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The Battalion
Page 3A • Tuesday, September 9, 2003
Leaving on a jet plane
Students create lasting memories through A&M study abroad programs
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By Lauren Romero
THE BATTALION
—-
James Thornton felt awkward when the
daughter of his French host family walked in the
room and kissed him on the cheek every day to
say hello.
“I never did figure out if 1 was supposed to be
really kissing or fake kissing her cheek.” said
Thornton, a senior international studies major
who studied abroad in France this summer.
Ralph Schoolcraft, an associate professor of
French at Texas A&M, said studying abroad is
an important endeavor.
“It’s one of the best things students can do for
themselves in education," he said.
A&M students travel to many countries to
study and experience a new culture.
Whether they are there
to leam a foreign lan
guage or study sub
jects such as archi-
i lecture, going abroad
} provides an experi
ence that students
will never
forget.
Schoolcraft
directed the
^ French
Language study
abroad program twice.
What Schoolcraft
called advanced
babysitting in France
also included forming
budgets, making itin
eraries and teaching the orientation class.
“Texas A&M has many strengths where they
don’t need my help, but this is one area where 1
have expertise that can contribute to the student
community at A&M in its effort to international
ize,” he said. “What I'm interested in is getting
other people interested in tackling the challenge
to take their education into their own hands.”
Elizabeth Autin, a junior economics major
and peer counselor for the Study Abroad Office,
said she first considered work
ing in the Study Abroad Office
because of her experiences
abroad through family vacations
and a high school trip.
“I wanted to be part of some
thing that gets people out there
and expresses the fact that peo
ple shouldn’t be afraid of every
thing,” she said.
Megan Crocker, a graduate
management student, wanted to
gain experience in public rela
tions. She went on a study
abroad trip to Mexico, organized
by the Department of
Journalism.
The next summer, she was
asked to return for a fully-paid
internship.
“It was definitely not a coffee
and copies internship,” she said. “1 did work 1
probably would not be entrusted to do here.”
Even though Crocker said the internship was
challenging and stressful, it confirmed she want
ed to pursue a career in PR.
She is now considering moving back to
Mexico City after graduation.
Crocker recommends studying abroad rather
than just going on vacation.
“Living there gives you the opportunity to get
to know the locals and find out where and where
not to go,” she said.
Schoolcraft said studying abroad allows stu
dents to see what life is like for another culture.
“Studying abroad brings students a lot more
than they expect,” he said. “Students expect to
be tourists, and instead they face great personal
challenges that bring them confidence and a
desire to continue to travel.”
Thornton said he would like to go back to
Europe to study and possibly live with another
host family.
“There’s so much to see and do in Europe
as well as tons of different people to meet and
talk to — that one experience over there isn’t
enough,” he said.
Thornton said he didn’t want to encounter all
the people that he did meet, how
ever.
He once met a man in Rome
dressed in yellow rubber boots,
old worn out pants and a hpme-
made vest with matching hat.
“1 saw him and didn’t think
much of it again until I turned
around, and he was taunting me
with his stick that was obviously
supposed to be a sword. He then
made faces at me like he was a
crying baby drinking a bottle. 1
think he wanted some money,”
Thornton said.
While Crocker didn’t have any
experiences quite like Thornton’s,
she said she wished she would
have studied Spanish before
going.
Schoolcraft advises students to
talk to others who have studied abroad. He also
recommends talking to foreign students studying
at A&M.
Autin encourages Aggie students to go abroad
for a full semester instead of just a summer term.
That way. she said, people can be enveloped in
the whole culture.
Schoolcraft said one of the drawbacks of the
summer program was the length.
“You can’t learn a language in six weeks,”
he said.
For students who don’t know where they
want to go, or what they want to study, the Study
Abroad Office has its own library of references
to foreign countries. Certain programs are open
to all majors, others are major-specific.
I wanted to be
part of something
that gets people out
there and expresses
the fact that people
shouldn't he afraid of
everything.
— Elizabeth Autin
junior economics major
“We want to make sure that people have plenty
of opportunities to go abroad,” Autin said. “If
you’re here for four years, going abroad provides a
really nice break.”
One wish Schoolcraft has for the program is
for there to be more scholarships available, to
limit the factor of economic selection.
However, he said if someone wants to go badly
enough, they will find a way to get there.
While some students were concerned about
traveling in wartime, or in times of other crises,
Autin said they shouldn't worry.
“The University won’t send someone on a trip
if the area is unsafe,” she said.
She also said the Study Abroad Office receives
numerous travel warnings that they read and take
into account.
Schoolcraft said this year was an especially
sensitive time for students in France.
“When we arrived and showed genuine
respect for our hosts, it opened many doors, and
it was clear how much the two countries have to
offer each other.” he said.
Crocker agrees that
people need to break ^
down existing stereo
types about foreign
cultures. She said peo
ple need to experience
other cul- ^
and *
of life
because the
American way
isn’t the only way
of doing things and stu
dents should be
exposed to all walks of
life.
“Even if going
abroad just confirms
your love for the
U.S. and what
you’ve been
blessed with
here, what’s so
wrong with
that,” she said.
tures
ways
Ivan Firti
THE BATTALION
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weeks and willts
ates. including Fir
no, Arizona. New!
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1990s to oppose
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uiblication.
I, 2003
it ujs.tamu.edi!
JLI0N
Chief
sutsch, Sci|Tech Editor
jesch, Copy Chief
Luna, Graphics Editor
>, Photo Editor
ngsley , Radio Produce!
erbusch, Webmaster
clay through Friday during^ :
during the summer sessW
Jniversity. Periodicals Posta?
jss changes to The BattaP
-mi.
ts at Texas A&M University'*
nrnalism. News offices ate ir
13; Fax: 845-2647; E-iW * 1
t
irship or endorsement byP 1
l, call 845-2696. For class'
i Reed McDonald, and off*
2678.
:;h Texas A&M studenttopi**
ipies 254. Mail subscription*
17.50 for the summer ort^
m Express, call 845-2611
Career Advising- All Majors
Internship Listings
Job Search Workshops
Resume Reviews
Career Research Library
-^Career Center
Texas A&M University
With you every step of the way
http://careercenter.tamu.edu
209 Koldus 845-5139
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