Want to Get Away?

Do you want to get away from the U.S. for a while? Why not study abroad?

We sat down with Lauren Irby, a Peer Career Advisor at Career Services, to discuss her study abroad experience in Madrid, Spain. Lauren also offered some suggestions for students who are interested in adventuring abroad.

Where did you study abroad?

I had an internship abroad in Madrid, Spain.

 

Was it hard for you to adjust to a new place, if so, what were some of the difficulties and how did you adjust to them?

I was terrified at first because I had never been to a foreign country. This was also my first time traveling by plane and a metro.

I also had trouble changing my habits to accommodate for the limitations abroad such as the music. For example, Pandora does not operate outside of the U.S., so I had to adjust to the live music constantly played on the streets of Spain (a hard adjustment, I know).

My best advice would be to change a few words in your vocabulary.

• Do NOT use the word “lost.” Instead, use the word “adventure.” This can apply to being physically “lost” without a map. Use this opportunity to adventure, interact with locals and see less-touristy sites. “Lost” might also refer to losing something, such as your luggage. The adventure here would be learning to say “toothpaste” in Spanish. Plan for the worst, and make the best of it. You can never replace your study abroad experience, so on days when things might seem to be going badly, put a positive spin on it!


• Don’t ever think, “I don’t understand” and give up. This may result from a language barrier, or even just a cultural difference that baffles you. Instead say, “Show me,” or “Let’s try it.” So if you’re asking directions, see if your new friend would be willing to accompany you. Or if you don’t see how eating something could be appetizing whatsoever, try it anyway.

What would you say to those current students who want to study abroad but think that they do not have the time or money to do so?

The time issue is easily solved: be open-minded about the kind of experience you want to have. Study abroad sessions can be year-long, semester-long, trimester-long, summer-long or a summer session (5 weeks). There is also Mini-Term or even Spring Break trips that will still get you course credit.




Students check-in at the
Study Abroad Fair



Money can definitely be an intimidating obstacle, but with planning, dedication and a lot of paperwork, studying abroad CAN be affordable. First you need to determine how much you’re willing to spend. Factor in the cost of your program, tuition, housing, meals and travel (including your plane ride over; for the best price, buy it as early as possible)! Semester terms are more expensive than the shorter terms, but often more scholarships are available for these types of studies. Many programs also offer exchange programs. This is where your UT scholarships and tuition will transfer, so you will pay the same amount to your abroad university. Unfortunately, this does not cover everything, so don’t immediately think this is the way to go! Be sure to consider those other factors; you may also need health insurance, a visa, or other legal documentation. Also be thinking about how you will communicate; you may choose to get a cell phone, or need to locate an internet café (or buy a carrier pigeon, depending on where you want to go). Keep in mind the currency exchange rate for your destination, as well as any fees your bank may charge for use abroad.

Regardless of what kind of program you choose to do and where you want to go, you will likely have to apply for many scholarships, grants, etc. Some great places to start are here at UT. The Study Abroad office offers the CIE scholarship through a simple application. Also check with your department, as well as any program or organization you’re affiliated with (many honors programs offer competitive grants). Your study abroad program itself may also offer scholarships, so be sure to check with them. The best way to fund your trip is to be proactive in your search for outside funds: explore online for scholarships offered, and check back frequently, as new scholarships are always being offered through various organizations.

Why is it important to study abroad?

Studying abroad is the chance of a lifetime, and is one that you can never replicate. In high school you may have travelled with your family or school, but you probably did not have the freedom you would have to jump on a plane to Prague as a last-minute weekend trip, or go hiking in the mountains with some locals you just met. Waiting until after college may mean you will have more funds and means to travel, but your life after college may limit your freedom, too. You will (hopefully) have a full-time job or other obligation after graduating; it can be very difficult finding a job that permits you to spend three months in another country. Granted, many careers offer some great international opportunities, but most of these require you to already have international experience. A Human Resources department will not likely send you to China to establish client relations if you know little about the country itself. A study abroad is also a chance to build connections abroad: if you want a career in Germany, knowing someone in Berlin can really help you network your way to a job there!


Studying abroad opens your eyes immensely to cultures throughout the world.


For more information, visit the Study Abroad Homepage.