Studying abroad is one of the many opportunities that Doane has to offer for students. Any student who attends Doane is able to take advantage of this opportunity and the one thousand dollar scholarship provided for studying abroad. Director of International Programs, Professor Timothy Burge explains “Studying abroad is when students earn academic credit outside of the United States,” Director of International Programs Timothy Burge said. “Students can study abroad any time of the year, including during a semester, summer, or winter break. Students can study abroad either through partner organizations that Doane partners with for programs overseas, or through short-term trips led by Doane professors. This year Doane professors are leading trips to Greece and Ireland. Students studying abroad through a Doane partner organization have 37 countries to choose from,” Burge said.
Studying abroad comes with many benefits.
“The global and multicultural perspective that you can get from study abroad from longer term travel is so valuable,” Associate Professor of Modern Languages Josh Pope said. Pope also mentions how studying abroad is vastly different from just a trip. “You can go on a vacation in Italy and you see the Colessum, a museum, and have tourist pasta. [Study abroad] lets you start to have a picture of what it’s like to live in a place.”
Julia Johnson is currently studying abroad in Australia for four months. Even though she has only gotten the taste of Australia for only a few weeks, she has experienced many traditional and fun events. With native Australians, Johnson was able to partake in a “Welcome to Country” ceremony.
“They immersed us into an Indigenous ceremony… they painted our faces with clay and the women had different markings than the men,” Johnson said, “I would’ve never experienced that anywhere else,”
Johnson also had an experience where manta rays swam with her and she was able to swim in the Great Barrier Reef. “It’s [studying abroad] really helped me with my mindfulness and my gratefulness… It’s very eye-opening,”
Johnson says to anyone thinking about studying abroad to “weigh out your options. Studying abroad can get expensive, and that was something that I was on the fence about… If you have the tools and funds to do it, absolutely do it,” Johnson said. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I think it’s amazing, and I would completely recommend it.”
Before leaving for Australia, Doane provided orientation sessions for Johnson with Burge. In these sessions, Johnson was taught about culture shock, mental health abroad, flourishing abroad, staying safe abroad and learning how to get used to the new culture. “I do feel like Doane prepared me really well, especially through those orientation sessions. If I had any questions, Tim was super open to assessing me and I could just make an appointment with him whenever I needed.”
Senior Adley Rose went on a study abroad experience to Seville, Spain for eight weeks. Rose was able to study abroad with two of her sorority sisters over a summer. Rose would highly recommend studying abroad. “If you are thinking about doing it, go with a friend. Not an option for everyone, but it helps go to the things you actually want to go to. I wouldn’t want to go to a Flamenco Show by myself.” Rose also mentions that finding an “event buddy” helps you go to fun places and explore.
Sophomore honors student Daisa Smidt is in the process of getting ready for a study abroad experience. Smidt will be going to eleven different countries through a program called “Semester at Sea.” Smidt’s experience will be four months long and will take place next semester. The countries she will be going to are Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, India, Kenya, South Africa, Ghana, Morocco, Scotland and Germany. Smidt would say to other students on the fence about studying abroad that “now is the time.”
“Now is the time in our lives, as college students, to go out and do things. Study abroad and study in different countries… it’s only going to get more expensive… We are in prime time, most of us are physically healthy enough to go and do these amazing things that not everyone in the United States has access to [studying abroad].” Doane has helped Smidt get to this point, “Doane is just so willing to work with you and willing to do what you want to do,” Smidt said.
