Study abroad experiences broaden horizons and build confidence

By Leslie Contreras Schwartz

Karen Lacey was naked, freezing and more than 5,000 miles from her home in Houston. The 25-year-old was doing something she never imagined she’d do in her life—following a Finnish custom. She agreed to run, unclothed, through arctic temperatures and dunk herself into an ice hole after sitting in a steaming sauna. She braced herself, ran and dunked—it felt great!

The experience near a small village north of the Arctic Circle was one of many that opened Lacey’s eyes to the customs and traditions of Helsinki, Finland and surrounding cities. She says the experience, that lasted nearly six months, broadened her knowledge of the world. It was part of an architecture graduate program at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.

“I would never have gone there without that opportunity,” Lacey, now 30, says. “You learn so much about yourself when you’re in new places. You realize...your limits on things you can and can’t deal with. You learn how to talk to people. You are so much more…outgoing and open-minded because when you’re over there you don’t know anybody and you don’t want to just walk around not knowing anybody.”

Besides learning about the architecture, which she says included simple forms and minimal finishes, Lacey learned a lot about the people. She added that though the Finnish people are reserved, she was surprised to learn that whole families share saunas together, comfortable in their bodies in a way unlike Americans.

While in Helsinki, Lacey took classes on design, Finnish history, building systems and sketching. She lived in a studio apartment found through a professor at Washington University and became friendly with an acquaintance’s grandmother, even sharing an Easter lunch with her. She went out with international friends at night to bars in a city where she felt extremely safe. On excursions, she traveled all over Finland, as well as to Russia and The Baltics.

Throughout the whole experience she developed confidence and says she realized, “You can talk to somebody about anything. You can go up to people and ask questions. There is security in living in an atmosphere like that.”

For 18-year-old Taurion Shelvin, two months in Thailand as an exchange student changed his life. A 15-year-old high school student at the Houston Academy for International Studies, he lived in Eangsathan in the southern region of Thailand where he studied and taught English to middle school students. The program was a joint effort between the American Field Service, Bardoli Global and the Houston Academy for International Studies.

Though he lived in a city, Shelvin says that the area was somewhat rural. The toilet was a hole in the dirt. He helped plant rice in the fields and rode on elephants for transportation.

“What I hoped to learn was some of (Thailand’s) culture and some of their views of American cultures,” Shelvin says. He was surprised to learn that his host family’s view of the United States was not very positive. Thailand’s culture taught him to be open-minded and not think that “American culture is the right one.” He adds that the experience helped him to, “Grow up as a person because I was kind of on my own.” In addition to learning the language, he learned about the Buddhist religion, the way his family prayed in the morning and evening and went to temple every day, and about Thai food.

Houstonian Chelsea Kindred had always dreamed of France. After discovering her financial aid would cover the $9,600 bill for six months, she traveled to Grenoble in 2006, where she studied the French language through Academic Programs International, an independent study abroad organization. “It was the best decision I ever made in my life,” Kindred, 25, says. She received credit for these classes through the University of Texas in Austin.

“It was a life-changing experience. I had never been that far away from home for that extended amount of time before,” she says. “It was kind of an assertion of my true independence. . .It was completely different from anywhere I’d visited before, mainly because it’s a valley surrounded by the Alps and I had never seen a mountain before. To see these snow-capped, statuesque mountains every day—it was crazy.”

Kindred went to France hoping to find a surrogate host family and to learn the French language. But what she learned, she says, was humility and the ability to make mistakes.

“You don’t know everything. You’re constantly learning and every day is an opportunity to learn something new,” she says. “That’s a great perspective to come back with and apply, not only to your future career, but to life in general.”

Kindred was surprised at the similarities between the United States and France. She got into a conversation with an Algerian bus driver about how France treats its immigrants, and she realized there were similarities with her own country. Her host sister loved Celine Dion, and the family dynamics of her host family were so much like her own.

Learning about culture and experiencing personal growth are some of the greatest benefits of traveling abroad, says Jason Daily, Director of Admissions at Academic Programs International (API). Language programs with API range in length from two to 52 weeks and can cost anywhere from $1,000 to more than $17,000.

Options for adults include internships, summer programs and teach abroad programs, says Joshua Irons, International Product Development Manager with StudyAbroad.com, which offers a complete guide to study abroad programs. He recommends that interested travelers seek out programs and then take information to a study abroad advisor or friend who is familiar with traveling.

SIDEBAR ARTICLE

Foreign Exchange Promotes Understanding

International students are traveling to Houston through programs like the World Heritage Program to help broaden cultural differences. Through the Yes program, host families house students from Muslim countries, for example, in order to bridge gaps and teach about American values—lessons they take back home to share. Country participants range from Bangladesh to Iraq. “One of the goals of the program is to help promote mutual understanding and respect with other countries,” says World Heritage representative Sara Vaughan.

SIDEBAR

Links to International Study Programs

www.StudyAbroad.com – links to information on going abroad, including teach abroad programs

www.academicintl.com – Academic Programs International, an independent study abroad organization

http://www.ef.com/master/ils/ – EF International Language schools, with programs in Spanish, French, Italian, German and Chinese

Got the travel bug this summer? If you’re a true Texan, then exploring is in your blood. Houstonians are noted adventurers, ready to take on exotic destinations, foreign languages and cultures, and all things strange and unusual. Seeing the world is a dream In Singapore, it’s most of us have, but the world no longer awaits our illegal to take pictures arrival with complete openness and zeal. American of bridges because tourists and business travelers must be more aware than ever as they leave this country for foreign shores. it’s considered a In our zest to become citizens of the world, we must security risk. remember that some cultures view personal freedoms very differently than we do. Safe travel should be accompanied with cautious enthusiasm, and it’s critical to be well informed before you even pack your luggage.

