SIUE MC student studies in Costa Rica 2009 - By Angie Thomas
A challenging option for SIUE students is to join the study abroad program.
One SIUE sophomore, Mass Communications major Alisha Abbott learned this first hand. She traveled to Costa Rica in Summer 2008 as part of the program.
“I am a Spanish minor, which is why I chose Costa Rica,” Abbott said. “It was a full emersion program which means you only speak Spanish in class as well as when you are with your host families.”
Abbott said she thought an emersion plan would help her to pick up the language much faster.
“While I was there I was really getting a lot better speaking Spanish,” Abbott said. “Now, that I am back it is more difficult to speak the language to others.”
Abbott, who is studying advertising, said it was interesting to see things from another culture’s perspective.
“Just walking down the street was so different,” she observed. “It was really neat to see what other cultures expect in their media.”
According to Abbott, the advertising industry is much different in Costa Rica.
“It is always interesting to see how other places use completely different colors and designs from our culture,” Abbott said.
This was Abbott’s first time out of the country, and it helped her learn a lot about herself.
“Everyone was very helpful,” she said. “My host mom could speak a little English, so she would help me with things I didn’t understand.”
International Programs Director Ron Schaefer said the opportunity to study in another country can open up student’s eyes to other cultures and experiences.
“A lot of people talk about international experiences as being transformative,” Schaefer explained. “It changes them and makes them think differently about the world.”
Schaefer said the feedback from faculty about the program is positive and usually notes a change in the character of the student after his or her return.
“There are always hassles when you step outside of your normal range,” said Schaefer said. “But, students always say it’s worth it.