The Virtues of Study Abroad

Permanent URI for this collection

https://hdl.handle.net/11244/329111

The Virtues of Study Abroad is a publication designed to show the merit of study abroad programs - especially how they contribute to the personal growth of students. This publication not only discusses the potentially life-changing personal and educational benefits of study abroad programs, but also how the University of Oklahoma's focus on international education makes these experiences possible.

Browse

Now showing 1 - 20 of 30

Open Access
The Virtues of Study Abroad. Volume 5, April 2018
University of Oklahoma. College of International Studies
Open Access
Confidence
Rodriguez-Sanchez, Andrea; University of Oklahoma. College of International Studies
Open Access
Courage
Herndon, Nigh; University of Oklahoma. College of International Studies
Open Access
Curiosity
Schneider, Libby; University of Oklahoma. College of International Studies
Open Access
Empathy
Neill, Crystal; University of Oklahoma. College of International Studies
Open Access
Patience
Satterthwaite, Tanner; University of Oklahoma. College of International Studies
Open Access
Perspective
Buczkowski, Alena; University of Oklahoma. College of International Studies
Open Access
Perseverance
McGill, Riley; University of Oklahoma. College of International Studies
Open Access
The Virtues of Study Abroad. Volume 4, April 2017
(2017-04) University of Oklahoma. College of International Studies
“TRAVEL AND CHANGE OF PLACE IMPART NEW VIGOR TO THE MIND.” –SENECA
Open Access
Confidence
(2017-04) Mays, Kelsey; University of Oklahoma. College of International Studies
When I was 16 years old, my older brother traveled halfway across the world to study abroad. As I looked at his pictures and heard him share his fondest memories, I instantly became enamored with the whole idea of studying abroad. Six years later, I found myself standing in front of the terminal gates at the Dallas airport about to embark on my six-month study abroad journey to London. To my surprise, instead of being overwhelmingly excited, I was absolutely petri ed about what awaited me across the pond. I walked away from my parents knowing that for the first time in my life I would no longer be ve minutes away from them. Instead, I was going to be more than 4,000 miles from them. In that moment, as I stared up at the boarding sign, I realized that everything familiar to me was about to be gone.
Open Access
Curiosity
(2017-04) Moses, Daniel; University of Oklahoma. College of International Studies
Jerusalem is a special place. Throughout the centuries it has inspired poets to write and soldiers to fight, and in the spring of 2014, it inspired me to spend a semester studying at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. I started studying the Modern Hebrew language as a freshman at the University of Oklahoma, mostly because I was curious to find out how different the Christian Old Testament was in its original language. This ultimately influenced my decision to study abroad in Jerusalem. As an International and Area Studies major, I knew I needed to spend a semester abroad to graduate, and given my background studying Hebrew and my interest in the Middle East, Jerusalem seemed the most logical destination. I had no idea that my semester in Jerusalem would awaken an intense curiosity in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict.
Open Access
Empathy
(2017-04) Stewart, Dakota; University of Oklahoma. College of International Studies
It was a crisp morning in New Delhi. Early March is easily considered winter in India, but it was a nice 75 degrees that day, which, at the time, I considered to be somewhat warm. Little did I know that 118 degrees was in store for the coming months. This easily explains why people were staring at my short-sleeved kurta, a traditional Indian blouse, as I made my way to school.
Open Access
Engagement
(2017-04) Eyocko, JackyNicole; University of Oklahoma. College of International Studies
I made the mistake of taking the direct flight from Dallas to Shanghai. This flight consisted of babies crying for 14 hours straight, documentaries on Chinese opera and sleep—lots of it. While sleeping, I dreamt I was going to walk out of Pudong International Airport and it was going to smell like freedom and the journey of a lifetime, like you see in Hollywood movies. Instead, outside the airport reeked of burning gasoline and sticky tofu, which is an unpleasant combination. My cab driver, who I had hired a few weeks prior, showed up twenty minutes late and waited until I put my own bags in the taxi. I was not in Oklahoma anymore—no southern hospitality. The university I attended was in Baoshan, at least a 45-minute drive from the airport—talk about an expensive cab ride.
Open Access
Enthusiasm
(2017-04) Satrio, Martin; University of Oklahoma. College of International Studies
Growing up, I always had great enthusiasm to travel and see new places. Every summer, my family and I would journey to a new place we had not seen before, most of the time by road trip so we could experience more along the way. Going on these trips, traveling to different cities, and exploring many national parks constitutes many of my fondest childhood memories. My parents knew the value of traveling as well as the joy and excitement it can bring. Because of this, I knew that while attending the University of Oklahoma, I wanted to study abroad.
Open Access
Patience
(2017-04) Grillot, Hannah; University of Oklahoma. College of International Studies
“Scusi...posso avere un altro coke?”
Open Access
Perseverance
(2017-04) Ratcliff, James; University of Oklahoma. College of International Studies
Aaaaaaaaaaaallah u-akbar. Aaaaaaaaaaaallah u-akbar.
Open Access
Perspective
(2017-04) Compton, Marshae; University of Oklahoma. College of International Studies
Open Access
Respect
(2017-04) Johnson, Taylor; University of Oklahoma. College of International Studies
Shortly after starting my graduate studies in the fall of 2015 at OU in Regional and City Planning, I came across the opportunity to study abroad in Uganda during the summer of 2016. This would be my first trip out of the United States and I am not typically adventurous, so I was nervous for a whole host of reasons. What if I do not like the food? I wondered. Will things be sanitary? What if I see or hear things I do not agree with?
Open Access
Understanding
(2017-04) Gentile, Jeremiah; University of Oklahoma. College of International Studies
The month before I left the United States, I flipped through a brochure filled with photos of Limoges and strained to imagine myself in this town at the heart of France. Is it too small for me? I thought. How will I get along with people in this new culture? The wheels of my mind spun with hypothetical scenarios and notions of what French people might be like. These questions evoked an inexplicable feeling that led me to pack my things and move to rural France for four months. I wanted to discover a microcosm of European culture, gain an understanding of people who think differently and see the world through another lens.
Open Access
Open-Mindedness
(2017-04) McCormick, Mitchel; University of Oklahoma. College of International Studies
Countries, in many ways, are like people: a reputation precedes them. Perhaps no country experiences this as much as Mexico, where beautiful beaches are juxtaposed with thoughts of violence and poverty. These stereotypes weighed heavy on my mind before going to Puebla, Mexico, where OU has a study center. What if I feel unsafe? What if my Spanish is not good enough? What if I do not like Mexico? These were all questions I had leading up to my departure. In many ways, I expected Puebla to be a sort of rough, old city. It turned out to be a lot different than that. I have now studied in Puebla for three semesters, and through a never-ending process of trying to remain open-minded, I have come to appreciate and love Mexico.