PicklesTravel

Before you decide on a study abroad program and location there are many questions you should be asking yourself.

Do you want to learn a language?
This is perhaps the most important question, as it will affect your every day life for the entire year. I think immersion is the best possible way to learn a language, but it’s also very difficult. For a year you are surrounded by no one that speaks your language. You will learn, to survive you have to. The feeling of euphoria that occurs when you do realize that you have learned the language, when you start dreaming in that language- it’s all worth it, but you need to decide for yourself- Is it for you?

Do you want to move around? Live with different families? Or settle down with one?
There are programs out there that allow you to live with multiple families throughout your stay- Rotary Exchange is one of them. Other programs place you with one family and you stay with them until the end of your trip. I know people that have been on both sides of the spectrum on this one, and both have walked away having unbelievable connections to their host families.
For me it would have been hard to move to another family. It takes me a long time to grow to a level of confidence with someone, but you may be different- Listen to your gut instinct on this one! It’s usually right.

Do you need to pass your classes to graduate on time?
Talk to your high school advisor to see what their expectations are. Maybe they will count classes that you take, even if you don’t pass them. A lot of schools consider the experience of living abroad to be a much better life-education than staying home and may be willing to cut you some slack. This is a bit more difficult to do with different programs like No Child Left Behind and other academic standards, as required by your state/school district. It is very important to start talking to your advisor about this as soon as possible so that it doesn’t affect you when you return.

What classes will you take?
A lot of countries outside of the USA have program tracks (bachillerato in Spanish) that get you started for a career well before you leave high school. At my school there was a Science “track” and a Humanities “track”. Both would have been good options, though I was definitely lost in my Physics and Calculus classes. It’s a good idea to know what you need to take to graduate and then to keep in mind your language proficiency, if it’s going to be in a language other than your own.

Will there be a good support system?
You don’t realize until you’re there how important a support system can be. Will there be someone that you can talk to, in your native language, about problems you may have? Is it someone you can trust with you feelings? Maybe a host-sibling that is your age can take you under their wing and be your support? Sometimes even having another foreign student near-by is all you need, but it’s a good question to ask.

My program did provide someone that was supposed to be my support system, but he was useless and I always ended up feeling worse after talking to him, rather than better. So instead my host sisters became my support system, and they were exactly what I needed!

What other important questions have I missed? What do you need to know?

Ana, Greta, y Rosa

I was 16, a junior in high school, and I was embarking on a completely new adventure, not quite sure what to expect. I left Minnesota; my family, my friends and my school all to be replaced by a new set, in Linares, Spain.

I could not have been more excited as I boarded the plane that would take me to Spain, to a world I knew nothing about. I knew it would be a great experience, I knew it would be fun, and I knew it would be hard; what I didn’t know was just how great, how fun and how hard it was going to be!

My host family, the Mata Ruizs, met me at the train station near our town of Linares in Andalucia, Spain. Twin girls my age as sisters! These two girls, Ana and Rosa, became my world as they helped me slowly learn Spanish and my new country’s culture. Although neither of us could speak the other’s language, we made fantastic headway those first weeks;

¿Qué sonido hace un perro en Inglés?

Woof, Woof – What does a dog say in Spanish?

Guau, Guau

My Spanish host parents

For my first three months I cried every day from homesickness and the stress of not understanding a word of my surroundings. I was miserable, every day I promised myself that if I just made it to Christmas, I would allow myself to go home.

My host family became my family. I called my host parents Mamá and Papá, and they were. They were so supportive and got me through it. My sisters helped me with my homework, spending hours explaining the meaning of simple phrases. Without them, I may not have made it a whole year.

My Papá gives a cheer to life

One day I was sitting in my Philosophy class at school when all of the sudden I realized that I understood EVERY single word that the teacher was saying!! I was no longer trying to translate things from Spanish to English, I just knew what he was saying. It was a turning point in my trip. I had accomplished the most difficult part, and the one goal of my travel abroad experience – I had learned Spanish!

It was like a switch had been flipped! Every day I learned more, I couldn’t get enough of Spanish and the culture. Little things became significant. I belonged in Spain! Sure, I didn’t pass all of my classes, but that didn’t matter, I learned more than any class could ever teach!

I was sad on my last day in Spain, but excited to return to Minnesota. I was ready to “move on” with my life. Crazy thing is, after less than 2 weeks back “home” I was homesick for Spain.

I missed Spanish, I missed my family, I missed my friends and I missed the culture. I now belonged to two places.

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Me and my host parents on a recent trip back to visit.

