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| CCV students in Delphi, Greece. Spring 2011 |
If you’re a CCV student, you’ve likely seen
the posters and read the emails about our upcoming study abroad and study away
course offerings. Of course, a study
abroad class offers students an opportunity to visit a different country. But, study abroad is about so much more.
Be a
better job candidate. If you want to stand out in today's job market an
international perspective is critical. When looking for a job, employers find
candidates that have world experience more marketable and more diverse than
those that do not. Study Abroad can
provide relatable examples during an interview.
Create a
lifelong love affair with another country. Study abroad is not a short-term
experience. It will shape you for the rest of your life. Back home, you'll look
for films from there, for restaurants that serve its dishes, for books by its
authors. It will continue to live in you.
Gain a new appreciation for
your home country. Even the most open-minded study abroad students will be
unable to avoid comparing their host country with their home country. When you
return home, you will likely view your home county through a different lens
allowing you to appreciate the unique qualities of your culture.
Understand
your classes in a new way. Whether you're studying history, math,
architecture or biology, you can gain a new perspective--and maybe even a great
thesis idea--while away from your home college.
Meet interesting people. You're going to meet some incredible people--both locals and other students. You've got a limited amount of time, so don't be shy. Throw yourself into these new friendships and be rewarded with lifelong connections.
Find out
they're nothing like us. People from other cultures have different
practices and beliefs from those we are accustomed to. The customer isn't always
right. You don't have to form an orderly line.
Soup is best at breakfast. It can be a little startling to have your
assumptions tossed aside, but it's a good, if sometimes awkward, learning
experience.
Find out
they're just like us. No matter how foreign a country may seem, you're
bound to have a moment when you're struck by how people everywhere are
generally more alike than different. At our core, we're all driven by the same
needs and wants. You may even recognize a little bit of Grandma in the shopkeeper
or a touch of Uncle Joe in the hotel owner.
For many CCV students,
study-abroad has been a life-changing educational experience. But don’t take our word for it – here is what
CCV students have to say about study abroad:
“This was the best time of my life. I recommend that every student study abroad
in some fashion.”
“CCV’s study abroad program really overthrows the stigma
that community colleges don’t have a lot to offer. I was no expecting such a life changing
experience – CCV rocks!”
“The experience of going somewhere and engaging with the
people who live there cannot be substituted by anything else. This trip was enriching academically, it
reaffirmed the possibilities of doing the things I dream of while challenging me
in new ways, and broadened my perspective on the world.”
“It was life changing…No matter what, it is worth
it. Do it. It will change something in your life
forever.”
“There were so many serendipitous experiences. Nothing happened that I expected. We had so many opportunities to see and do
things that we would not have had, had we traveled alone.”
“The highlight for me was seeing a whole new
world, a place none of my family had been, learning about another culture and
way of life…It changes your view of yourself and the world.”
To learn about CCV’s upcoming trips, visit http://www.ccv.edu/study_abroad. Where in the world do you want to go?
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