It’s always comforting to feel at home while you are studying abroad. This blog post will tell about a time where I felt welcomed while I was in Vietnam.
This photo is at a place called Café English, located in Can Tho, Vietnam. Here, a local group known as T.E.C (The English Club), gather together on Tuesday nights to practice English and mingle with tourists. It is a very fun time. They sing very popular English songs and play games. One thing you will notice in Vietnam is that not many locals are used to interacting with people of color. At first, this worried me. I thought I would be viewed as an outsider, even more so than just how a normal tourist would feel. But, I was surprised with the kindness and friendliness I was met with. They asked me questions about my life and seemed genuinely interested. The guy on the far right nicely approached me and said, “I’m sorry but I’ve never seen a black person in real life. Can I take a selfie with you?” It made me laugh but I told him yes. Here is that selfie.
Feeling welcome abroad can increase your confidence being abroad and make your experience more enjoyable, and my time at Café English definitely did that for me! 😊
International Education Week (IEW) is an opportunity to celebrate the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide. The theme of the University of Arkansas' International Education Week celebration is "You Are Welcome Here." Students are encouraged to share their international education stories on social media using #IEWelcomeUARK. You can learn more about IEW at https://iew.state.gov/
And, check out the IEW events happening on campus at iew.uark.edu
Don't miss your opportunity to study or intern abroad! Start your search at http://studyabroad.uark.edu/search/
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Eric, a Senior accounting major, studied abroad with our faculty-led programs in Vietnam and Ireland. Come meet Eric and the other peer advisors at a Hogs Abroad 101 information meeting! These hour-long sessions are held Tuesdays and Wednesdays during the fall and spring semesters, from 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm in the Center for World Languages, Literatures and Cultures (JBHT 207).
Eric, a Senior accounting major, studied abroad with our faculty-led programs in Vietnam and Ireland. Come meet Eric and the other peer advisors at a Hogs Abroad 101 information meeting! These hour-long sessions are held Tuesdays and Wednesdays during the fall and spring semesters, from 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm in the Center for World Languages, Literatures and Cultures (JBHT 207).