Pack smart

Canada is our quiet, peaceable neighbor to the north, and each year, millions of Americans make plans to visit this beautiful country. Americans and Canadians have enjoyed a long history of excellent relations, but don’t be lulled into complacency. “You may not realize it, but you can’t enter Canada if you’ve had a DUI or a misdemeanor,” says Michelle Bernier-Toth, Director of the Office of American Citizens Services and Crisis Management at the State Department in Washington DC. “A lot of people go to Canada to hunt, but Canadian gun laws are extremely strict. They do not allow firearms at all, they only permit certain hunting or sporting guns, and you must be over 18,” she says. “If you bring illicit firearms into the country, you will be detained, You may not realize it, but you so you have to be very carefulcan’t enter Canada if you’ve had a what you pack. Mace and pepper spray are also illegal, and al-DUI or a misdemeanor. though ammunition is acceptable in checked luggage here, internationally, it is strictly prohibited.” Mexico is also one of the most popular travel destinations on our list, but Bernier-Toth says that by far, more Americans
get into trouble in Mexico than any other place in the world. “We’ve had quite a few Americans inadvertently cross the border into Many items that U.S. law considers acceptable in packed luggage (such as ammunition) may be illegal at your foreign destination. Know the facts before you pack.
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To learn exactly what the laws are in the country you’re traveling to this summer, go to www.state.gov.
1 Mexico with firearms, which are illegal
in Mexico,” she explains. “Most of the charges they face are narcotics-related. However, that’s not the only way to get in trouble there. Entering Mexico with certain kinds of alcohol, certain types of religious materials, and pornography will land you in a prison.” Americans take their immense personal freedoms for granted. It’s hard to believe that it’s not permissible to take anything in and out of another country, but it’s very important to inform yourself about each country you visit so that you can avoid a true travel nightmare. Even something as commonplace as driving a car has entirely different implications in other parts of the world. “In many parts of the Middle East, women are not permitted to drive,” says Bernier-Toth. “Few people know that if you’re involved in a car accident in which another person is injured, you will remain in jail until the injured person is out of the hospital. Many American business people travel to Entering Mexico with certain kinds of alcohol, certain types of religious materials or pornography will land you in a prison. the United Arab Emirates and usually don’t realize that’s how the law works there.”

Hey! you can’t arrest me. I’m an American citizen!

We’d all like to have our own authentic travel experience in a foreign country, but it’s a serious mistake to assume that the protections afforded by the Constitution follow you onto the plane. Anyone who enters a foreign country must abide by the laws of that country – no matter how much they might disagree. “Many people who travel on vacation let their guard down,” says Bernier-Toth. “That’s when people make themselves vulnerable to become targets and they might do something they know not to do, but they do it and get arrested.” She says that a common ruse that entraps many a trusting American tourist occurs in public places or at airports. “Someone nice will start talking, and try to become friendly. Then that person will say, Would you mind carrying this for me? And that bag might contain narcotics. You’re at home, we wouldn’t do such a thing, but people do fall for this scheme.” arrested and their laws in these under normal circumstances then you are subject to the laws of that country, and situations might be much stricter than ours. There are many less obvious ways to accidentally run afoul of the laws of the land where you’re traveling. “We’ve had quite a few incidents where an American tourist has gone to Europe and unknowingly purchased pirated goods,” says Information Specialist Theresa L., who also works in the State Department’s Overseas Citizens Services office. “For example, you might see a brand name purse, such as Louis Vuitton, being sold on the street for a very low price. A first-time American traveler might think that these are real designer purses and they’re getting a great deal, but they’re stolen or illegal copies.” Theresa adds that penalties are very strict for this offense, punishable by steep fines and even imprisonment.“The same goes for bootlegged movies, CDs and other clothing items. You could face much harsher punishment for these offenses than here at home.” Even something as trivial as a camera might bring the law upon an unsuspecting American traveler.

“In Singapore, it’s illegal If you bring illicit firearms into the country, to take pictures of bridges you will be detained, so you have to be because it’s considered a security risk,” says Bernier Tote. “Singapore also has a very broad definition of the word weapons. They consider a Swiss Army knife a weapon, so don’t even pack one. Littering, jaywalking, and even gum chewing is illegal in Singapore. Their laws are very strictly enforced and Americans don’t always realize that.”Still other countries have laws against publicly criticizing their monarchs or other leaders. “It’s strange for us, but not every country has freedom of speech,” she says. “You could end up in jail for making the wrong comment.” Americans under arrest in a foreign country are often shocked to know they can be arrested and simply taken to jail without the due process that we take for granted here at home. Approximately 10,000 Americans are arrested overseas each year. “Yes, they certainly can arrest you, and the American Embassy cannot get you out nor pay your legal fees,” continues Bernier-Tote. “We can only direct you to our Consular office, who can help you understand the laws of the and you won’t get a free lawyer. You have to abide by the laws of that country, whether you think they’re fair or not"

It’s (not necessarily) a free country

It might come as quite a shock to realize that many other cultures do not share our views about the rights we, as Americans, consider basic. We enjoy the most complete set of personal liberties in the developed world. The world is a small place; and sooner or later, even if you don’t travel, you will have to encounter different people. No matter where you go there will be those who do not think or believe as we do. Texans have a long history of loving adventure and millions of Americans of every stripe go out of the country and encounter no difficulties.