Nelly graduated from the U of A with a major in International Business and earned a minor in French by spending a summer studying on the U of A French in Besancon (now French in Perpignan) faculty-led program. We asked her a few questions about her study abroad and here's
what she had to say:
Why did you decide to study abroad?
I studied abroad for two reason: 1. I'd always wanted to go
to France and an opportunity like this one had never presented itself before.
and 2. I wanted experience the culture of a place I’d studied about but never
imagined I’d get to visit.
What did you really learn by going abroad?
I learned just accessible the world is-once you travel
somewhere new, it gets easier to believe you can do it again.
How has it impacted the rest of your college
experience/your personal life/your job search?
I was able to get a minor in French and several business
electives which allowed me to meet my graduation requirements early. That
allowed me the opportunity to start an internship my senior year in January (as
I was not taking classes on campus) and that internship opportunity turned into
a job.
What was the biggest hurdle in getting abroad and how did
you overcome it?
The financial aspect was hard, but my program cost was
feasible that I was able to pay by myself and with loans.
What is one piece of advice would you give to other
students thinking about studying abroad?
Don't limit yourself. By that I mean don't think “it's too
expensive”, or “I could do x instead, I don't have the time”,etc. There's no
experience like studying abroad. Yes, you get the academic credit but
personally, it's so important to go and experience the world and see how it
responds to you. It builds your confidence.
What did you learn about yourself/your culture by going
abroad?
I appreciated my Kenyan roots a lot more. Culture is so
important in France, especially the city I was in. The pride they had in their
culture made me appreciate mine as well as you realize just how unique your
culture is in the world.
Where did you live while abroad?
I lived with a host family and a roommate and it was the
greatest experience. They were so welcoming and open. This is another advice,
allow yourself to connect to the people you meet. Don't wait because time flies
by so fast.
Was studying abroad expensive? How did you pay for your
experience?
My program was inexpensive enough that I was able to pay for
it out of pocket. You can also apply your loans to study abroad and of course
apply for scholarships
Did you encounter any unexpected attention from your
group or the local people by being African American? How did you deal with it?
Paris is a city of tourists and you’re so busy admiring
everything that you don’t notice if others are aware of you. In Besancon, the
school I studied at was extremely diverse. There were people from so many
different countries that it was hard to feel out of place. The people I
encountered in Besancon were open to me. I felt welcomed and comfortable very
quickly.
--
To find out more about the U of A French in Perpignan summer program, visit http://studyabroad.uark.edu/perpignan
If you need help getting started with study abroad, take a
look at the first steps: http://studyabroad.uark.edu/getting-started/first-steps.php.
