Newspapers / Elon University Student Newspaper / Dec. 1, 2012, edition 1 / Page 8
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Studying abroad is consid ered a common aspect of the Elon experience. Ranked the # 1 institution for studying abroad by Princeton Review, Elon makes going abroad for a Winter Term or full semes ter simple. Many students who study abroad will tell you that there were few downsides to their time away, and the benefits they received from living in another country for a semester were life changing. Several students shared stories from their experiences abroad and advice for those currently considering it. Meredith Citty, junior and Elementary Education major, went to London last spring as part of the Teaching Fellows program. She chose London because of the various travel opportunities it offered. Citty described a particularly fun travel excursion. “I went to Dartmoor, UK to celebrate my 20th birthday by going to the Dartmoor Zo ological Park — the zoo from We bought a Zoo,” Citty said. “I was casually eating lunch in the Jaguar Restaurant, just like in the movie, when I look up and see Benjamin Mee, the guy who actually bought the zoo!” Citty described her time abroad as a once in a lifetime experience that helped her grow as a person. “You’ll miss some Ameri can things like food, drinks, and family,” she said. “How ever, the positives completely outweigh the negatives.” Lauren Kepke, also a Teaching Fellow, chose to travel to Costa Rica instead so she could improve her Span ish skills and live with a host family. She enjoyed being able to work in schools and experi ence the local culture with a family. Kepke also described an unexpected experience she had while abroad: “I was invited to an Eas ter service at the Catholic church and it was one of the funniest services of my life,” Kepke said. “Not only was it a 4 hour service, there were fireworks, a statue of Jesus running around the service and the priest soaking every one with water.” Like Citty, Kepke believes the positives of studying abroad outweigh the nega tives. “Missing home, life at Elon and the comforts of life in America is difficult but it does not compare to the adventures of being abroad,” Kepke said. Senior Molly Curtiss went to the less common destina tion of South Caicos last fall. “I chose that location because it allowed me to focus on my career aspirations of marine biology,” Curtiss said. “It al lowed me to go diving every day, and it was always warm.” Curtiss said the biggest benefit of her experience was that it fit well with her plans for the future. “I was able to concentrate entirely on my major and career aspirations to become a marine biologist,” she said. “I did not have to take extra classes that didn’t really inter est me.” Some people, like Paxton Syrek, find the places they study abroad as possible loca tions to call home again in the future. Syrek studied in Aus tralia last spring because she thought it would be a more unique experience than going to Europe. I absolutely loved it there, and I realized I would be per fectly okay with living there after my college career,” she said. Syrek also pointed out a positive to studying abroad that many other Elon students have experienced. “I made an incredible group of friends in such a short amount of time,” she said. “It was unexpected that I would form close friendships that quickly.” Other students who studied abroad will also talk about the lasting bonds they formed with fellow students and locals, so don’t let fear of not fitting in keep you from expe riencing a new place. David Gvyynn, a senior Me dia Arts and Entertainment
Elon University Student Newspaper
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Dec. 1, 2012, edition 1
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