Going abroad is often a huge interest for people in college. It brings so many incredible opportunities to meet people, learn about different cultures, and grow beyond the things that you know and believe. At the same time, the thought of choosing a program and going to another country can also be incredibly intimidating. This past summer I had the opportunity to go on a week-long volunteer trip to Thailand with GIVE Volunteers. My group and I learned about ethical elephant tourism and Thai culture, spent time working directly with the elephants, and made so many amazing memories. In my opinion, going abroad is one of the best experiences for a college student and I highly recommend it! Â
My favorite aspect of the trip was experiencing and learning about a culture and place that was so different from mine. Thai culture is so rich, and it was amazing to learn about their generations-old connection with the elephant population, Buddhist traditions, and the history of the area. We had the opportunity to stay in small, rural villages for a few days and get an authentic experience of life in these areas. I gained so much appreciation for the customs and history! Another amazing part of the trip was getting to spend time with elephants and learn about them. We fed them, cleaned them, and even spent a morning cleaning their living area. They’re such amazing animals and it’s been a dream of mine for a very long time to see and interact with them in an ethical way. There are so many amazing program opportunities that focus on specific interests like this one. Volunteering, studying, or simply traveling abroad is a great way to cross some things off the bucket list! Â
For all of its benefits, going abroad can certainly be intimidating and even scary. For me, going on this trip was the first time I’d flown by myself. I was terrified to navigate airports and figure out layovers. However, I went for it anyway and it ended up being a lot easier than I expected. Another common fear is that you won’t make friends if you travel alone and don’t know anyone in your group. What I found is that everyone I met abroad was super friendly! Everyone was excited to be there, learn, and meet new people. There were a lot of people in my group that went on the trip not knowing anyone and came back having made amazing friends. My biggest advice is to not let the fear of flying or traveling alone hold you back. The positive impacts of going abroad will make it so worth it. I recommend everyone spend some time abroad if you have the opportunity. It’s an amazing experience where you will learn, grow, and make incredible friends and memories!Â