Study Abroad: advice from those who have gone

When in Scotland, Gabrielle Krawczyk says, don't call a "kilt" a "skirt," be careful what city's football jersey you're wearing, and for heaven sakes, don't call the Scots "English."

During the recent Study Abroad Fair, UW-Parkside students learned about the world of opportunities available to them. Representatives from organizations like GlobaLinks, Semester at Sea, Academic Programs International, and many others told our students about the value of expanding their horizons. Faculty, staff, and students talked about the Winterim travel programs to Cuba and India while still others spoke about the upcoming computer science trip to Germany and a Japanese cultural trip in summer 2013.

For some students, language skills, or the lack of them, make traveling abroad a concern. Depending on your destination, Jaclyn Rosner, who spent two weeks in Wolfenbuttle, Germany, said the "language barrier" wasn't really that much of a barrier.

"I had only one semester of German, so I only knew a little bit," Rosner said. "In the beginning, maybe the first day, I was a little intimidated but quickly I got over it because everybody there pretty much speaks English, the young people. And people are very helpful and respectful."

Student Nikolas Bergmann experienced no language barrier when he came from Germany to UW-Parkside for spring semester. He speaks English fluently. And he was pleasantly surprised by what he unexpected experienced.

"Sometimes I feel like a VIP because some people have heard that I'm a German and then they say: 'Hello, you must be 'The German,'" and I've never seen that person before," Bergmann said. "It is a very nice gesture to be treated like that."

Calling his "Winterim" trip to India the "opportunity of a lifetime that I will never forget," Andriew Fox spent his two weeks on the Asian subcontinent in awe.

"India is a wonderland of amazement; nothing fails to surprise you," Fox enthused. "We had an opportunity to experience how large companies run their businesses and [to experience] the vast differences in culture that was so alluring to a 'foreigner' like myself."

Fox added this trip inspired him to become a resident of the world, not just the U.S. 

The Study Abroad Fair was sponsored by the International Student Services/Study Abroad Office.

In the photo, Susan Blust, third from right, stands with global students Gabrielle Krawczyk, Nikolas Bergmann, Jaclyn Rosner, Zachary Patterson, and Myah Pazdera at the Study Abroad Fair.

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ABOUT THIS STORY:

Story Status: Archived
Publish date: 2/28/2013

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