Dear Students,
Study abroad posters often picture student jumping up in front of the Eifel Tower or holding up the Leaning Tower of Pisa. While entertaining, such photos are really not the best representation of the study abroad experience.
Why not?
Because I believe tourists take pictures, so they have something to remember.
Study abroad participants, on the other hand, can come home with authentic connections to a place, to a culture, and to local people. Although I’m sure their phones will be loaded with pictures, their memories will be unforgettable.
GEO urges students to strive for an authentic experience embedded in the daily life of their host community and to spend time each day reflecting on the value of absorbing a new culture and different perspectives. There is so much to learn from spending time in one’s host country. Instead of jetting away each weekend to be a tourist in some other country – stay put in your host country so that it becomes your second home, becomes someplace you are from.
We all love travel quotes, but one of my favorites is one that chef and travel documentarian Anthony Bourdain wrote:
“It seems that the more places I see and experience, the bigger I realize the world to be. The more I become aware of, the more I realize how relatively little I know of it, how many places I have still to go, how much more there is to learn.” – Anthony Bourdain
There is so much to learn, and I hope you utilize the resources gather here to learn how to make the most of this opportunity!
This is the start of your journey! Go (abroad) Scots!