It’s been 11 years since I lived in Spain, and every day I miss it as if I had just left. Whenever I hear a Castilian Spanish accent my heart skips a beat!

In my heart of hearts, and as goofy as it sounds, that year abroad made me feel as if I am part Spanish- I was re-born in Spain.

Ana, Greta y Rosa

Chile, 2003

This blog started too late to discuss my study abroad experiences as they happened, so I have decided to do a short series about study abroad. Some things have changed significantly since I was abroad (internet is now available in every home) and others have barely changed (completos are still completos and paella is still paella!).

I traveled abroad with an idea of what I thought I was going to experience, and came home with a completely different experience. I can only talk about my experiences as an exchange student and can’t guarantee how others would react. The hope of this series is to give you an idea of what it’s like to travel to distant lands, at length, as a student, even when you don’t know the language. I write based on my experiences to:

Linares, Jaen, Spain, from 1999-2000, as a high school student.

Valparaiso, Chile, in 2003, as a college undergrad.

I also want to give you resources to learn more and insights into what to look for in all the different angles of study abroad. The focus will be on staying abroad for a year, rather than the short terms options. Shorter terms options are also readily available and may be right for you, depending on your life situation.

High School Students Abroad
1. My AFS-Intercultural Exchange: Spain 1999-2000.
2. Questions to ask about your High School Study Abroad Program?
3. High School Study Abroad Programs.

University Students Abroad
1. My COPA Exchange: Chile 2003.
2. What is your Study Abroad Goal?
3. What steps to take to make your trip a reality and still graduate on time.

My visit to the Golden Gate Bridge was met with a complete wall of fog. The fog horns were blowing strong and we were quickly swallowed up in the heavy mist as we walked across the bridge, (ok, halfway across).

I swear the bridge is in the center of this photo

Perhaps I should have been disappointed that I couldn’t see the GG Bridge in all its glory, but honestly, I think this is probably more the norm than a clear view of the bridge, and I loved every minute of it. Here’s why:

1: It’s the dead of summer, here in the San Francisco area, and I’ve been suffering in the heat (to be fair, I should note that anything over about 73 degrees Fahrenheit makes me hot, though to give me credit- it has been over 90 degrees every day), so the cool breeze and fog was a nice reprieve for me. I donned a sweater for the walk, and it was cool enough that my ears even started to hurt a bit from the cold (that’s my kind of thing).

2: I would rather experience what the normal, every-day San Franciscan experiences, rather than be special. I think this view is just as lovely and so different from the typical photos you see- How is that a fair representation if it normally looks like this?

3: I did see it several years ago, though only briefly and without walking on the bridge.

4: The Golden Gate is still golden no matter what the weather’s doing!

The California Coast is beautiful, and it’s especially hard to name which sights are best for photos, but here are 5 of the best spots near the Monterey and Carmel area. You won’t want to be without your camera!

1. Bixby Bridge

Bixby Bridge is located just north of Big Sur, CA along the famous California State Highway 1 that follows the northern CA coastline. You can stop your car on either side of the bridge and enjoy your time taking in the breath-taking views and snapping some fabulous photographs!

2. 17-Mile Drive

As soon as you come to the coast on the 17-Mile Drive, between Monterey and Carmel, you will never want to leave. There are some pretty fantastic cypress tree spots as well, but the best photos are on the coastline.

3. Spyglass Hill Golf Course
I would love to post a photo here of the amazing photos of the golfing at Spyglass Hill Golf Course, but alas, I don’t golf and therefore was not able to take any. (see photos here). If you are a golfer, this is the definition of heaven on earth. The greens are on the ocean, with breathtaking views.

4. California State Highway 1

Highway 1 is one of the most scenic drives in the US (maybe the world). It follows quite a bit of the CA coast (details). Anywhere you stop along this route is gorgeous and will lead to fantastic images. Even if you’re without a camera, I would recommend stopping at one of paths that lead down to the ocean. The views, vibrant colors, and the cool-spray of the water in your face always make me smile.

5. Monterey Bay Aquarium

The Monterey Bay Aquarium, while expensive to enter ($29.95 in 2011), is well worth your time and money. Their Jellyfish exhibit, a darkened hall that brings out the bright colors of the different jellyfish species behind the glass, feels like you’re walking through an underwater paradise. Vibrant blues, oranges and purples shine in hall of Jellies (The photo at the top of this page is also from this exhibit). I definitely recommend going as early in the day as possible, as the large crowds will limit the pictures you’ll be able to take.