Click here to view this slideshow<a href="">Click here to view this slideshow</a> Click here to view this slideshow
Senior Sarah Bowman said she’ll always remember the advice she got while contemplating studying abroad.
“She told me, ‘Do it now when you have the time and not the money, and pay it back later when you have the money but not the time,'” Bowman said.
After those words left the mouth of Cynthia Appl, chair of the department of language and literature, Bowman knew she had to get on a plane as soon as possible, she said.
Bowman, a Spanish major, spent summer 2004 teaching English in Hangzhou, China, and the 2005-2006 academic year in Granada, Spain.
Studying abroad is not limited to students of language, though, junior Jenna Collins said. Collins said this point has been made clear by the events of International Education Week, which have been happening since Monday and end today with the People-to-People sale from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Harter Union lobby.
“I hope it has helped other students to realize it’s not only feasible to study abroad, but it’s incredibly beneficial to experience a different culture, even if it’s an English-speaking environment,” she said.
Collins, who will spend the spring semester studying in Avignon, France, said studying in a foreign country has immense value.
“I think international awareness is particularly crucial in this day and age, and any sort of opportunity to experience all things international should be encouraged,” she said.
Director of Study Abroad Cindy Novelo said foreign studies and experience have a number of benefits.
“The most obvious one, I think, is you learn about the world outside the United States and your own particular corner, but what’s not as obvious and what’s maybe more important is that you learn about your own country and a lot about yourself,” she said.
Students gain the best perspective on one’s own nation by seeing which perspectives other peoples have on that nation, Novelo said.
“I think it’s extremely important in this day and age that we, as citizens of the United States, have a much better understanding of what role our country plays in the rest of the world, and it is very different to do that, if not impossible, from within,” she said.
Novelo said though a number of Baker University students take the opportunity to study abroad, she would like to see more students venture beyond the typical study abroad destinations.
“I am really excited to be doing study abroad. It’s exciting to help students find programs that will be challenging and rewarding,” she said. “I’m hoping to see some students exploring some other programs and reaching out a bit to Latin America, Asia and Africa.”
Novelo said the most common study-abroad areas are Western European locations that correspond with the languages taught at Baker, including England, Spain, France and Germany or Austria. Novelo said she’s already seeing some changes in study-abroad trends with five students set to study in Australia and two in New Zealand in the spring.
Bowman said one obligation of students who go abroad is to bring their acquired knowledge back to Baker.
“Everyone always talks about how they’re going to study abroad or go to Harlaxton, but you never really see it reflected on campus,” she said. “I think it’s really important for study-abroad people to learn as much as they can and get as much as they can out of it, and when you come home, bring what you’ve learned and spread it around.”
Bowman said she would encourage anyone to take advantage of such opportunities during one of the most free times of a person’s life.
“I would encourage people to study abroad because I think it’s an excellent way to broaden your horizons and learn about the world and a lot about yourself,” she said. “Every minute, you’re just constantly stimulated by something new.”