I've been lucky enough to study abroad twice. I spent the summer of 2009 in France through the UA Faculty-Led program in Besançon. The following summer I studied abroad in Torino, Italy through USAC.
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| Italian pizza: simple ingredients, amazing taste! |
Studying abroad completely changed
the person I am today. It helped me become more fearless, made me learn quickly
that you can’t plan everything, and I even changed my major. My only regret is
that I didn’t stay longer but that’s something I plan on addressing in the near
future!
A few things important things I’ve
learned while studying abroad are:
· Don’t be afraid to look like an
idiot.
· Never pass up an opportunity to try
something new.
· Stay up late and wake up early.
You’ll have plenty of time to sleep when you’re back in the states.
· When greeting a French person with
the cheek kiss, learn from my mistakes and DON'T GO LEFT or else you'll end up
sharing many an awkward kiss with strangers. Unless that is okay with you. In
which case, ALWAYS GO LEFT.
The thing about studying abroad is
that you can't go and expect to come back the same. An insatiable hunger to
travel and learn in inevitably ignited within you that can't be ignored. As
soon as I saw there was an opening at the Office of Study Abroad, I jumped at
the opportunity.
I've been a peer advisor there for about a year now and I can
honestly say I've loved every minute of it. There's always something
interesting going on where I can directly use the skills learned
abroad. The typical day of a peer advisor involves activities such as
giving class talks on studying abroad, advising students on the beginning steps
of choosing a program, and creating databases to make searching for a program
easier. It's such a thrill getting to talk about studying abroad, watching them
set upon the same unforgettable journey I have before.
Reading about studying abroad is all
good and well but life is about action, not just thought. If you don't know
where to start, call the office. You'll always find a friendly face there
willing to share their international experiences and help you start your own.
What are you waiting for?
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| Stephanie Flores USAC Ambassador University of Arkansas Office of Study Abroad |
"I always
wonder why birds choose to stay in the same place when they can fly anywhere on
the earth, then I ask myself the same question." - Harun Yahya
