study abroad statistics! (Is that just me?) A 2013 survey shows increases in international travel for students. From 2011 to 2012, the number of American students studying abroad increased 3.4% to 283,332. Not only have popular destinations (like the UK) experienced an increase in students, but also some less popular ones like Latin America and the Caribbean. This indicates that students are seeking less conventional experiences and are more enthusiastic than ever about expanding their comfort zones and connecting with different cultures.

I've always thought of study abroad within the framework of how I personally benefited from it, i.e. greater confidence, a deeper understanding of another culture, a broader outlook on life etc., and I've even written about why I think as many students as possible should experience it. This infographic shows study abroad doesn't just benefit individuals, it benefits entire nations: "819,644 international students and their families contributed $24 billion to the U.S. economy during the 2012-13 academic year, according to a NAFSA: Association of International Educators analysis." This is precisely why we should be glad that not only are more and more American students choosing to study abroad, but more foreign students are too. From 2011 to 2012 the number of international students enrolled in an American university increased 7.2%, at about 819,644 students each year, and it seems likely that those numbers are going to keep going up. 

This week at the seventh trilateral North American Leaders Summit Meeting, Mexico announced its plan to increase the number of Mexican students in US institutions from 13,800 to 100,000 by 2018, a lofty goal that is sure to be a hot-button topic amongst US residents (as one particular side of the US political spectrum tends to be weary of incomers). Maybe they would change their minds if they saw how much it's contributing to the economy...

While the US has well over 100,000 students studying abroad each year, maybe we should use Mexico as an example and think about how to increase our own numbers. Only 9.4% of Americans study abroad and 60% of those students do a short-term program as opposed to a semester or year long program. American students are burdened by the current cost of higher education and according to this New York Times article, 56% of American Students are interested in studying abroad, but feel they lack "adequate information about options, and [are] also worried about finances, visas and homesickness." European students are more likely to go abroad due to programs that finance their studies abroad like Erasmus. Perhaps the US, which is highly a "receiving nation" (usually nations that import students) would do well to put an Erasmus-like program into the works? It would behoove the US to encourage international studies in our increasingly globalized world.

What Study Abroad Meant to Me

Before I left

Some words that came to mind when I thought of study abroad during the month leading to my departure: unknown, fear, failure. Living in an unknown city for five months, fearing the risk of being alone, struggling and even failing at a new university. Now that’s a pretty negative way to think of a five month sojourn in Paris, but for most of my life I’ve had difficulty dealing with change. Staying where you are is comfortable and safe. I found myself wondering why I had made such a decision to uproot my life for half a year and send myself to almost certain disaster (yes, I was fairly sure that my time abroad was going to be a disaster). Sure I wanted to travel, see the world, experience different cultures, but like this? Boarding a plane all by myself without a clue of what was going to happen when I landed?

While I was there

Thankfully, those thoughts did not last long once I was in Paris. I was still anxious as I arrived; I hadn’t slept at all on the plane, and I had very little idea of how to navigate Charles de Gaulle airport. Eventually I found the API study abroad staff and other students who were in my program, but all I could look forward to was sleep. On the ride from the airport to our hotel where we would stay the first night, I saw Notre Dame for the first time, and at that moment I finally started to feel like I made the right decision. Before the first week in Paris was over, absolutely no doubt remained that I had made the right decision. Suddenly, I was having the time of my life and study abroad took a whole new meaning. It meant friendship, a new family, a new home. It meant I was exactly where I wanted to be and I never wanted to leave. It meant every day I was improving my language skills and realizing that there was a whole world at my disposal.

When I got back

I was devastated to come home. I thought it meant that all the wonder and magic of this experience had to end. That was only partially true. Sure I was returning to Massachusetts, which is certainly no Paris. I was leaving my newest best friends and my resident directors (who were like moms away from home), and I had sincere worries that I would be leaving behind this new person I had become. If I returned back to Massachusetts, wouldn’t I turn back into “Massachusetts me?” Would “Paris me” fit in here? During those 5 months, I felt myself grow and change. Usually, personal growth happens gradually so you don’t notice it all that much, but the change from studying abroad happens in just 5 months and you notice it. I felt more confident and secure, I had a broader idea of what it meant to live life, I was more organized and had new, exciting plans for the future. I liked who I had become. I’m not saying I underwent a full transformation; I was me, but I was a “me” who felt a lot happier about life. That’s a lot to lose but fortunately, those are the changes that come home with you. I can’t bring Paris back to the USA, and I can’t move my friends across land and ocean, but I can bring what I’ve learned about the world and myself. Returning home felt like a struggle at first. The “Paris me” and the “Massachusetts Me” had to learn how to cohabitate; I had to come to terms with not having fresh crepês every day and once again living the small-town life,  but I’d like to think that the “Paris me” takes the drivers seat now with more confidence and a better outlook on life and opportunity.

Useful article for travelers!

How to Choose an Air Travel Search Site 

As travelers, we've all spent hours and hours looking through Priceline, Travelocity, Kayak, Expedia, and the never-ending list of travel sites in search of the flight for the right price. This article helps break down the what, where, when and how of online booking.

The Gadget You Should Bring When You Study Abroad

What's the number one must-have for every traveler? A camera of course! 
Polaroid had it's heyday in the 90's, but this new camera - a digital Polaroid camera - could mean a revival for them. Just a little bit larger than your average digital camera, plus you can choose which photos to print or save! I promise this is not an endorsement for Polaroid, I just think this camera is totally sweet!
When I was abroad, I would have loved to be able to print out photos at any moment. Now even my best photos are lost in my iPhoto library amongst slightly crooked photos of every room in Versailles and blurry photos of the Mona Lisa. Not to mention, these photos are stickers! That will seriously streamline your scrapbook making. You can also edit and add filters, putting all that Instagram practice to use. So cool.

What's one thing you couldn't travel without? Let me know!