Students tell their stories...

Emily Neumann - Lund, Sweden 2007-08 Choosing to study abroad in Sweden was one the best decisions I made while at UCSB. As the only international student in a dorm of nineteen Swedes, I truly became immersed into Swedish student society and was exposed to a completely new culture and way of life. Academically, I was challenged to explore topics that were not offered at my home university, such as Swedish Culture and Third World Christianity.  Normally I would not feel comfortable contributing on a regular basis in class, but due to the small size of the classes and incredible faculty, I felt confident to converse with my professors and other students from all over the world. Overall, I viewed my role in Sweden as an ambassador for the United States and feel that one of my greatest personal accomplishments while abroad was representing my country in an honest and open-minded way.  By learning to step out of my comfort zone and cope with unexpected and challenging situations, I experienced enormous growth through the enriching experience of immersing myself in a foreign culture.  Studying abroad helped me to gain a global perspective and mature into an internationally aware individual. Whether I was volunteering at a local high school to help Swedish students practice their English, taking Swedish language courses, or attending traditional crayfish gatherings, I experienced things I never would have if I stayed in Santa Barbara.

Wesley graduated from UCSB as a Chinese major and will be returning to Taiwan to teach English and continue his study of Chinese language and culture.	Wesley Holzer - Taiwan 2007-08
		Every student who studies abroad has to face the challenges presented by a foreign environment, a separation from family and friends, and a lack of Mexican food.  I hadn’t thought about the fact that Taiwan is about as far from home and Mexican food as I could get when I decided to study there.  It became very obvious very fast that I was in an environment totally alien to me, without any support network if I needed it.  Studying in Taiwan was an irreplaceable experience of exploring the world and myself.  As I learned to communicate in Mandarin and to appreciate Taiwanese culture, I also learned how to express myself clearly and to appreciate my own culture.  The most important lesson I learned was that the “expanding my horizons” everyone had told me about was more than just widening my perspective of different linguistic and cultural conditions, but rather understanding your own from an outside perspective.  I found that nothing could be taken for granted in a different country; even making friends was a different process because of different social norms.  A Taiwanese student one day approached me and showed me an English test she had taken and asked me to explain why her wrong answers were wrong.  Her enthusiasm for learning, even after she had gotten the grade, has had a lasting impact on my outlook on studying Chinese and other subjects.  When I got on the plane to leave Taiwan, I realized I would have to once again face the challenges of a new environment, separation from my new close friends, and this time, a lack of Taiwanese street food.

Graduating in Political Science, Lauren will be an intern at the Institute of International Education in the fall.	Lauren Blum - Edinburgh, Scotland 2007-08
		I spent last year studying and living in the home of the largest art and cultural festival in the world, Edinburgh.  My first introduction to the city was the thirty minute long fireworks show that ended the annual festival. Fireworks ignited over the 800-year old castle and were coordinated to the national symphony playing the score to Romeo and Juliet. I instantly fell in love with the city -- with its vast history, beautiful architecture, and the amazingly friendly Scottish people.  During the year I also had the opportunity to travel to nine different countries and throughout Scotland. At the University of Edinburgh I had the opportunity to take several very interesting political science classes that I wouldn ’t have been able to take at UCSB. After learning about trade issues in “Africa in World Politics,” I was inspired to study the preferential trade agreements of the U.S. and the EU with African nations for my senior honors thesis. Adjusting to a different learning system was a worthwhile challenge that forced me to become a more independent student and take a new approach to my studies.

Tell us how your study abroad experience has shaped your life! Send your story and photo to eapucsb@eap.ucsb.edu.