Each semester, while most UNB students are sinking back into their usual routine, those who chose to study abroad are kicking off a four-month adventure. While studying or working abroad isn’t always easy, most students agree that the benefits of giving up your familiar environment for a short period of time far outweigh the reasons to stay at home.
The willingness to break out of your comfort zone is often the first but largest hurdle when contemplating studying abroad. Yet that challenge of moving into the seemingly unknown, immersing yourself in a new physical geography, a new culture often with an unfamiliar language, without the comfort of familiar faces can be a rewarding struggle.
“I had to step very far out of my comfort zone - but it was worth it,” says Katriena McKay, who studied at James Cook University in Australia for the full academic year in 2008-09.
Most would agree that it takes no time at all to engage in a new and different community. History student Joanna Saunders, who studied studies at Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge, England in the winter term of 2009, reflected on the distinct bond that is often formed between those who suddenly find themselves in a new country.
“Knowing that we had a limited time together meant we made the most of that time.” Thinking of the community of friends she gained while studying in England, Saunders noted, “We shared our personal experiences and gained new ones together.”
On top of gaining new friends and experiences while being immersed in a different culture, study abroad and internship programs often lead to an enhanced academic experience. McKay, studying Biology in the Faculty of Science, found her courses at James Cook University in Townsville, Australia came to life due to her close proximity to the Great Barrier Reef. “... [It] gave me a chance to study hands-on parts of biology that I have only read about in textbooks.”
While the unique course offerings at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore were also a highlight for Civil Engineering student Alex Campbell, the day-to-day perks of study in a tropical climate left a lasting impression.
“I wore shorts and a t-shirt to class all winter,” says Campbell. The facilities at some partner campuses seem to make studying abroad all the more fun, as Campbell added, “I often spent a good portion of the afternoon lazing under a coconut tree at the campus’ outdoor pool!”
Ultimately, breaking out of one’s familiar environment and into a study abroad program is a great leap towards building up global connections while broadening your own perspectives.
“This whole experience has been like one big adventure,” says McKay. “Along the way I have learned a lot about the kind of person I am and met some people with some incredible stories that made me look at parts of my life completely differently.”
When it comes to taking advantage of upcoming international opportunities, Campbell has a few words of advice. “If you’re contemplating study abroad, do it. If you’re not, you should be!”
For more information on UNB study abroad programs or international internship opportunities, visit www.unbf.ca/international or contact the International Relations Office at iro@unb.ca
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