Studying Abroad Offers Perspective
October 27, 2008 • By Teryn Oglesby,
Print This Post
Email This Post
No stretching in public, no eating in class and absolutely don’t even think about wearing your flip-flops outside the house. As outrageous as this may seem, “claro que si” would be the unanimous agreement to such statements if you were in Salamanca, Spain. Yes, you could ignore these statements, but only if you want to be on the receiving end of many Spanish death stares.
These are just a few of the cultural differences I experienced while studying abroad this past spring. After my first encounter with my host mother speaking rapid and incoherent Spanish to my jet-lagged roommate and me, I began wondering if I had made the right choice in coming. Little did I know the adventures to ensue and lifelong friendships that would develop from being forced outside my comfort zone for four months in a foreign country.
I mean, we all agree that JMU is one of the best places on the planet, but how about a bit of comparison? JMU does a great job of exposing us to new ideas and ways of looking at the world, but there is so much to be gained in actually getting out and experiencing these cultures. Though it is a bit daunting to leave your friends, family and the amazing D-Hall dining we all know and love, learning in a different culture truly opens your eyes to things you wouldn’t otherwise have seen. I was nervous about missing out on things at JMU, but now I can’t imagine my life without the four months spent in Spain.
The greatest thing about studying abroad through JMU’s Office of International Programs (OIP) is the amount of “over there” you get to bring “back here.” Aside from bringing home 31 amazing friends from my program, I received 18 credit hours for both General Education and major classes without any messy paperwork. JMU’s study abroad programs also offer numerous financial aid packages that make it affordable to anyone with a big enough desire to travel. JMU also takes care of the essentials while you’re out there — the program fee itself covered everything from food to housing to group travel on the weekends. I was able to see more than 10 cities in eight regions of Spain and learned in a classroom constructed of cathedral walls and palace gardens.
Now, back in the classrooms of Bluestone buildings, my experience abroad has enriched my contributions to class discussions and assignments. In almost every aspect of my life, I find myself comparing day-to-day activities here to those of Spaniards and reflecting on what makes both of our cultures tick. Aside from footwear, we are not as different as I originally thought.
We talk about diversity at JMU and we immediately think of skin color. World perspectives and diversity of the mind is what we really need; it is what will affect change in our campus and what we choose to do with our lives after getting that diploma. Our world is getting smaller, so take advantage of an opportunity such as study abroad to step out of the classroom and live what you are learning.
Teryn Oglesby is a senior cultural communication studies and Spanish major.
Contact Teryn Oglesby at oglesbtm@jmu.edu
Comments
Got something to say?
Check Out New Videos!
March 4, 2010 Issue in Print
2010 Baseball & Softball Guide
