Bringing Home a Piece from Overseas

By Keli Demertzis

Barcelona or Madrid? England or Australia? Should I participate in a Santa Clara program, or become an exchange student?

For Santa Clara students hoping to go abroad this upcoming fall, these questions had been on their minds as they put the finishing touches on their petitions last week.

And with over 100 programs in 50 countries offered through their Office of International Programs, Santa Clara — which has the 35th highest percentage of total students studying abroad, out of 3,000 colleges and universities surveyed in the U.S., according to a survey conducted by the Institute of International Education — has a lot of options for those students hoping to get outside of the Santa Clara bubble and study in an entirely new educational setting.

"The study abroad program at Santa Clara offers us the opportunity to frame study abroad as part of a life-long process of moving between and among different cultures and as part of developing a life-long curiosity about those different from oneself," said Susan Popko, associate provost for the Office of International Programs, in an emailed statement.

For numerous students who have just returned from a fall quarter abroad, their overseas experiences served as a way to learn about a new culture ­— and to learn a bit about themselves.

Karen Salas, a senior French and Francophone studies major, spent her fall quarter in Paris through the American-based program Institute for the International Education of Students, in an attempt to improve her French-speaking skills. However, she also gained a deeper understanding of the Parisian culture.

"I made it a point to open myself up to the cultural differences in order to enjoy my abroad experience," said Salas.

Senior Kathryn Curotto, who also spent her fall quarter in Paris, said that her time overseas helped her personal growth.

"During this trip, I realized that I was capable of not only being more independent, but also living in a big city and navigating my way around it," said Curotto. "I was capable of finding a place where I fit in and making new friends, even though I was so far away from everyone and everything that I was familiar with back in the U.S."

Junior Laura Snowden, who studied in El Salvador for four months as part of the Casa de la Solidaridad program, said that she was "humbled" by her experiences.

"Many of the people and communities we met experienced terrible hardships during the civil war and continue to live in poverty and struggle," she said. "Yet so many people loved us unconditionally, invited us into their homes and made us a part of their family. Their strength and beautiful sense of love is something I hope to always take with me."

Students who recently have submitted their petitions to study abroad hope to get into touch with new cultures and with themselves.

Sophomore Jacqueline Fahey petitioned to study in Ireland for this upcoming fall — an appropriate destination for a student of Irish descent with family members living in the country. "I'm expecting life (in Ireland) to be really different than life here (in the U.S.)," said Fahey.

Sophomore Kiely Kreitzberg, who plans to spend fall quarter in Australia, is looking forward to experiencing the outdoors on an entirely new continent.

"I have the amazing opportunity to learn how to surf, scuba dive, visit the Great Barrier Reef, travel to numerous national parks and immerse myself in the local culture and lifestyles of the people of Australia," said Kreitzberg.

From Baja, Mexico to Burkina Faso, from Germany to El Salvador, there is a destination for most interests and a program for most majors.

For those students considering an international program, or have already submitted a petition, students who have just returned from their time abroad have offered words of advice.

"I would advise students to find as many opportunities as they can to interact (and) make friends with native people in the country they are studying in," said Curotto. "Sometimes, it feels so easy and comfortable just staying with the American group of students in the program, but you have to remember that you're there to live out a new experience, improve your language skills (and) meet new people."

For the multitude of Santa Clara students who have taken the opportunity to study overseas, their time abroad can be "life-changing," said Salas.

Snowden offered advice to students who have submitted their petitions and are preparing to study abroad this fall.

"Be open to whatever experience unfolds before you and to say yes to the opportunities that are presented to you," said Snowden. "You never know what you may learn and discover by taking a risk and being open to the experience."

Contact Keli Demertzis at kdemertzis@scu.edu or (408) 554-4852.