PLU students walk by the Trinidad and Tobago kiosk, one students signs up for more information on the program.
When visiting another country, beware of ATM machines eating your debit cards. That is what happened to senior Beth Johannsen two years ago when she took German Language and Culture during the New Germany J-Term trip.
“I didn’t have money for two weeks, because an ATM machine ate my debit card,” Beth said.
But Johannsen did not let that incident stop her from getting the most out of her J-term trip, or stop her from studying away again in the Caribbean.
Study abroad is not the correct term as I was quickly corrected by one of the Wang Center staff at the annual study away fair; the correct term is study away. This year the study away fair was on Sept. 23. As the sound of African drums blare through the speakers at the fair, many students arrived hoping to find a course of interest in a country of interest.
Students who have never studied away before had their arms filled with booklets and fliers full of information on courses offered around the world. Freshman Hannah Raszka was one of those students excited about seeing different cultures and experiencing something she is not use to. For others like Johannsen and sophomore Jessica Wilson it gives them a larger global perspective.
Ask any student who has studied away if they would do it again, and you are most likely to get a response somewhere along the lines of an enthusiastic yes.
Seasoned study away professor, Professor Kirsten Christensen, who teaches the German Language and Culture in New Germany lent helpful advice about study away. “First be prepared to be exhausted mentally and physically.”
“Be as absorbent as possible, don’t try to find meaning for everything right away, and ask a lot of questions,” Christensen said.
Besides staying away from debit card eating ATM machines Johannsen advises, “Make sure you are interested and know a little bit about the place you are going.”
As a seasoned study away student myself, traveling to London and Australia, my advice is to have fun. Studying abroad is a life experience, other than learning the course context, you learn more about yourself.
