Several girls in my study abroad program have a running countdown of how many days are left until departure on their Facebook statuses. “Ginger comes home in 33 DAYS! Get Pumped!!!” Tears of despair and denial spring to my eyes with each painful reminder of the short time I have left in France. Yet the unfeeling, cold countdown continues, and I know that in a matter of days I will be whisked away from France with the whirlwind rapidity in which I arrived.
The study abroad experience silently initiates each new member so we are never quite the same again. How do I reconcile my wine imbibing, all-night discothèqueing, French chattering and country-hopping European personality with my 20-year-old, underage, small-town girl American persona?
Though I fully anticipate that my friends will roll their eyes when I greet them with French cheek kisses, and that my family will lovingly tolerate my occasional insertion of French phrases into conversations, I know that part of me now belongs to France.
Perhaps France isn’t your cup of tea — do you long for temperate climates and Spanish beaches? Or perhaps the Asian culture tempts you — Shanghai? Nanjing? Might I suggest Chile, Botswana, the Czech Republic or Tanzania? Dear U.Va. student, the world is your oyster, and to encourage you to go out and realize your exploration dreams, I have compiled a list of the top 10 reasons to study abroad.
10) As U.Va. students, we typically place into the super-human range of intelligence. Paradoxically, world citizens have surprisingly low standards for Americans. The result is that we Wahoos continually delight by exceeding expectations everywhere we go. Our culture and class ensure our popularity, and you know what popular kids get? That’s right: free food, dinner invitations and endless admiration and compliments.
9) Let’s admit it: The daily diet of Starbucks, Chick fil-A, Chipotle, Panera, Taco Bell and — when desperate — Newcomb can quickly grow stale. Study abroad can put an end to the American gastronomic rut by furnishing the palette with a completely new and unexpected array of delicacies. Foie gras (overstuffed goose liver), horse meat, frog legs and snails can be found in France. Fried crickets and dogs can be consumed in the Philippines, spiders in Cambodia and turtle eggs in Nicaragua.
8) Make and break the American stereotype. Whether you’re being the loudest person on the Paris metro or passionately voicing your environmental concerns, chances are you’re enjoying yourself and living it up.
7) Suddenly, you’re exotic, the prized collection of the village and bragging rights for your host family. “That’s right,” you’ll hear them say, “that’s our American.”
6) Members of the opposite sex think you’re exotic and fascinating as well and simper about your accent. Suddenly, being American becomes a huge talking point.
5) Student travel and group discounts. It cannot be denied that attending Oktoberfest in Germany, then flying to London on a whim for fish and chips and finally waking up in Poland the next morning is a “Life card.”
4) Separated from your friends, family and loved ones by several thousand miles of land and/or ocean you will have the time to do some serious soul searching.
3) The make-your-own-adventure aspect: Whether you choose to study art history in Florence or sail around the world, study abroad lets you write one of the most exciting chapters of your life.
2) Did I mention adventure? Study abroad offers it in bulk — treks through the Pyrenees, jungle tours, Buddhist meditation ... anything and everything goes!
1) Study + Abroad. Somehow, the combination of studying in a foreign location makes the studying part not only bearable but enjoyable. It’s like chocolate-covered fruit — nutritious, yet delicious.
So U.Va. students, change your life. Forever. Through study abroad, you will meet fascinating new people who will become lifelong friends. With said friends, you will create lasting memories, such as the night you all jumped in the fountain in the middle of winter.
Kendra’s column ran biweekly Tuesdays. This is her last column. She can be reached at k.kirk@cavalierdaily.com.
Read More
It’s okay not to be okay
By Mai Hukuoka | 6 days agoWhether talking to a friend, a loved one or a professional, it is so necessary, and human, to need more than you can provide for yourself.
Taking a break at Tangerines Kitchen
By Charley Thomas | January 6, 2025What the restaurant somewhat lacks in ambiance, it compensates for in tasty dishes and prompt service.
Virginia Policy Lab — a hub for student-led policy action
By Katherine Haden | December 9, 2024Students propose their own projects and collaborate with other members to research their issues of interest, brainstorm solutions and write policy proposals.
