In the last week alone, I’ve been asked if I’ve ever studied abroad on four separate occasions. Sadly enough, the answer has been "no" every time. Both of my collegiate summers have been spent interning and feeling jealous while stalking social media either here in Gainesville or back home in Palm Beach. Yet, nearly all of my friends have spent a semester or two gallivanting across the globe, whether in Madrid, Beijing or London, and all have returned claiming to be much worldlier than when they left.
This claim was typically supported by stories about clubbing in Ibiza, enjoying "chupitos" (Spanish for "shots," according to Google Translate) and late-night stumbles through ancient cities. But I digress.
My lack of international experience stems from a variety of reasons. First, my mother has watched "Taken" one too many times — it may not be the most concrete reason, but it definitely hasn’t helped. I’ve also had a hard time convincing my parents, who worked full-time jobs just to put themselves through college, that spending a cushy summer in Europe is integral to my undergraduate experience…and rightfully so. It seems selfish no matter how I phrase it, and they’ve heard too many horror stories about college kids blowing money on clubs and absinthe.
With that said, the cost of studying abroad is a real point of contention that can’t be ignored. A discussion in one of my classes blew up after an international student voiced concerns about how rarely Americans leave the country. The responses to this were deeply rooted in financial obstacles such as the cost of airfare, living expenses and study-abroad program fees. Considering the price tag of these programs often reach five figures, their concerns are extremely valid and have occurred to many, if not all, students interested in a semester abroad.
If you’re going to study abroad for the lowered drinking age and easy A in your European Culture class, don’t do it. Do yourself a favor: Save some money and go to Midtown instead. The stereotype of culturally insensitive drunken college kids exists for a reason and doesn’t need to be perpetuated any further.
However, my unrelenting optimism leads me to believe very few students at UF would be shortsighted enough to fall into that category. Before starting this column, I made sure to discuss the topic with a few friends who could give me the perspective I lacked — that is, someone’s who has actually studied abroad. Their feedback was overwhelmingly positive and centered around the idea that the experience is what you make of it. In the words of my best friend and former Barcelona expatriate: "You can’t just fly to Europe and expect to automatically become worldly."
In a world growing smaller by the day through technological innovations and corporate globalization, studying abroad can be advantageous if properly utilized. According to my very informal sources, this lies in actively learning about the culture, stepping out of your comfort zone and remembering what you’re there for. Don’t let the cheap sangria distract you and, for the love of God, make sure you go to a museum.
Sometimes this option isn’t particularly realistic depending on one’s schedule, financial ability or priorities — and that’s OK. Working over the summer may not be as glamorous, but it’s definitely rewarding in its own grown-up way.
As far as this upcoming summer goes, you’re much more likely to find me angrily flipping through an LSAT prep book at Coffee Culture than wandering through Roman piazzas, but, hey anything could happen.
Marisa Papenfuss is a UF English junior. Her column appears on Tuesdays.
