The independent student news site of San Marcos, California

The Cougar Chronicle

The independent student news site of San Marcos, California

The Cougar Chronicle

The independent student news site of San Marcos, California

The Cougar Chronicle

Breaking down the myths about studying abroad

Breaking+down+the+myths+about+studying+abroad

Christina Bastianon

Contributor
There are tons of concerns regarding studying abroad and plenty of reasons to turn away from the opportunity. So, as a returnee from a year abroad in Florence, Italy, I wanted to break down these myths to show that studying abroad is not only possible, but also is a great opportunity for students.

The first myth I hear about all the time is that study abroad costs too much.

This is false. In my year abroad, I paid the same tuition cost as every other CSU student. My rent was cheaper and I lived blocks away from Piazza Santa Croce and the infamous Florentine cathedral. I could buy most of basic goods each week at the local swap meet while supporting the local merchants and farmers. Best news of all, your financial aid travels with you, making it even more affordable

.The second myth is that studying abroad can delay graduation. Again, this is false.

If you plan for your program, you will study in your academic major and minor abroad, often earning just as many units, if not more, than you would earn at CSUSM.  All course work taken from abroad will receive academic credit if it comes from an accredited institution. In your search for a program, choose where you can get the best academics for your time and be sure to meet with a faculty advisor to make sure your courses correlate to the ones on campus.

The third myth deals with the host country’s language. While it can be very nerve-racking to go into a foreign country that speaks a different language, you will be glad to broaden your perspective once you realize how language informs culture.

 While I was abroad, I took language courses that helped me adapt to my new country. The vast majority of study abroad options at CSUSM, require no foreign language fluency as coursework is offered in English. Don’t let your fears about learning a new language keep you from this opportunity. Chances are your English skills will be enough to study and travel abroad.

Homesickness is the fourth myth of studying abroad. This differs between each individual, but I found that with the advancement of technology, I was still able to talk to my family multiple times a week.

Skype, Facebook and email helped me fight my homesickness. Every time I started to feel homesick, I planned to travel somewhere so I could send a postcard to my family as if I was traveling in their honor; cheesy I know, but it worked. Beyond this, you will have a whole new set of priorities and experiences abroad, so you may be surprised that homesickness may not strike as often.

Finally, myth number five concerns safety both abroad and traveling. Many worry about the unknown and that is exactly why this myth exists. Not to say that it’s invalid, but we all are uncertain about what we don’t know and it’s understandable.

 I definitely worried the first time I traveled outside of Florence. I had a complete itinerary listing hostel numbers, airline numbers, consulate numbers, and other emergency numbers. I was well prepared for anything to go wrong and what I found was an amazing change of culture. Everywhere I traveled I found welcoming people and in many cases people who were interested in me and where I came from and wanted to know about America. The best travelers are those who are prepared, yet flexible and open-minded to where their travels take them.

Studying abroad for a full year gave me an unforgettable experience that has honestly changed my life. My experience has lead me to encourage others to explore their options and study abroad. The opportunities are out there; it’s just up to you to find them.

Visiting the Global Education Office is the first step in finding these opportunities for studying abroad, whether you go for a semester, a year or even a summer. To find out more, check out the programs on the website:www.csusm.edu/global.  The world is yours; go explore.

 

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