Number of students studying abroad continues to rise

By Troy Simpson

An increasing number students are choosing to study abroad despite the events of Sept. 11 and an increasing possibility of war in Iraq.

"I was never afraid of any violence," said Katherine Lipps, a junior who studied in France last fall. "Most people were fascinated by the fact that I was an American. They wanted to know everything about living in the United States. It was honestly the experience of a lifetime, and not even tensions throughout the world could have prevented me from going. If I could go back right now, I would."

Many Santa Clara students believe that opportunities for cultural exposure and educational exploration outweigh some of the risks of traveling abroad.

"It wasn't until I went to El Salvador that I realized the full potential of my education hadn't been met," said junior Jen Re. "Living in a community setting, traveling around the country and working two days a week doing community work and sharing the stories of the Salvadorans added a revolutionary component to education."

Re added that exploration of other countries and cultures is important to change the international perception of American citizens.

"I think it is important to remember that a lot of what is hated [about Americans] is that myopic and selfish American contention that any individual American is the only creature on this planet," said Re. "Reaching beyond that point and proving it wrong by the dedication to travel, and to do so open-mindedly with the intention to learn and not to impose is critical. We should be encouraging people to reach out to the international community we effect so profoundly, not creating a culture of fear that keeps us in the distorted mind that we know what is best for the world."

Despite student optimism, Director of International Programs Dennis Gordon said that an increased possibility of terrorist attacks against American citizens and the mounting possibility of war caused the university to look more closely at the international programs many Santa Clara students attend.

"We make sure that all of those programs have very active health and safety programs and that they do a good orientation with the students when they arrive so they know what to be careful about," said Gordon. "We don't do business with programs that don't have professional risk management programs, but you can't make anything 100 percent safe. Going to Disneyland can be dangerous if you're in the wrong place at the wrong time."

Some of the risk management that international programs must have in order for Santa Clara to recommend them to students often include immediate access to doctors, hospitals, medical insurance, evacuation insurance and licensed transportation. Students must also be kept up to date with the current political status of the country they are visiting via U.S. State Department information.

Gordon said that there is no way to safeguard an international experience and that most of the risks faced by students actually have little to do with terrorism or a negative disposition toward American citizens.

"The risks that students normally face are traffic accidents and the sorts of things that happen when you're in a new country and you're tired and not paying attention," said Gordon. "Those are the real risks they face; things related to alcohol or just riding around on a motorcycle in Italy."

LeeAnn Hsu, a junior that studied in Friedrich, Germany last fall had a dangerous encounter one night leaving a club. While walking home, a man tried to lead her away from the center of town and attack her.

"I think it had more to do with the fact that I was an American girl and I was by myself and lost," said Hsu. "So basically that was a very, very bad situation to be in, especially when you're in a foreign country."

Despite the situation Hsu faced, she said that it did not change her perception of the experience as a whole.

"Studying abroad was the best decision that I could have made for myself at this time of my life," said Hsu. "You can't fully learn about people and different cultures without going to different places and experiencing them yourself."

Although there are risks involved in studying abroad, Gordon said that the experiences Santa Clara students receive internationally are different from any possible in the United States.

"One of the interesting things about studying abroad is that there are a lot of positive unintended outcomes," said Gordon. "You think a student is going to go and learn international management, and they do fine in that, but they also become much more sensitive to the way other cultures work. It's often a very personal experience."

Senior Kevin Spring spent the entirety of his junior year studying abroad in Salamanca, Spain and London, England. He said that visiting two distinctly different cultures made a large impression on the way he perceives the world.

"Going from discotecas to pubs, Spanish to English, and one group of friends to another provided me with two unique, equally rewarding experiences.," said Spring. "I think the decision to split up my year in two different places was just as wise as deciding to spend the entire year abroad. There is just so much to do out there, that people who don't go abroad never experience. I learned that as long as I treated people with the respect that they deserved then they would reciprocate that treatment and be nothing but welcoming."

Studying abroad can also benefit students in future employment, said senior Gonzalo Garcia.

"I have gained insight into Brazil's history, infrastructure and potential in the world's economy, its business environment, political system and its bizarre culture ," said Garcia. "U.S. corporations will continue to be dependent on the advice of informed individuals that can represent the status of countries like Brazil and assist in business negotiations in order to protect our interests."

Studying abroad takes a considerable amount of preparation, according to the International Programs Web site. In order to participate in some programs, students must have a minimum of two years college coursework in a particular language, obtain a junior status, have a minimum G.P.A. of 2.5 to 3.0 (depending on the program) and be willing to pay the approximately $7,000 to $14,000 in tuition fees per semester in place of paying Santa Clara tuition.

More than 75 percent of Santa Clara students that studied abroad last year went to Europe, but many chose to attend programs in Australia, Latin America and Africa.