Everyone Should Study Abroad

Let me repeat myself in case you’re still half asleep from that all-nighter (during which we both know you spent at least half of your time on Facebook)…

Everyone should study abroad.

Now I know what you’re thinking; you’ve just finished reading about all of the fun clubs and organizations on this campus, you’re looking forward to Frisbee on the sunken gardens and ghost tours in Colonial Williamsburg, I mean, you’ve already planned your outfits for the Green and Gold Ball and themed parties! Am I really telling you to put away those fabulous go-go boots and return that superman outfit? (Hint: Just save them until you get back!)

The wonderful thing about William and Mary is the College’s commitment to the international experience. We really are dedicated to the highest level of education, and in today’s interconnected world, that means more than just getting a great degree at a top university.  It means having the chance to enjoy another culture, learn a foreign language, and experience life in another country.  W&M’s goal of 100% participation in study abroad programs is merely an affirmation of that commitment.

Having studied abroad twice, I can safely say that studying abroad is an amazing experience that is not to be missed.   It’s a chance to break out of your comfort zone, make new friends, and expand your horizons.  And one day, when you’re leaning out over the edge of the Cliffs of Moher, over 3,000 feet above the ocean, you’ll think “How could I have NOT studied abroad?”

My freshman year I found out about the W&M summer program to Cadiz, Spain.  Seven weeks of reading on the beach, taking interesting classes, strolling through the markets, enjoying salsa and cooking lessons, and embarking on weekend excursions to see the amazing cities of Andalucía! Add in the unique research component and that it was all led by a wonderful W&M faculty member, Francie Cate-Arries, and I was ready to sign up.  After I received a research grant from William and Mary’s Charles Center to cover the cost of my flight and travel expenses, I even had a way to get there.  So that summer, after a frenzy of triple checking passports and making copies of health records, I packed two (very heavy) bags, bought an international plug adapter, and boarded a plane for Madrid, Spain.

It was an amazing seven weeks. I stayed with a kind and generous host family in the middle of the city who introduced me to the wonders of Nutella on toast for breakfast and farmers market outings on the weekends.  We shared pictures while their young daughter helped me practice my Spanish vocabulary and I taught her how to count numbers in English.  We were a five minute walk to the University of Cadiz, ten minutes to the beach, and most importantly, a minute and a half to the best gelato spot and bakery in the entire city.  As I conducted my research I had amazing support from Professor Cate-Arries, who helped me set up a personal interview with the major of Cadiz and to attend several prestigious events with notable scholars in the field that I was studying.

By the time I stepped off the plane back in my hometown of Houston, Texas, I had acquired so much from the experience – and I’m not just referring to the mass quantities of presents and mementos that filled my suitcases.  I had a much better grasp on the language, another stamp in my passport (from a weekend trip to Morocco), and a whole new group of friends to see back on campus in the fall.

I had caught the study-abroad bug.

The next summer, I was lucky enough to enjoy another W&M led program, this time to Galway, Ireland, where I took classes, enjoyed street performances and live music at the pubs, and volunteered at Galway’s annual film festival, the Film Fleadh.  Our group explored the countryside, spent a weekend in Dublin, and I even had the opportunity to travel to Paris with a friend.  While I didn’t return with the same impressive tan I had from that first summer program, the experience was heightened because I could now compare the program to my previous trip and really think about the differences in cultures, governments, and history.

Now, as a junior, I have continued to take international courses in the business school and am working towards an international emphasis in my accounting and finance degree.  Back in Williamsburg, my international connection has only increased by talking with my peers who have traveled to the Middle East, Africa, South America, Asia, and across Europe.  In special discussion courses, facilitated by professors who have lived all around the world and have traveled to hundreds of countries, we compare stories and insights as we solve global cases and discuss important issues.  I know that when I graduate, I will be truly prepared to be a contributing member of the global network.

The greatest thing about studying abroad; whether you go for a semester, a summer, or a year; is that the experience doesn’t end when you come home.  Your courses will be enhanced by the memories of your travels, you’ll have new insights to tackle the problems that you find, and you’ll realize that even back in Williamsburg, as you walk through William and Mary’s campus, you’re really walking through a vibrant international community that you can contribute to and will benefit from.

Everyone should study abroad.

Hannah Jeffers

Class of 2011