Six ways to get the most of your study abroad experience
Chapman students give their tips on studying abroad and how they are settling into this experience. Photo collage by EMILY PARIS, photo editor
Orange is a safe little bubble filled with all a college student could need — restaurants, a bar that you see the same people at every Thursday and a university full of academic knowledge.
This little town might provide a content place for students to wander about in, but one can only wander around a bubble for so long until it bursts.
In the wise words of Donna Sheridanin in "Mamma Mia 2," “Life is short, the world is wide. I want to make some memories.”
Chapman students are once again able to make memories abroad as COVID-19 restrictions have lessened on study abroad programs. Although their journey abroad has just begun, a handful of students are already absorbing the knowledge that one cannot study but rather must experience by eating, talking and observing the beauty of foreign lands.
The Panther talked to five students who are studying abroad this semester across Europe and Asia about their enriching experiences and the tips they can offer to prospective world travelers.
1. Know what you want
Everyone looks for something different in a study abroad experience. Some want to completely upend their life and be thrown into a country where nothing is familiar. One of these people is Kaile Leong, a junior graphic design major, who is studying abroad in Florence, Italy.
“I had never been to Italy before, and I knew I wanted to study somewhere with a language barrier so I could immerse myself in their culture,” Leong said.
Leong also evaluated her passions when picking a city and found that Florence embodied the stylistically beautiful atmosphere she enjoys in order to enrich her mind.
“I specifically chose Florence because they’re known for art and fashion, which are two things I’m really passionate about,” Leong said. “It’s also a small town and community, which is a great break from a big, busy city. It’s definitely small, but everything here is walkable and there’s so much beauty in the buildings and architecture here.”
Other students choose cities that were more similar to the U.S. while still having their own unique qualities. Sara Shohoud, a junior screenwriting major, told The Panther she chose to study abroad in Glasgow, Scotland because it has a program that supports her screenwriting major and is an English-speaking country with a vast landscape.
“I really love (Glasgow), but I feel like here you get both (city and nature),” Shohoud said. “I live right next to a park and 20 minutes away from the city center.”
Emi Thomas, a junior English major, took a different route in choosing her study abroad city. Thomas, who is half Japanese, wanted to learn more about her heritage when studying abroad so she chose to study in Tokyo.
“My mom taught me and my siblings a lot about Japanese culture as we grew up,” Thomas said. “I have a little bit of knowledge about the language from her and we tried to visit my relatives in Japan as much as we could. However, I still felt as if I was missing out on a big part of my identity and wanted to learn more about my culture.”
2. Apply early
Thomas’ biggest tip she could offer prospective study abroad students is to apply early. There are several steps to the application process and so many opportunities that you need ample time to apply to.
“Even after you apply, there are so many steps to the studying abroad process, some of them are on a tight deadline and you will be doing yourself a huge favor by turning everything in at least one to two weeks in advance,” Thomas said. “There are some internship and class opportunities I missed out on because I waited until the last minute to turn things in.
3. Live as the locals do
“The food, culture, landscape and smell; they’re all inseparable,” Anthony Bourdain told Condé Nast Traveler in 2014.
Caroline Sechio, a junior screenwriting major and Bourdain fan, has taken this quote to heart and has tried to follow local Glasgoian protocol to the fullest accompanied by local delicacies.
“I believe the culture is always the food,” Sechio said. “Eat haggis. It's not amazing, but it's not that bad. One of my favorite restaurants is The University Cafe where Anthony Bourdain ate fish and chips. You should also try Iron Brew, which is a Scottish soda. It tastes like a tangy cream soda.”
Sechio has been able to explore the nightlife in Scotland, where she has encountered some very down-to-earth people that are the heart of Glasgow and some interesting fashion choices.
“The clubs are pretty big,” Sechio said “The way the girls dress is so crazy, like the dresses — you can see almost everything, and it is freezing, but then you go down (into the club) you're like, ‘Alright, that's why they're dressed like that. It's so hot.’”
Amelia Nathanson, a junior communication studies major, has found herself slowing down in Florence, a city that’s culture is built around enjoyment of the simple pleasures.
“One of the biggest cultural differences I have noticed is the leisurely nature of the city,” Nathanson said. “Everyone takes their time walking, eating and talking, thus the chaoticness of city life is eliminated. I loved cooking and taking pizza-making classes with local chefs in their restaurants.”
Thomas, a Phoebe Bridgers fan, was able to snag tickets to her concert in Tokyo. Although Briders is from the U.S., Thomas said she found the concert to be an interesting cultural case study — with people acting differently than they do at American concerts.
“Everyone was super polite, and I didn’t experience any pushing, crowding or rude fans that I’ve seen at concerts in the (U.S.),” Thomas said. “The crowd was a little quieter than I was used to though.”
4. Travel outside of your study abroad city
The U.S. isn’t super close to many countries, so it is best to take advantage of being able to get to different countries and cities within two hours when you are abroad.
“Italy is also so close to multiple other places we wanted to visit, and every part of Italy is different and they vary so much in style and culture,” Leong said. “It’s such a great experience to be able to even travel to a bunch of countries and places, let alone do it with your best friends. It’s also such a great experience to learn how to book trips on your own, plan and see the world.”
Nathanson has also enjoyed exploring the diverse country of Italy. The study abroad company she used, the American Institute of Foreign Study (AIFS), scheduled trips to Rome and Venice and then she planned more trips around Italy.
“We took a ferry in Venice to visit Murano which is known for glass blowing, Burano, a city filled with vibrant houses and is well-known for their lace, and Torcello where we visited The Devil's Bridge,” Nathanson said. “We explored a Tuscan winery, visited Pisa and were lucky enough to experience the annual carnival in Viareggio. I don’t ever want to leave.”
Although Thomas did not get to see Bridgers play her song “Kyoto” in Kyoto, Japan, she luckily was able to travel to the city and soak in the song’s inspiration.
“My friends and I traveled to Kyoto which was about eight hours away by bus,” Thomas said. “That was super fun and beautiful because there are so many temples and shrines in the city.”
5. Take trains, not planes
On green grass fields of Scotland, fluffy Highland cows munch on the lush vegetation. Sechio said there is no way you're going to miss these adorable nature sightings, so be sure to take a train while traveling between cities and countries.
“Always take a train because it's so beautiful,” Sechio said. “My program provided me with a rail card for free so we get a third off all tickets.”
When traveling internationally, Leong said the Eurorail Pass is the way to go. Eurorail allows you to pay a flat rate to travel to as many countries as you want. For example, you can pay $782 to travel on the Eurorail for three months, all across Europe.
6. Hard times breed growth
Although study abroad is the experience of a lifetime that changes students forever, many study abroad students warned that feelings of loneliness could arise.
“You’re going to miss your friends a lot while you’re abroad, but you make new ones here and they become your biggest support group,” Leong said. “Being on my own and far away from friends and family has really helped me develop a strong ability to find ways that I can take care of myself and my mental health on my own.”
However, these low moments show you how strong you can be and make you much more independent. Leong’s parting advice to prospective study abroaders is to try new things.
“Go to new places, always say yes to things, but keep yourself grounded and know your limits,” Leong said.