In this blog, Elizabeth Cunningham shares overall tips about studying abroad that should help any Blue Jay during their time abroad.
Top Tips for Blue Jays Studying Abroad
Ethical Travel—A Study Abroad Responsibility
Studying abroad can be one of the most expansive learning experiences during our time at college. Whether we travel for a semester, May term, or summer, innumerable opportunities for us to grow as students and people await. Participation in these experiences, though, necessitates a certain responsibility—one in which we must be educated, ethical, and respectful... Continue Reading →
Seven Students Awarded Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship – College’s Largest Cohort of Recipients
Seven Elizabethtown College students were recently awarded the highly competitive Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, giving them financial support to study abroad within the 2021-22 academic year. This is the most recipients the College has ever seen in a single application cycle. The previous record was three recipients for the spring 2019 term. The new... Continue Reading →
Three Etown Students Awarded Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship
Three Elizabethtown College students, sophomore Japanese major Jacob Schell, sophomore Sociology-Anthropology major Emma Nalesnik, and junior Japanese and Asian Studies major Ariel Hampton, were recently awarded the highly competitive Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, giving them financial support to study abroad within the next year. Furthermore, Ariel was the College's first ever Gilman Critical Need... Continue Reading →
32 Questions with Melissa Mesones-Oritz about The Washington Center
Melissa Mesones-Ortiz is currently earning her Bachelor's in Human Services from Elizabethown College's School for Continued and Professional Studies (SCPS). With plans to go to law school next, she recently completed a virtual internship with The Washington Center (TWC). The summer 2020 program was moved online due to COVID-19. But the part-time schedule and remote... Continue Reading →
Laura Carr ’22 Awarded Gilman Scholarship
Elizabethtown College is excited to announce that Spanish Education major, Laura Carr '22 is the fifteenth study abroad student to be awarded the prestigious Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship in the award's 19 year history. She plans on studying abroad in Granada, Spain for the 2020-21 academic year.* In addition to her coursework, Laura also... Continue Reading →
How I Learned & Grew from Processing my Re-Entry
"Hi! My name is Jack Trego. I studied abroad in Paris and Strasbourg, France during the 2018-2019 academic year, my Junior year of college. "Over the course of my time in France, I experienced a profound development in myself. I grew immensely as a person, as a student, and as a young professional. So as my... Continue Reading →
The Effects of Individualism/Collectivism on Spanish, Japanese and UK Culture
"Individualism and collectivism, also known as individual orientation and group orientation, are two of the most fundamental concepts that assist in the process of understanding a culture’s social life. These values produce variations in family structures, how aspects of education are structured, the way businesses handle group work, and how people conduct social relations. Collectivistic... Continue Reading →
Important Tips for Successful Intercultural Communication
"Having strong intercultural communication skills is becoming more and more of a necessity in our increasingly globalized society. Globalization has resulted in increasing intercultural relationships, and the growing international phenomenon of cultural mixing adds even greater emphasis to the role of intercultural communication. Communication itself serves a variety of functions. It helps fulfill interpersonal needs,... Continue Reading →
Culture Shock: How to Handle the Stress of a Cultural Change
"Culture shock, or the process of adapting to a new culture, is a phenomenon that is likely to occur when someone moves to a new city, country, or region, and begins to realize how its culture differs from their own original culture. Those who experience culture shock usually go through four different stages before fully... Continue Reading →
Cultural Patterns in Spanish & Japanese Culture vs. American Culture
"A country or culture's cultural patterns, or value orientations, are used to describe the cultural values that characterize the dominant group within a culture. These patterns encompass the conditions that contribute to a social group's perception of the world and how they live in that world. Cultural patterns are integrated, dynamic, and can be contradictory.... Continue Reading →
Budgeting Abroad
Many students find themselves spending a great deal of money on souvenirs and travel while abroad. Here are some tips to save money and still have a full experience. Souvenirs Souvenirs will generally be most expensive in tourist-heavy areas. If you want to save some money on souvenirs, travel away from tourist attractions and busy... Continue Reading →
Tips on Making Your Study Abroad Experience Affordable
Financial matters often limit students' ability to study abroad. If you're looking to go abroad, but you're not sure how to pay for the experience, here are some resources that may be helpful. Understanding Study Abroad Finances First, you may want to consider whether a semester-long or shorter program might be right for you. For... Continue Reading →
Hannah’s Top Ten Study Abroad Tips
It was so hard to narrow this list down to ten things—I could talk about studying abroad for such a long time! But first, a little about me: my name is Hannah, and I studied abroad with SOL Education Abroad in Heredia, Costa Rica. If you are interested in learning Spanish, I highly recommend SOL’s... Continue Reading →
Volunteering Abroad
Studying abroad can mean much more than classroom experiences. For students who wish to engage in meaningful life work by volunteering, doing so abroad might be a great choice. The following programs promote volunteer activities for their students, either through the program itself or through affiliated organizations. SOL Education Abroad; Buenos Aires, Argentina This program... Continue Reading →
Managing Expectations – or Lack Thereof – while Studying Abroad
About the Author: Emma Knight '21 - Spring 2020, Semester in Stirling, Scotland I knew since high school that I wanted to study abroad in college, and with my parents strongly encouraging it, I set up an appointment with the Study Abroad Office almost as soon as I arrived at Elizabethtown College my first year.... Continue Reading →
Living Like a Washingtonian
About the Author: Andrea Guscott '21 - Spring 2020, Semester in Washington, D.C. She is a junior political science major and masters in public policy student. She studied abroad in Washington D.C. through The Washington Center in the spring of her junior year. In the spring semester of 2020, I had the amazing opportunity to... Continue Reading →
Study Abroad Resources for LGBTQ Students
If you are part of the LGBTQ community, studying abroad can seem especially daunting. While many study-abroad students worry about acclimating to an unfamiliar culture, LGBTQ students may also fear that their identity could impact their safety and security abroad. This post aims to provide information on LGBTQ rights and support available in various countries... Continue Reading →
The Things I Did Not Expect: Gaining Confidence in Italy and Beyond
Lauren Moyer '21 studied abroad during the Fall 2019 Semester in Sorrento, Italy. In this article, Lauren reflects on the benefits of being a solo traveler and the confidence she gained in herself and her abilities. Being in Italy, there were a few things I figured would happen to me since I was so far... Continue Reading →
A Q&A with Caitlin Wilson ’16, Peace Corps and Study Abroad Alumna
Elizabethtown College alumna Caitlin Wilson '16 recently shared her perspective on studying abroad, working with Peace Corps, and more. Caitlin's Peace Corps work took her to Ghana, where she worked as an agriculture volunteer for 27 months. Q. If you had to give your elevator-pitch description of who you are and what you do, what... Continue Reading →
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