When spring semester rolls around,
numerous students will be packing themselves up and shipping off to distant
countries around the world. Indulging in the colossal variance of culture and
language… could you, or should you, be one of them?
From Budapest to Spain, England to Ghana,
the University of New Hampshire provides programs for numerous countries and
continents. But the idea of throwing oneself into a new language, culture, or
even residence can be an intimidating one.
Why should you take the leap? Speaking to
multiple students, similar reviews arose in relation to relevance and
financing. With the variety of majors and minors at UNH, could studying abroad
be relevant to all? Is relevance even important in taking the time to pack your
books and jump a plane?
It could be considered a huge taboo that
studying abroad may only be for those in the College of Liberal Arts, studying
language or art. How could immersing in new language and culture be relevant to
those studying technology or mathematics or even business?
Grehg Hilston, Computer Science major and
sophomore at UNH, has recently started planning his trip abroad in the fall
semester of 2013 to Budapest, Hungary in hopes to continue his study of
Computer Science and Mathematics
“Specifically talking about
Budapest, the students there have been testing higher in Math and Sciences than
here, and experiencing life over there would hopefully rub off on me in a
positive way.”
Hilston expressed the “flawlessness” of the UNH
program as it integrates a system with the Budapest program that adheres to his
specific major, applying credits that will transfer into his studies here at
UNH.
“Without
studying abroad, realistically I probably will not leave the country in my
lifetime and that to me is too big of an opportunity to miss out on many great
life experiences. Overall, the experience would be life-changing and hopefully
make me a more educated and well-rounded individual.”
Kurt Steiner, business major and senior
at UNH, said he had planned to study abroad since his freshman year, acting as
one of the major factors in his college choice. Finding the London program at
UNH, Steiner began preparing for his trip in the spring semester of 2011.
“It’s a life changing experience. You
pick up friends you will have for a lifetime and most people won’t have the
time to do it later in life. George Carlin once called marijuana a
‘values-changing drug’ because once you take it you see things from a new
perspective. I would say the exact same thing about studying/living abroad.”
With this opportunity, Steiner had
encountered one of the creators of the International
Political Forum: The Voice of Global Youth, an online forum created by and
for university students and foreign affairs. Steiner has contributed his own
article to this site and encourages others to do the same.
Steiner continues to study abroad with
different programs, such as the Israel program that takes place in January. As
with Steiner, junior and English major, Troy Ellis expresses his interest in
the Israel program, having shifted his plans from the London program due to
financial reasons.
“The two-week trip is an
all-expenses-paid program which is a great alternative.”
With October around the corner, deadlines
are soon arriving for spring semester Study Abroad applications. Providing over
500 programs to choose from, Claire L.
Malarte-Feldman, director of the Center for International Education, puts it
rather well when she says, “there is most definitely a place in the world that
is the right fit for you!”
Diverse classes, internships, and
research are available in an array of educational areas. Students can find more info from the UNH CIE Facebook page for
student and faculty input. The Study Abroad Fair will also be taking place
Tuesday Oct. 2, noon until 2 p.m. in the MUB Strafford room. Raffle and
refreshments sponsored by the College of Liberal Arts and the Center for
International Education.
Kurt Steiner - kez74@wildcats.unh.edu
Grehg Hilston - gml27@wildcats.unh.edu
Troy Ellis - tdv24@wildcats.unh.edu
CIE - 603-862-2398
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