Year round, students watch other students study abroad. They watch their Snapchats, see their Instagram posts and become filled with envy at all of the adventurous stories their friends can’t wait to share with them when they come home. Florida State University has various programs all over the globe for students to study abroad. Since there are so many locations with an abundance of professors and international program directors, FSU held a study abroad fair that took place on Wednesday, October 19, from 10 am-2 pm at the Union Green. “The study abroad fair is a fun way to meet directors of the FSU Study Centers around the world, some of the instructors who teach the courses and students who have already studied abroad”, says Susan Hellstrom, an Editing, Writing, and Media professor at the study abroad location in Valencia, Spain.
The International Programs at Florida State University has locations that stretch as far as Switzerland and China and even as close as Peru and Panama. Each location also has different programs that can be tailored to different majors. The International Program directors came to visit from their resident country in order to help Florida State students get a grasp on the culture of their home. As shown above is Alicia Martinez, one of the International Program directors for Valencia, Spain. She flew to America from Spain so that she can speak to students about this amazing program. She is holding the Nomadic Noles magazine that the Editing, Writing and Media students created as their summer project overseas. These programs abroad are proven to be extremely interactive and hands on.
A former student, Weesam Khoury, that studied abroad this past summer stated that studying abroad was “the best experience” she has ever had. “I mean, honestly, what better way is there to study? You’re with all of your friends in a different country and you even get to travel on weekends!” An immense amount of students that study abroad were also at the International Programs fair to visit their professors and program directors. The students that were interested in studying abroad really were able to witness the families that are made when students travel internationally.
At the study abroad fair, students were able to witness the benefits of studying at a different location. The staff that attended the fair were simply not there to advertise studying abroad, but they were there to state facts. The advertising came naturally as students got hooked on the idea of independence, cultural adaptation, and college credit that is followed by long lasting friendships and lifelong memories. “It’s a whole different ballgame to actually BE that international student yourself,” says Hellstrom.
If you were a student that went to the fair, or even if you are just reading about the fair now, I would not even question whether you should do it or not. In the name brand of Nike, “just do it.” It is an unforgettable experience. Additionally, you can finally witness what your friends have been non-stop bragging about for the past semester.