As most of you know, KU has one of the best study abroad programs in the entire country. There are also many clubs, classes, and majors at KU that offer a variety of opportunities to go abroad for anywhere from one week to a couple months, including Engineers without Borders, Alternative Breaks, and many more. Any engineer with a bio-medical focus and/or ambitions to go to medical school will find multiple opportunities to volunteer in clinics and medical missions abroad. Additionally, the Self Capstone project has integrated some form of travel in every project so far, and will hopefully continue to do so. There really is no better opportunity to travel abroad, learn about a new culture, and meet people from different backgrounds than during your time at KU.
I mentioned in my first piece about the necessity to experience new things while at KU. Studying or traveling abroad is, in my opinion, one of the best and most important opportunities to do so. The chance to learn about a new culture, learn a new language, or better understand another person’s view of the world, particularly someone who did not grow up in the U.S., is one of the more impactful experiences a student can have in college. There is a significant amount of cultural exposure at KU and many chances to experience these things on campus, but there is really no replacement for exploring a new, foreign city where you do not speak the language, developing an understanding of the beliefs and social norms of that country, and meeting peers in a different culture. The benefits of studying and traveling abroad are numerous, but I want to highlight three benefits I find important: (i) seeing any culture outside the U.S. makes Americans more appreciative of the country they live in, (ii) most people will at some point in their career have the opportunity to work abroad, work on a project abroad, or work with people from a different country, and so an understanding of different cultures and ways of life is important, and (iii) learning about differing views than your own will make you question why you believe what you do, and ultimately solidify your own beliefs and viewpoints.
Americans can be highly critical of American politics and the American way of life, but when you get the chance to visit other countries, even first world countries similar to the U.S., I think it helps everyone appreciate some of the things we do have. We are highly critical of our country and those that lead it (and for good reason at times), but we still continue to lead the world in many respects, from concepts of equality and justice, to free markets, to the application and proliferation of democracy.
There are very few jobs available today where a person would not be exposed to a new culture in some way. It could be as simple as interacting with colleagues from a different country to something as significant as leading a new project or investment abroad. Everyone knows the buzzword globalization, but it has really become an inherent part of any company or business plan. Learning how to interact in new cultures and be respectful of other social norms can prove to be an important element in a person’s career. Taking advantage of the opportunity to go abroad while in college will become an important step in preparing for this opportunity in the work place.
KU students and Americans as a whole may seem to disagree on most things, but we still largely share the same opinion on general issues. That may not be the case with many other cultures across Europe, South America, Africa or Asia. When a person questions some of the fundamental social, political, and cultural ideals that Americans believe, it makes you really evaluate why you believe what you do, and ultimately strengthens and solidifies those beliefs.
There are many positive experiences to be gained by taking advantage of the opportunity to go abroad in college, and the above reasons are really just a few of them. I would encourage everyone to find a country or program that interests him or her, and find a way to make it work. Furthermore, I would highly encourage everyone to plan this early on in college, because as semester work loads and obligations build up, especially with the lack of flexibility in the engineering curriculum, it is easy to put this planning off. Do not find yourself at the end of your senior year wondering why your study abroad program never panned out. I do appreciate that these things can be expensive, but seek out all of the scholarships and grants you can find (and there are plenty of them) and make sure you do not pass up on what is truly one of the great opportunities while in college.
I completely forgot to mention one of my favorite places in Lawrence last week, so wanted to make sure I slip it in this week’s recommendation. Milton’s. It is down on 9th and New Hampshire and has the best breakfast in Lawrence. Biscuits & gravy, omelets, pancakes, you name it. Also, they have fantastic coffee. Give it a try one Sunday morning – there will most likely be a line, but it is worth the wait.
- Brian