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STUDY ABROAD PROGRAM - STUDENT EXPERIENCES
Elizabeth Walpole How did you select your Study/Intern Abroad location? I chose London, England because I am an English literature major and wanted to learn more about England's history and put all the books I read in perspective by getting to know English culture. Why did you want to study or intern abroad? I have never traveled anywhere in Britain or Europe before, and wanted to do something really daring. I wanted to gain confidence in terms of trip planning and finding my way around while living in a major city. I also wanted to have a unique experience that may make me stand out as a graduate student. What was the highlight of the experience? The most exciting part of the trip was when I got to see where some of my favorite authors lived and wrote. It felt surreal to stand near a house where Charles Dickens or Shakespeare lived. I even chose to read English novels while I was studying abroad so that I could clearly imagine the London setting of, for example, Graham Greene's The End of the Affair. What surprised you the most? The cultural differences were the most surprising, because I think of American and English life to be practically identical, so finding little differences was very interesting. For example, simple etiquette phrases were different, such as saying “cheers” instead of “thanks.” I also noticed how much everyone seems to celebrate sunny days and all go to the park at the same time! How has (or how might) this experience affect your major and future career? Studying in London has helped me make a lot more connections to English history in the literature I read. Also, I've developed an even deeper appreciation for the subtleties of dry English humor in writing. For my future career as a teacher, I hope recounting bits of my study abroad experience will make my lessons sound more credible and “real” to my students who may not be interested in English. What would you tell students considering studying or interning abroad? It is a lot of work arranging all the plans, but it is well worth the stress! I also feel like, for me, having professors who were English and lived near London helped a lot with the culture shock. By chatting with our professors on breaks from class, the students weren't afraid to ask for advice on everything from where to get good cheap food to what is approprate dress for the theatre. It's great to have non-American contacts to help you ease the transition into another country. |
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